Roanoke Rapids herald., 1924-01-11
Miracle of
Illumination
y MYRA CURTIS LANE

1
THE Works monopolized him-that
husband of hers who had sworn
to love and cherish and protect her,
thought Barbara bitterly. That was
what came Of marrying a man out of
pique because ones sweetheart had
gone away and left 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, and Mr..
hoadley had asked her again and
That was three years ago, and Dick
was back In town again.
Cyrus didn't know that, but then
he knew and cared for nothing ex-
cept the Chemical Works. And Dick
was standing in front Of Barbara,
pleading
Barbara, 1t was all a ghastly mis-
take. l never ceased to care for YOU.
1 was coming back to tell you So when
l heard you were married Then /
went West, and Pm rich now, Bar
bars
amazed that he could not see how her
heart was beating. 1t was astound-
ing that he could not hear that heavy
hammering in her ears.
MY sister wrote me that your mar
riage had been 4 mistake. that 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 at
the root Of their bitter quarrel. Some
instinct had told Barbara that Dick
was not quite thoroughbred. 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 becoming the
gossip of the town.
Dick seized her hands. Barbara,
I've come back to tell you that still
love you"
"You-Sou have no right to tell me.
Dick" she faltered oh. how hard It
was to resist him when all her heart
went out in longing toward him.
Barbara" Dicks face was very
near her own. 81 want you to come
West with me and let us begin a new
life together. Will you leave every
thing for loves sake, Barbara
A sudden ringing of the telephone
interrupted them. Coolly Barbara de-
tached her hands and went to the in
strument. She took down the receiver.
Next moment she had hung it up and
was looking at Dick with a ghastly
expression on her face.
| Works." she faltered. my husband
has been badly hurt. You must 20
now"
And even then he hadn't the tact
to see that for the immediate present
his moment had passed. Presently me
ambulance came up with Cyrus Hoad-
ley
He had been badly burned. The
doctor held out no hope Of life. There
would be intense suffering for 4 few
days, then-the end.
That struggle was the hardest
Barbara had ever endured. Sitting be-
| side the rich man, hearing her name
mentioned in his delirium, tending
him. fighting down her love for
Dick.
He came every day to inquire. bat
1t was on the day Of the crisis that
he spoke again:
Barbara, 1 hear Doctor Bentwich
has said that there's NO chance Of his
recovery. I don't want to bother you.
Barbara. but it's 4 miracle Of luck
for US. When it's all over we"
Barbara never knew what impulse
made her turn on Dick 10 nereely, and
she listened to her voice A. II 1t had
come from strange lips
Dick" she said, "when you leave
me-immediately- want you never ts
enter this house again or attempt te
speak to me. That's my answer"
An ugly sneer curved his lips. "Se
you've made 4 fool Of me again?'
I'm true to my husband as long a
he lives"
"Well. he won't live. don't worry"
Dick flung himself out of the house
and never to the last day of his life
did he understand
But Barbara was sitting beside he'
husband and listening again to tha
delirious tale Of his love for her. HI
had known there was another, he hat
tried to forget by shutting himself ny
with his business. but he loved her.
Toward dawn the delirious mai
came slowly back to consciousness. Ht
looked at her incrsdulously.
You. Barbara? The-the acci
dent"
She bent and kissed him. Hush
dearest. It's all right now, every
thing"
He seized her hand. Barbara, +
thought"
II know, dear. That was a mistake
too," she answered.
She had never seen him smile u
contentedly A. when he dropped Of
to slsep. She sat there till the doc
tor entered.
"Why, Mrs. Hoadley, you've worke'
miracle" he exclaimed. Il believ'
he's got a chance now"
Barbara snly smiled. 1t was tn
miracle Of illumination.
Skunks Invade Village.
The Adirondack village Of Keene !
snfPerinv frcm an invasion of skunk