THE GLOVE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 8 June 1907, Page 4

THE GLOVE.

It was women call a "small six," I believe, of grey suede, with four fascinating little buttons and three black stripes down the back. And it possessed a sweet and elusive fragrance. As I lingered it and noticed its characteristics, my amazement to find it on my table vanished before a sense of being charmed. lam not unusually susceptible to the subtle inlliieiiee of the fair sex; but, really, that ■rlove was a charming.thing, not, perhaps, so much in itself as in what it suggested of its original owner. And the mystery of it!

H hail lain upon my table in the window right in tVe centre of a splash of warm sunlight, which old Sol could not have direclcd in a way to show the -love up to belter advantage if it bad been the limelight man from the theatre a few yards 11W ay from the block of Hals on (he second Hour of which I made my home. ' The whole thing was admirably arranged for dramatic oncer. And it was absurdly mysterious!

I was practically certain that on entering the llal II ; ■•' latch-key to open the frim . : -i Bright, my man, followed m.- in, taking my bags straight to my bedroom. ■T.riglit!"' I said, dropping the glove into a drawer of the table for the moment. "Bright! You're sure nobody has been?"

"Nobody 'ad been, sir, when F came down to the station to meet you, sir." lie said; a somewhat puzzled expression appearing on bis usually immobile face. "Did you secure the door properly when you started?"

"Why-—I 'ope yon don't miss nothing, sir?" he exclaimed anxiously, glancing about him.

'■Xe.~f)h, no, no! Hut did yon!" "I think I could swear I did. sir; but, as yon know, sir, when one 'as shut a door anil opened a door so many times a day for so many months, one does it so lone hardly notices. You opened it with I von latch-key, sir."

-Yes. I suppose I did. . . . Are yo'l sure I did?" -Il'in. All right. Bright." lie disappeared, but relumed almost immediately. "Beg pardon. Mr Winter, lull—you've made me feel quite uneasy, sir. Would you mind telling me if you think anybody did come in ?" •"•(Hi. it's all right. Only 1-1 found lliis lady's glove on my table," 1 said, exhibiting the Irophy. '■found ! You don't mean it, sir!" |"v

"Beg pardon, sir ; JuyC. It's the I most extraordinary thing I ever 'eard I of, sir, an' make:- i:".e feci quite uneasy. I shall 'ave to look out for a new situation."

"Why?" I exclaimed, restoring the glove to the drawer, reverently. "Well, I'm only suited to a bachelor gentleman. 1 'aven't " "What am I but a bachelor?"

"That's true, sir; but if ladies can get in an' out of 'ere leaving gloves an' such like ln-hind 'em without me knowing

"Oh. go along with you, Bright!" I cried, reprovingly, shocked at the fellow's wild conclusions. "I'm the last iiian in the world to lie allured into matrimony by any designing damsels, if that's what you mean."

"That's just what 1 do mean, sir," lie said, stoutly. "What business 'as a female in this Hat, any wily, an' leaviu' fascinating little things like that, too? Whit's she after. I'd like to know? What's she do it for? Why, bless me. it's clear as crystal! She's after excit' ing you interest before you've even set eyes on 'or, that's what it is. I'll ask you leave to 'ave Ihe houter door lilted with a new lock, sir, an' I'll see that it's tight closed another time, sir, or I'll lie losing the best master a man could wish for."

"Much obliged for your commendation, Bright, and I appreciate your singleheart sd devotion. But we'll cling to the existing lock, and 1 forbid you even to oil it. Understand?" "Perfectly, sir," he replied gravely.

I "An' if you should 'appen to 'ear of a single gentleman wantin' a ! igh-class man used to the peculiar ways of militory orliecrs an' would mention nie, I'd be very much obliged sir." '■■ When I've done with you," I said (I had bad him five years, having taken him out of the Army with me), "you'll bo lit for nothing but the workhouse." "You're very kind, I'm sure, sir," he responded, with befitting gratitude, "but I'm so used to being a bachelor's servant I don't think I could possibly get on with a Mrs Winter."

''Calm you fears, Bright," I laughed. "You exaggerate the potentialities of a grey suede glove." 1 turned to the cabinet before the iireplace and door communicating with the drawing-room for a cigarette, and started. "Bright!" I exclaimed. But for the life of me I could not think what to say. "Yes. sir," he said encouragingly. "You might enquire " No, that would not do. I took a cigarette from the cabinet-drawer and lit it to disguise my hesitation and embarrassment. "You might run round to Mr Brissoll's and see if he's returned to town yet."

'"] i 'as, sir; I saw him this morning.'' "Well, go round and find out when he'll he leaving town again," 1 sniil desperately. ''l'm particularly anxious "

T blew a cloud of smoke towards the ceiling to saving the recording angel's time, conscious that I was a shocking bad hand at dissimulation. But Bright seemed to grasp the fact that 1 wanted him away from the flat for a time, and lie went. I felt certain that he perceived that there was something extremely odd in my manner; he reflected it by his own. But, of course, he went, and I jerked my cigarette out of the window and lightly touched my tic. However unnecessary it may be, however inevitably one's tie miy be perfectly arranged, and so on,.a man, I think, generally touches it to assure himself of the fact during such a pause as that during which I waited to hear Bright leave the Hat. But I cannnot conceive why. for I don't suppose one woman in a thousand ever notices a man's neckwear.

Bright left so audibly that I had n momentary suspicion he must have wished me to know directly he'd gone, which seemed to imply he guessed at what 1 knew, and for a trice I felt as cheap as a boy whose father had caught him smoking his best cigars. 1 always felt, somehow, that 1 was accountable to Bright for my behaviour; lie was such a paternal sort of beggar, and had a most extraordinary ami subtle way of compelling confidences. However, I put him of my thoughts for the nonce directly the door banged, and approached the drawing-room door. "..Madam," I said, without entering, but watching her through the crack of the door, "would it embarrass you less for me to make my presence known to you or for you to make your presence known to me';"

"You can come in," she said in a voice that was perfectly in accordance with the delightful perfume of her gloveeven sweeter, and just as elusive. "Thank you," 1 said. And as I entered she rose from the chair in the window and bowed slightly in acknowledgment of my* bow.

She was rather tall and somewhat slim, but neither too much nor too little. She wore a hat, skirt, and bodice of grey, all to match, the bodice being decorated with wbat-you-you-niay-call-'ems, rather like bits of chair armor, and immensely eil'ective, while her skirt had pleats or plastrons or something; 1 was not looking much at her dress.

To describe her further would be an insult to my readers' imagination and overtax my own. "I owe you a thousand apologies," she said, and it seemed to me she detected in my presence something which rather pleased her. "On the contrary," f exclaimed; "1 must apologise for having timed my arrival home so inconveniently." "I don't know what you can think of me!" she said pathetically. ••I'm intensely pleased to hear that. You look fired; won't you sit down?" "Oh, no—no, thank you; I'm not a hit tired. bet me thank you tea' sending your man away. I don't know what 1 should have done if he had caught me here with you " "With mi "

-It is horribly embarrassing, of course, hut —1 feel I ciiii rely oil you to accept my explanation and forgd the unfortujtate episode.'"' "fin afraid not," T said gravely. ''l wish you would sit down. Won't you'! I've been travelling all day. and I'm horrible tired."

"It would lie a double olVonec if my unjustifiable presence liere kept you standing." she responded delightfully, accepting the chair. ■■l feel intuitively that your presence is more than .instilled," 1 said: "I fell, that Hie moment I became aware that you were here." "You are not sitting down how." she s„id." she said, a harder look in her

eves. -You haven't said Unit I might, and 1 feel less tired now yon are sealed." Nevertheless. I took a chair quickly, realising that by standing 1 might induce her (,: be too brief. "I am living in the Hal above this," she heg-ni. "Indeed.!" I exclaimed. '•[ was not A touch of extra color became perceptible in her cheeks. I felt thai 1 bad allowed my pleasure at the announcement lo be 100 manifest. ■■■Where ignorance is bliss.'" she said quickly, a rather roguish expression in her c'-es. which she directed over my

■••"lis folly to be wise.' certainly. Hut you should finish the quotation, which is. I think, 'drink deep, or not at all the " i "Oil," she murmured; "yes."

"I prefer to drink deeply of the knowledge that " ''Please let me finish!" she interposed. | "I was just going out, and was loaning out of th« window when I'dropped my glove. It Hollered down, and a sudden gust of wind blew it .straight in your window."

"'lt's an ill-wind,'" I said quickly "Of course, 1 could have done a hundred things in the circumstances; f could have worn another pair of gloves, or have sent a maid down, or But. of course. f did the worst thing possible! f bad already one glove en, you see, and, as T was coming down to go out, [ came for it myself."

'"' That blows nobody any good 1 concluded. "Of course, I rang." "Of course."

"And I knocked, too, for a long time. And just at the moment frame to the conclusion ihere was nobody in, T discovered it the door was not properly closed. I'm afraid [ must plead guilty to being dreadfully Impulsive. 1 didn't really stop to think what a rude thing 1 was doing. 1 pushed open the door sligh! - l.v and looked straight along, and there was the glove lying on a table in the sunlight!" "And you recovered it?" f suggested. '•No, of course not! I tried to; I entered without thinking, and just as ] did so another gust of wind blew the door to. I was so startled! At the. moment I hurried across the hall, too, I heard you at the door. Then 1 lost my head completely. I took refuge in here." She rose. "I hope you will accept my apologies, and forget " "I'm afraid I ean't do that," I said sharply, rising. "There arc some things a man can not forgive—or forget. You have placed me very awkwardly. You —there was a conversation between my man and myself which "

'M—I don't think you are justified in supposing 1 was eavesdropping as well as trespassing," she said, a trillo indignantly. "But have your qualified denial that you overheard our conversation?" I persisted very gravely. "That was rather too much, hut you cannot possibly suppose I was intentionally listening."

I "No—no. The point is this: If you overheard our conversation you must be aware that I scouted my man's idea that your glove might have a far-reaching iulluence on my life " "Oil, I—l certainly don't think I heard

"And if you didn't hear enough of our conversation to gather that impression," [ said, her hesitation permitting me to continue without rudeness, "I deny all knowledge of the glove." "Hut-—" "1 will have a search made for it with piensuri " ••But " "And if it should |, e found i shall be 'delighted to make certain of its being safely restored to you by personally placing it "

"But you can't deny knowledge of it!" she said, looking irritated witli her eyes and pleased with her lips. J felt emboldened

"f seem to recollect—dimly, finding a glove on the table," 1 murmured tentatively. "What sort of glove is the one you have lost? A nice glove? A nice glove?—of course, soft and small? Very I small?"

"Xot so particularly," she replied; "it it the fellow to this one," raising her right hand. "Oh!" | said, "(he fellow to that one? May I ?"

With some hesitation she laid her gloved hand in mine, "i think there is a resemblance, .yet—no; this is very nice, soft suede, but not of quite so soft a quality as "

She drew her hand away, rather petulantly. "It doesn't matter," she said oddly. "I can get "

"Oh, but I. beg of you!" I exclaimed hastily, alarmed. "You owe to me, I think, an opportunity to restore it to you, if you can satisfy me as to your claim. Pardon me if 1 suggest that (Ik circumstances of your presence here " "Well, there's the glove," she sai.l. "You must know whether (be other is like it."

"The glove I may perhaps have found had a remarkable, delicious perfume. If 1 may be allowed to ascertain whether that one has the same characteristic 1 should hesitate "

"Please, let me go before your man comes back!" she exclaimed, moving towards, the door. "It doesn't matter about the glove."

"Pardon me!" I cried. "You have explained your presence here, which is such a pleasure to mo, by saying you came for a glove, and if you cannot substantiate that by proving that there is a glove belonging to you here, 1 shall be compelled to call the police and give you in charge for being on inclosed premises with intent to commit a felony."

She laughed. It was such a delightful, infectious laugh that 1 fancied I smiled.

"There!" she said, and held out. her right hand, with a very queenly gesture, I thought. I look it ami bent over it. But it was dillicult to detect the fragrance which characterised the other glove, for I felt constrained not to bend my face too close to it. "1 am so sorry," I said, "but I fail [ "I'll take it off!"

"No please don't." "'l'li'-n .1 must go," she exclaimed "You must realise I must go!" Jleluctantly 1 did realise it. "But it seems a pity." 1 said, I'ollowimr her into the other room. "I am quite hopeful that in a minute more I should have traced the proving perfume."

She scarcely seemed to hear me. She ooked Hushed and anxious as she hurled out into the hall. Jt was painfully evident that the spectre of Mrs Irundy had intervened.

"I hope you don't attach considerable importance to recovering the glove?" I will tentatively, opening the outer door for her. and following her on to the landing, where she immediately began to iirealhe more frcelv.

"Oh. no: it doesn't mallei' in Ihe least," she relumed, smiling and preparing to a-cend the .-lairs'. -| ain ashamed of having been betrayed iuN such iiiiusn.ilness by such a irille. and

"»ul i! should mailer a great .leal." 1 said reprovingly, "ii isul id.- lov a lo Ihink strange of a man perhapn treasuring up scented gloves which may be hers."

"Well, will yon let eh it while I wait here?" she inipiired, with an exaggerated air of in.palicn.'o.

"No." I answered firmly. "Thut would close (he im ide.nl, lint would create an ante-climax. You have said that you dropped the g!„ V e out of the window above mine, and, of course, I do mil doubt it, but I—should, like some proof. If you will accord it me by pel-milling in-.' to call on you at your hat, 1 shall have no further excusi "

"ion ere hopeless," she murmured, •villi a sigh, mounting hvo slops. don'! see how you can avoid doing so To refuse would praeiically amount lo a confession that you do not, live in the Hat above mine, and, therefore, that (he glove was not yours; hence you could not ; have been in my il.it for the lawful pur-

pose " "Mother will be back at five," she said softly, smiling down at me. "I will give her fifteen minutes from that hour, in ease she should be hot and tirod," I exclaimed. I fancied she was about to speak again. But she threw a swift look at me, not callously unkind, I thought, and hastened away. But just as she turned the corner of the staircase above me, Blight hurried round the one below. I have reunited bis promptness and dispnlch so keenly before. '•Ilrighl!" "Yes, sir?"

"liriglit Do you wish to leave my service?— ymi know you said thai the other day--you remember the dav f "

"Yes, sir." "You said yon were afraid you would no) get on with a Mrs 'Winter?"

"Yes sir; I remember I did, sir," be answered nil her awkwardly, narrowly searching my tweeds for a. hypothetic:! 1 mud-spol ere he folded them. "f remember I did. sir, an' I meant it at the time, sir. Bui il ain't seemly for an old soldier to desert just because there's a change of command in 'is company, is it-, sir?"—C. Bandolph Lichfield in M.A.P.

THE TEMPTATION. Doctor Bargrave sat writing in his study; be had tiited the shade of the lamp backwards so that the light fell full upon his face the strong, calm faeo of a man who has looked death in the eyes many times as he wrestled for his patients' lives.

Presently there cams a light tap at the door and a voice queried: "May I oome in?"

The doctor pushed aside his papers and crossed the room rapidly. As he opened the door the lines of the grave face softened magically, and a sudden light sprang into his eyes as they rest on the beautiful whifec-robed woman standing on the threshold. He put his hand and drew him to his bosom.

"How lovely you look tonight, Enid, fair as ever, my tonnie wife!" and he bent and kissed her tenderly. "Frasnr told me you were here," she answered, "and I felt 1 must just run in and say 'good-night' before 1 left." He nodded, while his eyes never left the fair, sweet face with its glory of redgold hair. t

"Where are you going to-night?" "To Lady Windermere's first, and on to the Graf tons." "First a dinner and then a dance, eh? Well, childic, I hope you will have a happy time—stay one moment , Enid, I hough," as she commenced drawing her cloak around her shoulders. "Have you forgotten what to-morrow is'.' The second anniversary of our wedding; and I have a tiny remembrance for you which yon may like to war to-night."

lie unlocked a drawer in his de.ifc. and drew out a. small leather case.

She touched the spring, and. as the lid opened a little cry rose to her lips, for there, resting on its white bed. lay nil exquisite diamond brooch, a spray of violets with the penis of each blossr'.in formed of deep, lustrous amethysts, the emblem of fidelity.

"How good of you, Basil —how kind" —a little sob rose to her lips. "I am not worthy of you." she whispered; then as if by a sudden impulse, she tool; a step towards him

"Basil—if—if " the words came haltingly, "if anything should ever come come between us; I mean—if anything should ever happen, would jrou hive me just th" same, 1 wonder—Basil, would von?"

lie looked a l , h-r qveslicningly. "Do not till; so, Knid," he said gravely; "what should come between vis* Bui " his bands clenched, and tlc> firm mouth tightened. Knid shivered v. she saw (hat. look.

Then she shrugged, as if shaking olf an unwelcome burden.

"A truce to such forboriiugs, sweerlieuri; you ale mine and I am yours; why (rouble ourselves with such vain imaginings';" As (he door closed behind her he crossed to the llreplace, and stood looking idown into the glowing embers, old fancies and memories crowding through his brain. lie saw himself a young man again, struggling and unknown; then followed a vista of early successes, bard won and tolled for; then, step by step, the mounting of fame's ladder till he reached the topmost rung, and stood now, at iive-niid-forty,- head and shoulders above his confreres, his name a tiling to conjure with throughout the medical world, the must famous anaethetist of the century

The following afternoon Doctor Bargrave met Knid as he was returning to the house; she was dressed for visiting. "doing out?" he queried, and a shade of disappointment crept into his tone.

"I. have a free hour now, and I had hoped we might have spent it together in honor of the day." "1 am sorry," she murmured,, looking down and struggling with a glove button; "but 1 have promised to have tea with bolty Hill an old promise never fulfilled vet."

"I see; very well, perhaps we can arrange for an outing to-morrow; are you free then?"

"Oh, yes, dear," she answered quickly, almost breathlessly; "any time to-mor-row." "(iood; shall we dine at the llilz, then?" ■ ■ • ;

"Yes, certainly; good-bye, liusil," she laid her hand uii his arm for a inoini'iit, willi a piteous little gesture, half-appeal, half-affection, then she tinned and hastened down the steps to the waiting

motor. "To-morrow," she whispered, "to-mor

"Kleven," lie murmured, "how lale l-jiid is to-night. I had no idea I lie. time bad down so. Perhaps she has returned, (hough."' lie touched Hie bell by his side, and the inscriil inside Frascr appeared. "lias you mistress relumed yel ?" 'ie "No. sir: not yet." "Very well, send the maid- to .bed. I will wail up myself."' The servant withdrew, and Bargravc. commenced lo pace Hie room, his heart lilled with a curious foreboding, an inexplicable presentiment of coming trouble. At the end of twenty minutes there was a sharp ring at the hall door; (ho man felt somehow that, he had been expecting it, and he Hung the door will.' open, letting in a hush of keen, frosty | nir-but. instead of Knid, a District .Messenger boy stud on I lie slep. "l)i- Bnrgrnvo's?" (lie boy asked, holding out the missive. '

"Yes." The man look the letter addressed lo himself in hand's well-known

writing, nnd feverishly broke the seal. The while glare of an electric archlamp in the street shone down upon him as he stood bare-headed by the open door, and by its light he read the filer.

"By I he time this reaches you T shall be in l'aris: do not attempt to follow me. i( were better not for every reason. \ have left you, and tun with Kric. Pvit-

chard; it is best you should know tie; whole truth now, rather than learn il from others later. I have proved :t faithless wife. Ido not ask you to forgive, me, that were impossible; hut. 1 be;;, forget me, forget that I ever cntorel your life save but to sully it; forget, end perhaps some day, when I am nothing but a vague memory, you may forgive.— Enid." ]le read the letter slowly, carefully, to the end; then he loked up slowly, mieeeingly. "Is there any answer, sir'/" (he boy's question broke in upon his dulled brain. "Answer?" Ko, there Is no answer, flood-night," '•flood-night, sir," and the lad hurried

The doctor closed the door, and mechanically drew the heavy bolt MStom it, and then switched off til* nglit, and re-entered his study. lie sank down in a low chair by the face that had escaped till the last, and down a massive silver frame that stood upon his desk. lie was strong in his perfect self-control and with calm deliberation drew the photo from its frame, and with firm, steady hands lore the pictured face across and across into a dozen pieces, then cast them into the lire, lie watched as the dancing flames crackled lvund one piece, ami men another till at last only one little square was left; it was just a portion of Enid's face that had escaped til lthc last, and at the final glimpse of those lovely, haunting eyes his iron composure gave way, and he buried his face in his hands. •'Enid, Enid, my lost love!" he groaned.

Five months had been borne away on Time's swift wings since that fateful day when Enid had left her husband's roof, and in those five months Bargrave had aged twice as many years. By tacit consent oil reference to her departure had been strictly avoided, and the man was grateful for the silent kindliness that forbore to mention his trouble, lie alone knew what the blank in his life meant, the dreariness of the great house without her presence or the loved tones of her voice. After these first terrible hours he had striven to see the matter from her point of view, and make allowances for her. The fault had been greatly his, he argued. It was only natural that a young and beautiful girl should love society and admiration; true, she had had many friends and pleasures, but they had seldom been within their own portals; they had viewed life with such different eyes these two, he seeing tlie grave and sometimes darker side of existence, she only the sunshine; he was to blame, he told himself again and again; he should have striven more to be n real companion to her, to interest himself in all her pursuits, not to have been content only if she seemed happy and bright; she had been more sinned against than sinning perhaps.

lie had never taken into consideration the other side, and how lie had loved her, ■loved her with all his strength of his manhood, with all the passion of his life, and that this devotion had counted for nothing in the end. So (hat now only pity and self-reproach were in his liearl, as fur as Kuiil was concerned; but deep down there snioudcred ft fierce lire of hatred against the man, his erstwhile chum and boyhood friend who had wrecked his home, and lured his darling into ignominy. The hour was on a warn) June night, and a soft, glow from the sunset still lingered in the sky, while, through Ihe open window came the scent of the lilac trees in (he square below. Hargrove sat chatting quietly with a friend, when there came the sound of the telephone bell. Ting-ting. He ros" and answered it. "Who is (here':"

"Tlii'rc lias been a serious motor accident in (lie Strand—an urgent rase; can you nunc sit once?" "Vcs; rinjr uir." The doctor hung up (he receiver nnd hurried Into the great building. Professional instinct told him that every moment was of value.

The senior surgeon met him. "I'm glad you were able to come, liargrave," he said; '-it's a bad case, but lie's got a chance with you."

They went in silence and ISargravc gazed down upon the half-unconscious form of his patient. As he did so he gave a great star!, and a half-inarticu-late cry escaped him, for there before him lay the injured form of Eric Pritchard.

With a supreme effort he tightened Hie muscles of his face so that those around saw no sign of his inward emotion, ony saw the ijuict,.. strong face of the anaesthetist whose 'every thought was merged in his patient's welfare.

"A motor accident?" he asked. "jcs; collided with a waggon." Instantly his thoughts had llown to K'lid: was she in i-ondon, then, and was she hurt? "Anyone else injured J" "Fortunately, no; he had only the chauffeur with him, he had a marvellous 0.:r..,- - "

"Thank <!od!" Basil breathed inwardly, "she is still safe." Willi noiseless movements he made his preparations, nnd soon there was the faint odor of chloroform, as he slowly measured each tiny drop with a hand that never trembled. . . . The silence was painful in its intensity The surgeon was at work now. and as Margrave sat. watching, waiting, in spite of his endeavors and outward impassivity the irony of the situation began to force itself upon him, . . . "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" ''Yes. 1 have found thee 0 mv enemy, . . ."

Tin- familiar words rushed back to him and lie realised with horrible clearness Hint, ho held this man's life in the hollow of his hand.

True lie illicit die from shock, but .•'.uch an event would lie Nature's concern; upon him rested the awful respon-

sibility that he should fulfil his duty faithfully, and make nil personal feeling subservient to his great vow. 1 lilt over and over again the words. "I have found thee, (1 mine enemy. .. ■ I line found Ihec."

"Can you give him more?" tic surgeon iiskcd anxiously. ''l want him deeper yet." Still Hargrove never spoke, only a richer mixture was administered. The moments passed: "Deeper stillV Can it possibly "

A red mist, swam before the anaesthetist's eyes be heard the blood singing in his temples, beating and throbbing. "Now, now," was the whisper of temptation. "A little more, none will ever know, and you will be avenged." lie put his band to his throat as as (hough choked for air—one instant he hesitated. . . . "Now, now," came the evil thought. . . . then, "1-ead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. . . ." When he looked up he was pale as death, but he looked quietly!

"Xo, I can give him no more." At last it was over, and Hargrove io;e with a sigh of relief. As his hand touched the operating-table he staggered slightly, '•('an 1 go to your room, Morton, for n rest?' he asked. ~"I nm a bit done, I think." | Half au hour later, when the surgeon

entered his snnctum, he glanced aerort the room at, O still figure in the easy chair. Something in its rigid aspect attracted his instant attention. He crossed to the wiudow. '•liargrave," he queried anxiously, laying his hand on the other's Bhoulder, "how are you iiowt" But there was no answer. Then he bent and looked in to the man's facoj what he saw there told him nil. '•Great Henvcn! He is dead." It was only too true; the strain had killed him and Margrave had passed away to his Maker with a record unsullied, and a hiedoiis temptation conquered.