Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-10

man, 1OI IN CEuIu tue V0Iy UE00tu VI
his life was leaving him. A drumming
came into his ears. He felt that he
must cali to her before It was too late.
He was counting aloud now, his voice
like the moan Of man on the rack:
Mine! Tent
A frenzy to voice his su6erings
swept over him, but he held himself.
Only a moment more and she would be-
gone. Her life would be spared this
dark shadow. and she would never
know.
Toward the last he was reeling, but
he continued to toll the seconds with
the monotonous regularity Of 4 time
piece, his every power centered on tho
process. The idea came to him that
he was counting his own fiickering
pulse throbs for the last time. With
tremendous effort OF viii he smooth
ed his face and felt his way to the
open window, for by now she must be
entering the landau. A moment later
and she would turn to watt him her
last adieu. Her last! God! How tho
seconds lagged!, That internal thump.
ing in his ears had drowned the noises
from the street below. He felt that
for all time the torture OF this moment
would live with him.
Then he smiled. He smiled blindly
out into the glaring sunlight and bow.
ed, and bowed and smiled again. cling
ing to the, window casing to support
himself. BY now she must have reach
ed the corner. He freed one hand and
waved it gayly. Then with outnung
arms he stumbled back into the room,
the hot tears coursing down his cheeks.
Marmion Moore halted upon the
stairs and felt mechanically for her
gold chatelaine. She recalled dropping
it upon the center table as she went
forward with hand outstretched to
greet Austin and turned back. then
hesitated But he was leaving tomof.
row. He would not misapprehend the
meaning of her reappearance. She
meditated, so, summoning her courage,
she mounted the stairs quickly.
The door was half ajar, as she had
left 1t in her confusion. mastering q
careless smile. she was about to knock.
then paused. Austin was facing her
in the middle Of the room, beating time.
He was counting aloud. But was that
his voice? In the brief instant she had
been gone he had changed astounding
". Moreover. notwithstanding the fact
that she stood plainly revealed, he
made no sign Of recognition, but mere
~ counted on and on. with the voice OF
a dying man. She OWNED that some
thing was sadly amiss and wondered
for an instant II be had lost his senses
She stood transf1xed. half minded to
fee. yet held by some plying desire to
help. Then she saw him reach forward
and grope his way uncertainty to the
window. In his progress he stumbled
against chair. He had to feel for
the casing. Then she knew.
She found herself inside the room
staring with wide. affrighted eyes at
him, one hand pressed to her bosom to
still its heaving. She saw him nodding
toward the street below and saw his
CHASTITY attempt to smile. She heard
the breath signing from his lungs and
heard him muttering her name. Then
he turned and lurched past her. crop
ing, cropping for his chair. She cried
out sharply in stricken voice:
Mr.. Austinr'
The man froze In his tracks, then
swung his head slowly from side to
side as II listening.
What The word came like. tho
crack of gun. Then after q moment,
"Marmion"' He spoke her name ~ IL
to test his own hearing. 1t was the
first time she had ever heard him use
her maiden name
She slipped forward until within an
arms length Of him. then stretched
forth wildly shaking hand and pass
ed 1t before his unwinking eyes a. she
still disbelieved. Then he heard her
moan.
"Marmion" he cried again. my
God little girl! I-heard you go!''
Then this-this is the reason" she
said. "Oh-hw
What are you doing here? Why
did you come backT' be demanded
brutally.
II forgot my No! God sent me
back!"
There was pause. during which the
man strove to master himself. Then he
asked her in the same harsh accents:
How long have you been hereT'
Long enough to see-and to under
stand"
"Well, you know the truth at last
I-have gone-blindr' The last word
caused his lips to twitch. He knew
from the sound that she was weeping
bitterly.
please don't. 1 have used my eyes
too much, that Is all. 1t is-nothing."
mo, no, mol" she said brokenly.
Don't you think understand? Don't
you think see it all now7 But why
why didn't you tell me2 Whyr
When he did not answer she repeat.
ed: God sent me back Ii was not
meant to be 80 unhappy"
Austin felt himself shaken 40 II By =
panic. he cried hurriedly:
"You see, We have been such good
friends. knew 1t would distress you.
wanted to spare you that You
were good comrade to me. We weEe
like chums. Yes, we were chums. No
friend could have been dearer to mo
than you, Miss Moore. never had Z
sister, you know. III thought Of You
that way, and r. He was struggling
desperately to save the girl. but bis In
coherent words died on his HIPS as no
folf bor come clOse and Law her cheek