The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-22
CHAPTER LIv.
The WIG.

AKHlU luTSG udyb OAf@kS~1b
dIth, returning from the double iu'
neral of her father and sister, doHed
her mourning for a gown less somDer
and more suited TO the atmosphere OF
a sickroom, then relieved the nurse
In charge of Alan.
He remained as he had been ever
since the falling OF the thunderDoit-
in absolute coma.
But he lived, and--or the physicians
lied--must soon regain consciousness
Kneeling beside his bedside Judith
prayed long and earnestly
When she arose 1t was to answer
a tap upon the door. She admitted
Tom Barcus and suffered him to lead
her into the recess of the window,
where 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,
Barcus announced with characteristic
awkwardness, 1--WE known It for
three days--ever since the wedding,
in fact-and kept 1t to myself, not
knowing whether / ought to tell you
yet or not"
He paused, cycling her uncertaiRly.
unhappily.
II am prepared" Judith assured
him calmly.
You're nothing Of the SORT" he
countered. argumentative. you
anuIHtatf kn rsxaU
thing imaginable. See here +. :"
"Well?"
You understand don't you, that
Alan must never know that Rose was
killed by that lightning strokeT'
What do you mean?"
Il mean," the man fioundered mis-
erably, you see, he loved her SOL
thought-Pm sure it would be best
II you can bring yourself to ito let
him go on believing it wasn't Rose
who was killed, but Judith. And that's
skating SO close to the truth that IL
makes no difference: the Judith Alan
knew and the Judith | knew in the
beginning Is gone as completely as
though she and not Rose had been
killed"
After long pause, the girl asked
him quietly: 81 understand. But is
it possible you don't understand that,
II | were to consent to this propos.-
ton, lend myself to deception which
| must maintain through all my life
to COMEDIAN would consider me his
wife?"
We'll, but-you see-you are his
wife. Oh, don't think I'm off my
bat I'm telling you the plain, unvar
n1shed truth. You are Alan's wife.
No, listen to me. You remem.
Der that day in New York when you
substituted for Rose, when Alan tried
to elope with her, and you went with
him to Jersey City, and stood up to be
married by a preacher-guy named
Wright-and Marrophat broke in Just
at the critical moment and busted up
the party?"
Well?' she demanded breathlessly.
Barcus produced folded yellow pa
per from his coat pocket and prof.
fered it.
Read that. 1t was handed to me-
as best man, just before the cere-
mony. Seeing it was addressed to
Alan and knowing he was in no frame
OF mind to be bothered by kilograms.
slipped it into my pocket and forgot
all about 1t temporarily. When
came to find 1t, took the liberty NJ
reading It, But read it for Yourself"
The typewriter lines of the long
message blurred and ran together al
most indecipherably in Judith's vision.
None the less, she contrived to grasn
the substance of its meaning.
WHY DIDN'T YOU WIRE MN
SOONER" it ran: MARRIAGE TO
ROSE IMPOSSIBLE. REV. MIR
WRIGHT INFORMED ME YOIIP
MARRIAGE TO JUDITH LAST
WEEK HAD GONE TOO FAR WHEN
MARRoPHAT INTERRUPTED TT,
DITH LEGALLY YOUR wIEn
WOULD HAVE ADVISED YoTS
SOONER HAD YOU LET ME KNOW
WHERE TO ADDRESS YOU. Hope
TO HEAVEN THIS GETS TO yoII
BEFORE TOO LATE"
The message was signed with tha
name of Alan's confidential man y,
business In New York.
When Judith looked up she mo.
alone in the room. but for the silent
patient on his couch.
Slowly, almost fearfuliy. she cran.
to his bedside and stood looking down
into the face OF her husband.
And while she looked Alan,s lash..
nuttered. his respiration quickened
faint color crept into his pallid chest
and his eyes opened wide ens
looked into hers.
His lips moved and breathed . word
of recognition: "oiu
Judith"
With low cry of tenderness ~
girl sank to her knees and enoI,o'
his head with her arms. eu
Judith she whispered h,dInv -
race in his bosom, judith 10 ner
more
A pause; and then the feebla vo,o..
Then, If was mistaken I, We,