The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1894-10-24 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHAPTER XXXII/. TILE TWO 11021711.118. • When Christine saw that Dennis was not . the room, she rushed to a window only in time ; to see his retreating form Flossing down the street. For a moment she felt like one left I to perish on s. sinking wreck. His words, so assured in their tones, seemed like those of a prophet. Conscience echoed them, and a chill of fear come over her heart. What if he were right? What if she had let the one golden opportunity of her life pass ? Even though she had stolen her inspiration from him through guile and cruelty, had lie not enabled her to accomplish more than in all her life before? To what might he not have led her, if she had put her hand frankly and truthfully in his! There are times when to those most bewildered in the mares of error, light breaks, clear and unmistakable, defining right and wrong with terrible distinctness. Such an hour was this to Christine. The law of God written on her heart assorted itself, and she trembled at the guilty thing she saw herself to be. But there seemed no remedy save in the one she had driven away, never to return, sho believed. After a brief but painful reverie she exclaimed : "But what am I thinking of! What can he or any man of this land be to me?" Then pride, her dominant trait, awoke as she recalled his words. "Ho despi6cs ins, does ho! I will teach him that I belong to a sphere he cannot touch,— the poor infatuated youth l And did he dream that I, Christine Ludolph, could gins him my hand? He shall learn some day that none in this land (*old receive that honour, ai;il 110110 save the proudest in my own may hope for it. The Wen of my giving up my ancient and honourable name for the sake of the miknown Yankee youth." Bold, proud words that her heart did nob echo. _ . . .  But pride and anger were now her controlling hnindsos, and AVitil the strong grasp of her resolute will she crushed back her gentler and better feelings, and became more icy and Inn(' than ever.  ..... By such choice and action, men and women commit moral suicide. With a cold, white face, and a burnished, gleam in Inr eyes, she went to the easel and vonimeeiced painting out the ominous black stain . . .  •• t'll prove him a false prophet also. I will be an artist without passing through all his sentimental and superstitious phases that have) so amused me during tho past noels& have seen his lovelorn face too often nob to ho able to reproduce it end its various expres•  tier strokes were qinew ana &most neree. "Mrs. Dennis Fleet, ha ha I ha!" and her Inligh 1,111.9 as harsh and discordant as the fooling that prompted IL • Agnin, a little later: "Ho 'despise. mo I Well, ho is the first man that ever dared to any that i" and her face was flushed and dark with anger. • e • • •  Dennis at first walked rapidly from the scene of his bitter disatipointment, but his steps snoti grow slow and feeble. The point of Clitifll7lllCO was passed. Body and mind acting Allll rea,ting on each other had been taxed beyond their powers, and both were giving way. He felt that they were, aii.l stroggled to reach the store before the crisis should come. Weak and trembling, he mounted the stops but fell faillting MAIMS the threshold. One of the clerks saw him fall and gave the alarm. Mr. Liulolpli, Mr. Schwartz, and others hastened to the spot. Dennis wits carried to his room, and a messenger was dospatched for Dr. Anton. Ernst, with flying foot, and wild, frightened face, soon reached his home 111 De Karen Street, and startled his father and mother with the tidings. The child feared that Dennis was dead, his face was so thin end white. Leering the children in Ernst care, both Mr. and Mrs. Brinier, prompted by their strong gratitude to Dennis, rushed through the streets as if distracted. Their intense anxiety and warm German feeling caused them to heed no more tho curious glances cast after them than would a man swimming for life note the ripple he made. When Dennis regained consciousness, they, Mr. Ludolph and Dr. Arten, were around him. At first his mind was confused, and he could not understand it all.  "Where am I?" he asked, feebly, " and what has happened ? " "Do not be alarmed ; you have only bad a faint turn," said the doctor. • " 0 Mr. Fleet, you vork too hart, you rork too hart; I knew die vould come," sobbed Min. Bruiler.  " Why, his duties in the store Lave not been so onerous of late," said Mr. Lndolph, in some surprise. "It is not der vork In der store, but lie vork nearly all night too. Den he hot had trouble, I know ho hat Do he say no vort about him ? "  vonms gave Mrs. Broder a sudden warning look, and then, through the strong instinct to guard his secret, roused himself. 'ls it anything serious, doctor?" he asked. The physician looked grave, and said, "Your pulse and whole appearance indicate great ex. haustion and physical depression, and I also fear that fever may set in." "I think you are right," said Dennis. " I feel as if I were going to be ill. My mint has a tendency to wander. Mr. Ludolph, will you permit me to go home? If I am to be sick, I want to be with my mother" Mr. Ludolph looked inquiringly at the doctor, who said significantly, in a low