Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-12-01

All the spectral horrors that cape and
grin at the addict have their hour.
Times there were when this hour
visited Selma, driving her into de
ceptions for which she hated herself
but which caused an intense, unrea-
soning loathing to rise within her
against the price she had paid where
by to drug herself.
There was that terrible time when
David Dwight asked her to drink to
their future happiness. Clear as .
deep-toned bell, two words only of the
marriage ritual dinned at her ears.
throbbed at her stupefied brain. Until
death-Until death--Until death
At her new home she bore herself
regally as she met the servants, and
was introduced to Doctor Holland, the
young man who was in constant at.
tendance on her husband. As his
hand touched hers she felt an instant.
unexplained sympathy for him.
Week trod upon the heels of week
until Selma became conscious that
she was keeping track of time, was
counting days. She knew in her heart
yet would not admit to herself that
time could never begin for her until
she was freed from David Dwight.
= Came the fear that something OF
this thought might be apparent to the
man. And so by look, word and ACT
she strove the more zealously to de-
ceive him.
1t was the third month that she
came upon him In the library, came
upon him and paused swiftly to re
treat II her entrance had not been
observed. She caught the rustic Of
skirts and, looking up. saw Mrs
PRESLEY and Doctor Holland in q cor
ner of the room. The expression upon
the companions face was peculiarly
accusing and yet triumphant, while
that upon the countenance of Doctor
Holland, as their eyes met, was half
pity. half-she trembled violently Al
she tried to analyze exactly what the
remainder Of that expression told.
Though she had fought bitterly
against it, there was something &C
virile, so young, 30 intrepid about the
mans fight that she had admired
him, even though she knew the thing
he fought for made him the bitteres,
enemy she could have owned. This
admiration she knew was more thar
reciprocated. ea-5s .-
Dwight turned In his chair and she
moved toward him. There was the
light Of a great happiness in his eyes
an expression which seemed to glorify
the man. There was something &c
tremendously splendid about her hus
band and something 80 delicately fine
and sensitive, that seemed continu
ally asserting itself in his face, caus
ing such hot self-recrimination to
arise within herself that she hated
him for the torture he innocently
caused. ~
There was something electrical In
the very air of the room, something
that caused her to be afraid. Dwight
took her hand, resting it upon his
chest, fondling it tenderly. The ply
sician and Mrs. Presley moved soft
.'ly from the room. She looked at the
millionaire's face more intently, hel
heart fluttering as she saw some great
change there. Aid now. with great
wave Of self.hatred at the criminality
Of the thought, she read it for what II
was nyif a. j:., fg
David Dwight, her husband, this
man to whom she was bound for life
was we'll man. David Dwight had
regained his health. That life which
for 80 long time mad been sfutter
was now fixed and rigidly in place.
Even as he drew her soft cheek to
his own, kissing her softly. tenderly,
she felt herself 60 cold She knew
ne was about to speak, about to tell
her Of the miracle and felt that she
could stand no more now She was
sitting. She must get away before
she betrayed herself.
Muttering an excuse she lunged
blindly up the stairs to her own room.
Snatching a scarf she CROPPED her
way to the garden. fighting down the
bitterness within her heart She seat
ed herself on a bench In the little
summer house, staring sightlessly be;
fore her, fighting desperately.
She looked up quickly at slow foot.
steps, her eyes lighting as Doctor Hol-
land strolled down the walk, book
in his hand. For just second she
thought him about to pass on. after
bowling to her, then, with q little
shrug he seated himself beside her.
She did not wish him there and still
she was glad of his presence. She
could not understand the conflict of
absolutely antithetical emotions the
man stirred up within her. Looking
furtively at his troubled face she could
see he was in no mood for chatter on
trivialities.
In the furry Of the moment she
reached out to take the book from his
hands. It rested beside her, but her
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