The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-04-24
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A CRY IN
THE NIGHT
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By GENEVIEvE ULMAR
lcopyrIrht. ls2O. weatern Nswspaper Unionl

his lonely home, Phillip Vance was I'M
mersed in painful thoughts. Two vivid
pictures, coming, going, haunting
agonlzing at times, stirred his spirit
to its depths.
He had known two women In MS
life who had filled 1t and then van
ished. His lips grew stern as he re-
called Vera Liscomb and pictured her
dark, scornful siren face. 1t was an
instinct OF pity that had led him to
be o friend of one who came across
his path as a poor orphan girl with
tale OF friendlessness and struggle,
the very .falseness of which made him
doubt all mankind when he came to
know that she was a schemlng, heart
less adventures. Sorry for her ap-
parent loneliness he had asked her
to become his wife. He did not love
her; it was all an impulse of sympa.
thy. Her brother had preyed upon
him for monetary assistance, and when
Vance was certain of the stained past
of the pl0tful twain he had confronted
them with stern, set face.
in that enveloee," he said. casting
the same before them, sis money
enough, hope, to take both Of you
out OF my life foreverl"
The man had seized the envelope
with eager avarice. The woman bad
turned on Vance in a fury OF hate
and menace. She raved, she threat
ened, she swore 10 have revenge. She
admitted her unworthiness, she even
faunted it in his face. ~-t,
A year later, after the scar had
healed, he met Evelyn Wilton, simple
country, girl. She was the direct op-
posite of that other one, 1t seemed
as If destiny, seeking to make amends
for the first stunning blow to faith
and hope, had brought into his life
an angel. Love irra1iated the hours.
They welded, and at the end of
year sweet little cherub, Dorothy,
came to bless their happy lives.
And then-heartbreak. devastation,
misery, sudden as a lightning stroke.
Vance came home one day 10 find the
house desefed--wife and child we're
gone. For week he sought them
frantically and then came a letter ex-
planning ALL 1t was signed with the
initials OF Vera Liscomb and it gloat-
ed over the revenge accomplished. He
was told that Evelyn had fled from him
az from pestilence. Craftily the
cruel siren had poisoned every thought
of the pure. innocent wife and he
would never see her again Then
Vance had settled down into a dull
monotony, suffering, feeling bereft of
all that made life worth living.
"Hark l'l1e ,sal~l
lnvoluntarlly the word rose to his
lips. Outside there was borne upon
the chill night blast cry-long, wall
ing, infantie. He knew not why. but
the accents seemed to echo within his
very soul. He hastened to the door,
opened It and stared down at a basket
covered with, a warm wrap. Trembling
all over he lifted it into the room and
drew aside the covering
Dorothy" he gasped, and tottered
and reeled. His own child.
Instantly he ran for a neighbor and
his wife. Incoherently informing them
of the situation, Vance dashed forth
into the storm and darkness in quest
of the person who had left him a
blessing, but had disappeared, leav-
ing a mystery unsOlved. Had the moth
er brought The child or sent it? At
least she was the inspiration for the
the mother, but his efforts met with no
success.
Time drifted on and the child be-
came the one thought of his life He
employed a kindly old lady as house.
keeper. and day by day, the little one
grew dearer and nearer to him. One
night telephone message reached
him, announced as from large city
hospital
"A dying woman begs Us to send for
YOU" ii said and. thinking of his wife,
Vance FASTENED upon his eager miss
sion. He was amazed when ;he was
shown to a cot upon which lay what
was left of Vera LiScomb. He, was
shocked as he viewed the. wreck of
a once dominant grace and beauty.
az have but few hours to live" she
breathed. catching feverishly at his
hand Il could not die with my aw-
full deeds upon my soul | cannot re-
store your dear ones for | know not
whittier they Went, but oh say that
vou forgive"
Then the quiyering woman sank
back Vance stepped from the room
rs physician hastened to the cot
With a reviving cordial
"Send the new nurse to take charge
IT the case" he directed an assist
ant. Vance. his head bowed in SOM
her thought looked up startled rs
from the lips Of Vera Liscomb there
BURST forth the impsssioned words:
.oh. heaven has answered my
prayer, Philip vance-zyeur wife J"
Vance stood spellbound. Appearing
through the doorway was the new
lurse. After all the years-his wife,"
"Quick come here ;" cried Vera Lis
.omb. 81 would tell you all Of how
have wronged you and your hus-
,anG." and as Evelyn approached the
lying woman poured forth her confess