The Van Buren press., 1874-03-10
MISCELLANY.
The story Of a Kiss.
lpy Wm. II. Maher. in the Hearth and Home J


lDy wm. II. Maher. in the Hearth and Ilomc,l
lyon wished 10 see me Doclorl
Il did, Miss Dallas. and upon yer,
serious matter Pardon me il appear
to be meddljng with your secrets; 10 II
only to save fellow creatures life. -
The Young womans face flushed dur
ing the remarks. but paled when he spoke
SO gravely He continued:
Three weeks ago ] WAS called to the
bedside OF Harry Gilman, and found him
prostratcd witt, brain fever saw at tho
outset that the case was a desperate one,
/ hoped that skill and ear, might bring
him through. From that day until thi,
| have bccu almost constant IN my aten.
dance upon him; have battled with the
Il ,case inch by inch, and striven with
what skill had at command to save
HIM.
"Early in my attendance | saw there
was some dreadfcl disappointment be-
meath his malady, If not the cause OF his
prostralion In the hours that his mind
wandered, your name was constantly on
his tongue. His sister told me, in an
swer to my questions. that Harry was
deeply and truly in lore with you, but
that an estrangement has come between
you lately; and think this blow has
been the one that brought him under my
care. 70 night the crisis in this disease
will be reached, and to night will answer
our questions as to whether he will live
or die Without any help but such as l
can render him hc may be saved but a
mans life is too great jewel to tritlo
will, aud we feel if YOU would but help
us we could surely save him. Will you
consent to assist us y
"What could do ?" she asked
"Thc plan | have marked out in my
mind, said he, :" is simply this. About
midnight he will arouse from his present
stupor. and in the next ten minutes his
life will he decided. The main point will
be to have him make an effort for his
own life. Should he try to live, his
chances will be among the best; should
he make no such effort, We might with
stimulans carry him he,und danger; bat
/, NJ tlat miuneat he recalls the past and
de.i onlrntl, s.uks under il, ~ power
under heaven bat you can save him.
And what wouid You have me do I!
"Jasl tais, Miss Dai as. if when he
awakcls. he Is hnpciul aud remembers
nothing of his disappointment, we will
not need ,ou AT all. But sauuli he he
yin to sink, the sight Of you would save
him.
But how -
I'VE could pretend YOU had recall. d
your d, cislun ot a ieN Merns ag"
On that would he too hor,ihle!
could ne\er lo t.ai.
- Not 10 save n inah's life - he asked
solrmnly
=. lie woul not th nix me for saving
MS ile hy such a mocktry, she said,
WHY, NIGH have 10 sal that loved
him migh! not :
Yes
"Oh, could not do it!'
Not even Ia save hi, lifcI"
You sald that before, she said
"but not c,ep Tor that could do this
lling Harry and have ever beeo dcal
friends never fancicd that he coaid
love me until he surprised me by his
a,oaal, and then told him it could no,
he How could | stand at his bedsid,
now and say that loved him No, no
it cannot be Think OF some other plan.
81 have thought Of all ways, Mis-.
Dallas, may not have to ask you t.
do this Thing that You dislike so much
unless in the contingency spoke Of,
will not say to you what vou ought To
my dear Young lady. bnt | promise, if
am csnpellcd to ask your assistance
that wi.i explain the whole matter t.
Harry. just MS it is, and give him cor
rect report and understanding of you
part Nit
But could ever meet him again p
at will be no harder than it is now
And have no doubt Harry will leav,
the Place il he rccovers. p"
~ would he glad to help yon. Doctor
but this would seem like profanity tc
me. 4"
"Itis to save fellow creatures life
and be all the blame on me, "
II wish l could do it, but what Al
awful thing it is Tor u girl to do !!
II can appreciate your hesitation, ant
yet, If you were my daughter would say
it was your duty to do 1t.
"Thank you for saying that Doctor
it decides me. will do what you ask
"Tnanks; will call for you this even
ing, and explain your part to you "
Later in the night there gathered
around the bed of the sick man his moth
er and sisters. the doctor and Kate Dal
las. The doctor had explained to th'
others the part he had persuaded Kate ts
act, il it should be necessary, and the,
had thanked her over and over for con