The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-21
Not Quite
Thoroughbred
By MYRA CURTIS LANE

that husband of hers who had
sworn to love and cherish and pro-
tect her, thoughr Barbara bitterly.
1hat was what game Of marrying
man out Of pV4ue because ones
one.
Barbara had been all but engaged
TO Richard Nevins before she ever
met Cy Hoadley. But they had
quarreled. and Dick had gone away.
ana Mr.. Hoadley bad asked her
again and
That was three years ago. and
Dick was back in town again.
cyrus didn't know that, but then
ne knew and cared for nothing 'ex-
cept the Chemical Works. And
Dlck was standing In front of Bar
bara, pleading.
Barbara, it was all a ghastly
mistake. I never ceased to care
Tor you. was coming back to tell
you SO. when I heard you were mar.
ried. Then l went West, and I'm
rich now, Barbara"
She lifted her eyes coolly to his.
amazed that he could not see how
her heart was beating. It was
astounding that he could not hear
that heavy hammertng in her ears
My sister wrote me that your
marriage had been n mistake. thar
you didn't care for him"
That was Dicks first mistake.
He had always been a little lacking
In tact-poor Dick. That had been
Mt the root of their bitter quarrel.
Some instinct had told Barbara
that Dick was not quite thorough.
bred. But then there was her love
for him. That love she had denied
He did not see how she resented
the fact of her unhappiness heccm
ing the gossip of the town.
Dick seized her hands. Barbara,
I've come back to tell you that I
Still love you" :.
"You-you have no right TO tell
me, Dick" she faltered., Oh. hard
1t was to resist him when all her
heart went out in longing toward
him.
Barbara - Dicks face was very
near her own. II want you to come
West with me and let us begin a
new life together. Will you leave
everything for loves sake. Bar
bara?"
A sudden ringing of the telephone
interrupted them. Coolly Barbara
detached her hands and went to
the instrument. She took down the
receiver. Next moment she had
hung it up and was looking at Dick
with CHASTITY expression on her
face.
There's been an accident at the
Works." she faltered. MY hus-
band has been badly hurt. You
must 60 now"
And even then he hadn't the tact
to see that for the immediate pres
ent his moment had passed. Pres.
emily the ambulance came up with
Cyrus Hoadley.
He had been badly burned. The
doctor held out no hope OF life.
There would be intense suffering
for a few days, then-the end.
That struggle was the hardest
Barbara had ever endured. Sitting
beside the sick man, hearing her
name mentioned in his delirium,
tending him, fighting down her love
for Dick.
He came every day to inquire. hut
1t was on the day of the crisis that
he spoke again:
Barbara, l hear Doctor Bent.
wica has said that there's no chance
Of\fAS recovery. l don't want to
bother you, Barbara, but it's mir
acle of luck for us. When it's all
over We"
Barbara never knew what i'm
pulse made her turn on Dick 50
fiercely, and she, listened to her
voice as If 1t had come from strange
lips.
Dick" she said, when you leave
e-immediately-I want you new
er to enter this house again or at.
tempt to speak to me. That's my
answer"
An ugly sneer curved his lips.
$50 you've made fool of me
again?"
I'm true to my husband as long
as he lives"
well, he won't live, don't wor.
ry." Dick flung himself out of the
house, and never to the last day of
his life did he understand.
But Barbara was sitting beside
her husband and listening again tn
the delirious tale of his love for
her. He had known there was an.
other, he had tried to forget ty
shutting himself up with his bust.
ness, but he loved her.
Toward dawn the delirious man
came slowly back to consciousness.
He looked at her incredulously.
"You. Barbara? The-the acct.
dent"
She bent and kissed him. Flush,
dearest. It's all right now. every.
thing"
He seized her hand. Barbara,
IL thought"
II know, dear. That was a mis-
take too," she answered.
She had never seen him smile 50
contentedly as when he dropped OIL
to sleep. She sat there till the doc.
tor entered.
"Why. Mrs. Hoadley. you've
worked a miracle" he exclaimed.
II believe he's got chanceA now.
Barbara only smiled. 1t was the
miracle of illumina ton. -
C. 1923. Western Newspapsr UnSoa.D