The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-02-19
CHAPTER LIV.
The Wife.

|
dith, returning from the double fu-
neral Of her father and sister, doffed
her mourning for gown less somber
and more suited to the atmosphere Of
sickroom, then relieved the nurse
In charge of Alan.
He remained as he had been ever
since the falling of the thunderbolt-
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
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, I've known II for
three days-ever since the wedding.
In fact-and kept it to myself, not
knowing whether I ought to tell you
yet or not"
He paused, cycling her uncertainty.
unhappily
Il am prepared" Judith assured
him calmly.
You're nothing of the sort" he
countered. argumentative. you
couldn't be. It's the most amazing
thing imaginable. E. 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 f1oundered mis-
erably, you see, he loved her SOL
thought-Pm sure 1t would be best
If 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 1t
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 a long pause, the girl asked
him quietly: II understand But is
it possible you. don't understand that,
II were to consent to this PROPOSE
ton. lend myself to a 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-
nished 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.
| AbCdu IudI. IL Wdb u
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,
I slipped 1t into my pocket and forgot
all about it temporarily. When
came to find it, took the liberty of
reading 1t. 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 grasp
the substance of its meaning.
WHY DIDN'T YOU WIRE ME-
SOONER" 1t ran: MARRIAGE To
ROSE IMPOSSIBLE REV. MR..
WRIGHT INFORMED ME YOUR
MARRIAGE TO JUDITH LAST
WEEK HAD GONE TOO FAR WHEN
MARROPHAT INTERRUPTED. JU-
DITH LEGALLY YOUR WIFE.
WOULD HAVE ADVISED YOU
SOONER HAD YOU LET ME KNOW
WHERE TO ADDRESS YOU HOPE
TO HEAVEN THIS GETS TO YOU
BEFORE TOO LATE"
The message was signed with the
name of Alan's confidential man Of
business In New York
When Judith looked up she was
alone in the room. but for the silent
patient on his couch.
Slowly, almost fearfully, she crept
to his bedside and stood looking down,
into the face of her husband.
And while she looked Alan's lashesi
fluttered, his respiration quickened, q
faint color crept into his pallid cheeks
and his eyes opened wide and
looked into hers.
His lips moved and breathed word
of recognition:
Judith"
With a low cry Of tenderness, the
girl sank to her knees and encircled
his head with her arms.
Judith" she whispered, hiding her
face in his bosom, Judith Is no
more :"
A pause; and then the feeble voice: