Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-02-06
CHAPTER LIv,
Tho Wife.

a sickroom. then relieved the nurse
IN charge OF Alan.
he remained as he had been over
SINCE the falling OF the thunderbolt-
IN absolute coma
out ne lived. and-or the physicians
i'eu--must soon regain consciousness
Aheeiing beside his bedside Judith
Piayeo long and earnestly.
"hen she arose II was 10 answer
TAP upon the door. She admitted
OH bsrcus and suffered him to lead
Her into the recess Of the window
"Here they conversed in guarded
tones In spite OF the fact that the
SUBJECT Of their communications could
not possibly have heard them
I've come TO tell you something"
narcus announced with characteristic
a"k"ardness, I've known II for
.hree days-ever since the wedding
IN lact-and kept 1t to myself. not
AM showing whether I ought to tell you
He paused, cycling her uncertainty
unhappily. '''-'''''
I am prepared" Judith assured
him calmly.
lou re nothing of the sort" he
countered. argumentative. "You
couldn't be. It's the most amazing
thlng imaginable. See here
'Well?"
You understand, don't you. that
Anan must never know that Rose was
Aliled by that lightning stroke?'
What do you mean?"
mean," the man floundered mis-
IraOiy' you see, he loved her so-I
sure 1t would h. hos+
/ you can bring yourself to ito Let
iiH go on believing it wasn't Rose
,no was Killed, but Judith. And that's
A@'ihg so close to the truth that II
lanes no difference: the Judith Alan
new and the Judith | knew in tho
.eglnning is gone as comnIetoIv 40
nough she and not Rose had been
HE'D 'u oe9H
after long pause. the girl asked
I'm quietly: Il understand Bnt ia
possible you don't understand that
were to consent to this pronosi.
on lend myself to deception which
must maintain through all nv life
ife?" ine HIS
"en' Dut-you see-you are his
he oh, don't think I'm off NV
at. I'm telling you the plain. unvar.
shed truth. You are Alan's wife.
No. listen to me- You remem.
'r that day in New York when Won
Instituted for Rose, when Alan tried
eiope with her, and you went with
In 70 Jersey City, and stood I'D to be
arried by preacher-guy named
right-and Marrophat broke in tust
the critical moment and busted lin
g party?"
Well?' she demanded breathlessIv
oarcus produced folded yellow ma.
from his coat pocket and nrof-
ed it.
Read that. 1t was handed tn mo
pest man, Just before the cere-
ny Seeing it was addressed 10
IN and knowing he was in no frame
mind to be bothered by telegrams
lpped 1t into my pocket and forgot
about it temporarily. When
le to find 1t, l took the liberty of
ding 1t. But read it for Yourself"
ne typewriter lines of the long
sage blurred and ran together al.
u indecipherably In Judith's vision
e the less, she contrived to CRASH
substance Of It's meaning
Why DIDN'T YOU WIRE ME-
'NER," 1t ran: MARRIAGE To
'E IMPOSSIBLE. REV. MP
lGHT INFORMED ME YOUR
TO JUDITH LAST
Elk HAD GONE TOO FAR WHEN
aROPHAT INTERRUPTED. IN.
d LEGALLY YOUR WIFE,
JLD HAVE ADVISED YOTr
NER HAD YOU LET ME KNOW
ERE TO ADDRESS YOU. HOPE
HEAVEN THIS GETS TO yOu
ORE TOO LATE"
q message was signed with the
OF Alan's confidential man of
less in New York.
zen Judith looked up she was
In the room, but for the silent
Mt on his couch.
WY, almost fearfully. she crept
bedside and stood looking down
he face Of her husband.
! while she looked Alan's lashes
red. his respiration quickened. a
color crept into his pallid cheeks
his eyes opened wide and
into hers.
lips moved and breathed a word
,ognition:
iith!"
n low cry Of tenderness. the
ank to her knees and encircled
lad with her arms.
iith." she whispered. hiding her
In his bosom. Judith is no
ause; and then the feeble voice:
en-. II l was mistaken, II you
judith, you must be Rose-my
said steadily: II am your Wife"
hands fumbled with her face.