The Press., 1918-04-18

Dropping Ills F@ce tneo HlS Hanos. thronedl> In Ave minutes" he added slowly, solemnly, fixing his eyes on the clock on the mantel, "then to die, to sleep. to dream, who knows"
 There was a rustic beyond the near drapery. but Darius Marsh was so ab. sorbed in his medltations that he did not note the fact. He watched the hand of the clock, slowly, surely mark off the passing minutes. The fifth, which he had set for hls doom, was nearing its end. He removed the cork from the phIal. He raised the tiny bottle to his lips. Then he swung aside, abashed and dazed. Fleet as shadow, form had sprung, from be- hind the draperies. A hand shot out. The fatal phial was torn from his grasp. Its new pOssessor gave 1t 6 fling into the grate, where 1t crashed into a thousand pieces.
 F Darius Marsh sprang to his feet to confront the intruder who had baffled his deadly purpose. Flaming wrath was in his eyes. He quivered from head to foot as he raised both armssto direct them full force against the per son who had invaded the privacy of his own apartments, who had dared to frustrate his designs. Then those hands fell motionless. The. strong classic face died down in It's express sion of unrestrained fury to helpless subjugation, to an influence or emo tion potent to change the lion into the lamb.
 ',You-Harold Wynnei"-the would be suicide said weakly, and sank back into the chair he had just vacated, and dropping his bloOdless face into his hands he bent forward, convulsing. with the sentient emotions consuming his strong. but now drifting, soul.
 The intruder whom Darius Marsh had designated as Harold Wynne stood directly In front of him with a pitying face. For some moments there was dead silence. Then the hand of Wynne reached out with a touch tender as that of pitying angel. It rested on the bowed head of the other.
 q feared when learned of the blow to your pride, to your fond dreams of ambition" spoke the young man, ''that you would never face 1t as would those of common clay. I hurried here. for I knew that here you would finally come. My friend, my patron, my more than father, oh! crush down the im- pulse that would make of you a re- proach to yourself. You, whose might. will and genius should lift you high above the heads of the common herd" "You do not know" began the other, and his tones were sentient with the humiliation Of proud spirit crushed down into the mire. s= e@
 "I know all," interrupted the other, "and l realize the deep wound that popular caprice had dealt your noble nature. l have hastenetl to you. who have made me all that l am. have abandoned all my own puny affairs and have come to remain by your side, your champion, your protector. until back Into the teeth of the snarling critic, the hidden snakes In the grass, your envious rivals, you have flung the taunting repr0ach with which they dared to assaIl you. What! Lie @0WA AO DC NAM0AAEn Dg hordei Oh, neverI neverl You shall rise to your glory and grandeur. Aye, higher and more brilliant, more stead fast. know itl I swear It! have come to help you accomplish 1t, with faith In your rare dramatic power. I know that the world needs you, wants you"
 Darius Marsh lifted his blo0dless face, a faint token of hope apparent amid It's weariness.
 If there were nothing but the ids Qf gratitude and devotion that binds me to yon,p began Wynne, land rs. gard for the noble Awoman whose love Is an Inestimable treasure"
 DO not name her: forbid yOuI" cried Marsh. springing to his feet and pacing the floor in poignant, uncOn- trolable emotion. '~ThRt is a dream gone by. Think you ] would link hes