Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-12-15

"tpaate hand upon his shoulder.
Don't let 80, Bob. Hold your
thoughts steady and sober up. We
must all help"
Darkness found Bob huddled In his
chair, fighting for his senses, but as
the liquor died in him terrible fancies
came to life. A frightened maid began
preparations for his dinner. but he
ordered her away. Then when she
brought him tray, anger at the
thought That his own comfort should
be considered Of consequence made
him refuse to touch 1t.
At length his inactivity became I'M
bearable, and. feeling the desperate
need of sane counsel, he telephoned
John MerkIe. Bob was TOO deeply agi-
tated to more than note the bankers
statement that Mr.. and Mrs. Hannibal
Wharton were In the city, but. recall
ing 1t later, he experienced stab Of
regret that his mot err WIS not here to
comfort Lorpit in the first great crisis
of her womaHhool. 1t hsl been Lore
LET'S wish that her own mother he kept
In ignorance OF The truth, and now,
therefore, TIE girl had no one TO lean
upon except an impractical stage
woman--Nnl 4 drunken husband. In
Bobs mind the pity Of 1t grew as the
time crept on,
But Adoree Demorest was wonder
full. Despite her incSperience, she was
calm. capable. sympathetr, and. best
Of all. her nornIalty afforded sup
port upon which both the husband and
the wife could rest. When she finally
made herself ready for the street Bob
cried plteously:
You're not going to leave usY
II must. It's nearly theater-time,
she told him. ITS one Of the penal
ties of this business that nothing must
hold the curtain; but III be back the
minute the show Is over.
"Lorelei needs you"
Adoree nodded; her eyes met Bob's
squarely, and he saw that they were
wet. Her face was tender and she
appeared very simple and womanly at
this moment. Her absurd theatrical
ism was gone; she was natural. unaf-
fected young woman.
II wish | could do something to
help" YEARLY continued Bob, but
Adoree shook her head so violently that
the barbarlc beaded festoon beneath
her chin clicked and ratified.
"She knows you're close by; that's
enough This Is poor time to preach,
butt seems to me if you've got bit
of real manhood in you, Bob, you'll
never drink again. The shock OF see
ing you Hike this-when she needed
you-ddn't help her any"
II know! | know The words were
wrung from him like a groan. But
the thing IL bigger and stronger than
I am. 1t takes both OF us together to
fight II. II she should-leave me, I'd
never pull through and wouldn't
want TO-"
Never until she left Loreleis house
and turned toward the white lights or
Broadway did Adoree Demorest fully
realize whittier her theatrical career
had carried her Adoree knew herself
10 be pure. But the world considered
her evil, and evil In its eyes she would
remain. At this moment she would
gladly have changed places with that
other girl whose life hung in the scales.
John Merkle had never lost Interest
in Loraei, nor forgotten her refusal
of his well-meant offer Of assistance.
1t pleased him to read into her char
acter beauties and noblltles OF which
she was utterly unconscious If not ac-
tually devoid. Soon after his talk with
Bob he telephoned Hannibal Wharton,
making known the situation In the
most dlsagreeable ana biting manner
of which he was c,Sable. Strange to
say. Wharton heard him through. then
thanked him before ringing off.
When Hannibal hal r3pelted the
news to his wife, she rlogol slowly to
n window ard stood There s,ar!Ng down
into the differing cha n Of 'if+h ave-
nue.. Bobd mo,Acr wla q i,l.., erect
impressive woman, Tt.rl'd a4l sac
dened with tApwc'rht " her husbands
millions. Thee hal been tlAc when
society knew ben, bur Of late years
she saw few people, and her name was
seldom mentioned except IN connectSn
with her bencllctlous Hannibal WAR
ton was screuc,y conscious Of Der COM
plete accord with his every action, and
In reportIng Merkles conversation he
spoke muslngly, as man speaks TO
himself.
"John loves TO be caustlc; he likes
to vocalize bis dyspepsia" the old man
muttered. Mrs. Wharton did not SUR
there was something uncompromlsing
in the rigid lines of her back ana Id
her stIffiy poised head. People OF her
kind always have children" he con-
tlnued, "and that's what told Bob l
told him he was laying up trouble for
himself"
Bob had more to him than we
thought" irrelevantly murmured the
mother.
more than we thought" Hanni-
bal shook his head. Not more thGn
thought. knew he had 1t In him;
you were the one
"No, no! We both doubted. Perhaps
this girl read him."
"Sure she read him. snorted the
father. "She read his bank book. But
! fooled her"
"Do you remember when BOD was
born? The doctors thought"
"of course | remember" her hus'
band broke In. "Those doctors said
you'd never come through it
"Yes; | wasn't strong"
"But you did. was with you.
fought for you. | wouldn't LET you die