The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-03-25

mOunWlnh W NhV ns'
blings. n. Az
gree OF restlessness was surely par
donable in one who, from her O
watched a carriage.drlye populous
with vehicles Cfor the most part no
tor cars) bringing to the hotel gaEly
dressed men and women, the guests
inyited to the wedding OF Rose Irine
and Alan Law. Ana
Within another ten minutes the
man Judith loved with oil her oody
and soul would be the husband OF he'
sister.
She had told herself she was re-
signed. but she was not, n she
would never be. Her heart vas orea-
ing in her bosom as she sat there
watching, waiting. listening TO the
ever heavier detonations OF the APP
preaching thunderstorm and TO the
jubilant pealing Of a great organ GOWN
below.
The had told herself that, though
, resigned, she could not bear 10 WIZ
ness the ceremony. Now as the mo-
ment drew near when the marriage
would be q thing finished, nxeu'
i%rretrievable, she found herself un'
able 20 endure the strain alone
Slowly, against her will, she rose
and stole across the floor 10 her Ia
TIERS chair.
His breathing was slow and regu'
lar. beyond doubt he slept. unques'
tionabfy there was no reason why she
should not leave him for ten minutes
even though he walked II could ho'
harm him TO await her return nj the
end OF tbst scant period.
Like q guilty thing, on feet rs noise
less ms any sneak thief's, she crept
from the room. closed the door ST.
lently, ran down the hall and dc.
scended by n back way, n httle-useu
staircase, TO tho lower hall, approach
ing the scene OF the marriage.
Constructed in imitation OF an OLD
Spanish mission chapel, II contained
one OF the finest organs In the world;
at this close range It's ~deep.throated
tones We'd with the warnings OF the
storm. Judith. lurking In q passage
way whose open door revealed the
altar steps and chancel, was shaken
TO the very marrow OF her being by
the majestic re~verberations OF the
music.
Since they had regained contact
with civilization In n section OF the
country where the Law estate had
vast holdings OF land. the chapel was
thronged with men and women who
had known Alan's father and wished
10 honor his son.
Above stairs. In the room Judith
had quilted. Seneca Urine opened
both eyes wide and laughed a silent
laugh of savage triumph when the
door closed behind his daughter.
At last he was left TO his own de-
vices-and AT n time the most fitting
imaginable for what he had in mind.
With n grin. Seneca Urine raised
both arms and stretched them wide
apart.
Then. grasping the arms OF his
chair, he lifted himself from II and
stood trembling upon his own feet for
the first time In almost twenty years.
This, then. was the secret he had
Rugged 10 his embittered bosom, a
secret unsupported even by the At.
tending surgeon: that through the
motor acc''an m three days ago he had
regainod the use OF limbs that had
been stricken motionless--stranEcly
enough, by n motor car-nearly two
decades since.
Slowly but surely moving 10 the
bureau In the room, he opened one
of It's drawers and took out some.
thing he had, without her knowledge.
seen Judith put away there while she
thought he slept.
Then, with this hidden in the
pocket OF his dressing gown he
steered n straight II very deliberate
course to the door, let himself out,
and like n materialized spec'er Of the
man he once had been. n~ayignted the
corridor 70 the head Of the broad
central staircase and step BY step.
clinging with both hands. negotiated
the descent.
The lobby OF tho hotel was deserted,
AS the ceremony approached It's end
every guest and servant In Tho house
was crowdlng the doorway 10 the
chapel. None opposed the progress
OF this CHASTITY vision I'm dressing
gown and %sliprcrcd feet, chuckIing
i~nsanoly 10 himself as he tgtterod
through the empty halls and CORR.
doris, finding an almost supernatural
strength TO sustain him I'm he found
himself face to face with his chosen
enemy and victim.
Tho first that blocked his way into
the chapel, a bellboy Of tho hotel.
looked round nj the first touch OF tho
claw.like hand upon his shoulder and
shrank back with a cry Of tcrror-a
cry that was echoed from balf n
dozen Threats within another instant
As II from tho path Of some gr,.ly
visitant from tho world beyond tho
grave, the throng pressed back and
cleared n way for Seneca Urine. fa.
Their OF the bride.
And as the way opened and no
looked up toward the altar and saw
Alan standing hand IN hand With