Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-15

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Asked to Drink Her Husbands
Health.
appealingly. half afraid, upon the
girl. But Selma Ashton did not see
her, immersed in her w thoughts.
At the sound of the bell, her shout
ders had Strengthened. A curious,
little smile played about the
of her lips-though the tightness OF
those lips did not relax: nor did that
smile soften the agate of her eyes,
cleaning now with the light OF one
making a resolve. !
She turned slowly toward the door,
half rising as the butler announced
David Dwight. Her eyes met those of
her companion, n there was a de-
fiant expression in them, defiant yet
triumphant. A nod of the head. sharp,
decisive, dismissed the woman whd
started to protest against the sacrifice
she could see the girl a determined
to make Then she slowly left the
room. left it even as the hating steps
of the failing millionaire took him for
ward.
David Dwight a not gained his
millions through procrastination. He
had come decisively to the point. And
yet there was something splendid
about min that lac the older wom-
ans heart go out to him. She re-
pressed a little cry of pain as she
caught the tremolo that all uncon-
sclously crept into his voice.
81 do not want you to marry me,
Selma, unless you love me. I want
you more han anything in the world
but not that much. Not without
love. Selma, for II know what love
means-now."
Came a scuffle at the door, follow
ing the bell. She could hear the but
ler's voice raised in protest against
Gnrna intrusion than the ayVR wa rn
s%craping of feet Immediately preced-
ing an intruder's rush toward the
room where the pair were. Mrs.
PRESLEY peered through the portieres
c%uriously. The newcomer was very
young and very breathless and very
d~ishevelled from his encounter with
the butler. who was hurriedly pursu-
ing. his hand outstretched as though
TO grasp the intruder by the arm.
Dwight rose ansrfly.
Mirror reporter, Miss Ashtoni
Charles Iced is a suicide after misap-
propriating your fortune to prop up
the Titan Ship Company. Anything
to say"
With superb art. the girl half rose
from the divan. She reached out her
hands as though to support herself.
then sank gently back, staring in
credulously at the reporter. The but
Ter had his hand upon the fellows
shoulder and David Wright seized the
other. hustling him toward the door.
She heard the slam of IL. the protest
of the indignant reporter, nus sum-
marily evicted.
Mrs. Presley could not forego a.
hnal glance. Selma Ashton was smil-
ing but the smile died away as, pat
ting his waistcoat which had become
disarranged in the struggle, Dwight
re-entered h room and stood looking
down AT her. The companion could
ann fhA uynrEfn1c IF htS faCn could
see the inquiry there. Selma did not
look up at him but sat staring straight
before her, hopeless despair upon her
face. The millionaire rested his hand
upon her shoulder. lightly, so lightly
1t matched the tenderness upon his
face.
You liz not know, Selma ?" He
put the question softly, as though
fearful OF asking but e. for the
answer. you did not know be-
fore"
The girl started erect from ths
apathetic mood into which she a
seemingly fallen. Slowly. very slowly.
with the outraged dignity of a queen.
she rose, facing the man, who drew
back before the hurt put angry light
in her eyes.
"I understood-what you
she said quietly, but with q cutting
i~ncisiveness that showed the depth OF
her hurt. "You mean-that-" Her
voice trembled, broke completely. as
she found herself unable to voice the
remainder of her sentence.
The companion turned away. Then.
as by an afterthought she approached
the table and spread put the suicides
note upon the table, folding 1t care
fully after h mad smoothed out the
wrinkles hat had come from the
crushing 1t a received.
III.
There Is no poison more subtle nor
effective than self-indulgence. Like
a narcotic it grips h moral senses
and submerges completely every feel
ing of obligation. But, as with all
drugs. there are moments when the
effect is bound to wear off and then
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-
sontng loathing to rise within her
against the price she had paid where
by TO drug herself. Not long would
waRenings. The subtle poison had al
ready made her mora fibre too weak
for that. She could count upon her
fingers the hours of actual agonized
reLnorse she had endured.
There was hat terrible time when
David Dwight asked her to drink to
their future happiness. Clear as a deep
toned bell, two words only Of the
marriage ritual dinned at her ears.
throbbed at her stupehed brain. Until
death-Until death-Until Death
She had closed her eyes tightly, try
ing in that manne to drown out the
horrid sound. Fainter and fainter
they grew. leaving the little whisper
of an echo with her. Still she strained,
despite herself. to catch what that
whisper was. though she. better than
anyone else, already knew. Until
death-until death-untii DEATH