Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-31
THE STORY OF A KISS.


" did, Miss Dallas, and upon a very serious
matter Pardon me If appear to be meddling
with your secrets; do it only to save fellow
The young woman's face flushed during the
fnemarks, but paled when he spoke 5" grsveiy
i Three weeks ago l was called to the bed
side Of Harry Gilman, and found him Frustrated
with a brain fever 1 saw at the outset that
the Gaze was desperate one, but hoped that
skill and care might bring him through. From
that day until this Ihave been aim ost constant
in my attendance npon him; have battled with
the disease inch by inch; and striven with what
skill had at command to save him.
Early in my attendance l saw there was
some dreadful disappointment beneath his
malady, If not the cause of his Prostratf0A. In
the hours that his mind wandered, your name
was constantly on his tongue. His sister told
me, In answer to my questions, that Harry was
deeply and truly in love with you, but that IN
arrangement has come between you lately; and
think this blow has been the one that brought
him under my care. To night the crisis in mis-
disease will be reached, and to- night will an
swer our questions as to whether he will live or
die. Without any help but such as / can rem
der him he may be saved; bat mans life is
too great jewel to trife with, and we feel if
you would but help us we could surely save
him. Will you consent to assist us?"
"Whst could do?" she asked.
The plan / have marked out in my mind, I"
said he, ais simply this: About midnight he
/ will arouse from his present stupor and IN the
! next ten minutes his fate will be decided. The
main point will be to have him make an effort
! iOI MS OWN lIe. OHOuiu ne ITy 10 live, us
chances will be among the best; should he
make no such effort, might with stimuants
/ carry him beyond danger; but if at that mo
ment he recalls the past, and despondenty
sinks under it, no power under heaven but you
can save him."
" And what would Won have me do?''
Just this, Miss Dallas: III when he ava
keDs, he is hopeful and remembers nothing of
/ his disappointment, we will not need you at
all. But should he begin to sink, the sight of
you would save him"
-" But howe"
| 1--WE could pretend you had recalled your de-
| cision OF a few weeks ago
| never do that"
mot to save "a mans nfe?" he asked
| solemnly.
"He would not thank me for saving his life
| by such mockery," she said. "Why, might
| have to say that loved him might not?''
"Oh, | could not do It'll"
| " Not even TO save his life?"
I" You said that BEFORE she said, "but not
| even for that could do this thing. Harry and
| have ever been dear friends. 1 never fan
cied that he could love ne until he surprised
| me by his avOwal, and then told him it could
not be. How could stand at his bedside now
and say that L loved him! No, no, 1t cannot
| be. Think of some other plan"
| al have thought of all ways, Miss Dallas 1
may not have to ask you to do this thing that
| you dislike so much, unless in the contingency
| | spoke of. l will not say to you what you
ought tc do, my dear young lady, but promise
| YOU, if am compelled to ask your assistance,
| tndt Will explain the Wn0ie matter 10 hArrY,
| Just as 1t is, and give him correct report and
understanding of your part in it."
But how could / ever meet him again"
- 1t will be no harder then than 1t is now.
And have no doubt Harry will leave the place
| If he RECEIVERS"
- l would be glad to help you, Doctor, but
this would seem like profanity to me"
-" 1t 10 to save a fellow creature S Ike and be
! all the blame on me-"
g wish | could do it, but what an awful
thing it is for girl to do!''
az ha nd,
you were my daughter would say it was your
duty to do it,"
THANK you for saying that, Doctor; it de-
cides me- L will do what you ask"
Thanks; | will call for you this evening,
and explain your part TO you.'
Later in the night there gathered around the
bed of the sick man his mother and sisters, the
doctor and ate Dallas. The doctor had ex.
planned to the others the part he had persuaded
Kate to act, II 1t should be necessary; aud they
had thanked her over and over for consentiDg.
They sat near each other; the mother and sisters
wondering in their own hearts that any girl
could know their Harry and not love him, but
vet, they are women enough to know that love
can not be forced or reasoned.
" How is he now, DOctor?' the mother
whispers, and his reply, 'yTbere is no change"
They await the slow turnings of another hour,
and then the sleeper makes SOME movements
with his lips, and the doctor, bending over,
catches the word, kate but he does not tell
movement, and the doctor beckons them out of
the room.
- In quarter OF an hOur more he will
awaken" he says. 'Iou, Mrs. Gilman and
Ruth will stand near me and be ready to catch
he first question he asks and answer it. Miss
Dallas, you will stand at the door and come i'll
peak to you, and act as have told you before.
If we are prompt and careful, and God wills 1t,
we will save his lfe.'
The mother and sisters step softly back to the
bedside, and the doctor, reading the tremor in
Rates eyes, waits TO speak with her.
"lou will not have to say word, Miss Dali
las. L will play the tyrannical doctor to per-
1pfI ataIao all uni.
prehensiuns that come to his mind. God bless
yOu!''
1t was no common case with Doctor Brown,
this attendance on Harry Gilman. When he
came to Melville a poor, unknown graduate,
seeking to establish himself and earn his daily
bread, 1t was Harry Gilman's father who had
been the fret to trust him, the first to say a
kindly word to him, the one who had taken him
to his own Preside and made him feel he was in
the house of a friend; the one who had honored
him with his friendship in all tho succeeding
years. Doctor Brown was now, with skill and
care, repsying to the son the debt he owed the
father, and he could not have done more for his
Dallas, he could not but feel ii was Q fearful ex
pertinent he was about to make in two ives but
he brushed the thought aside, and returned to
There were the premonitory symptoms of
awakening upon the part of the sick man, and
the hearts OF the women around him seemed al
last the eyes opened the wild look in them soon
gave way to one of recognition, and the lips
feebly uttered:
"MOther."
She could not speak; her heart was too full for
words, but she bent over and kissed him.
." Have 1 been here lOngE'
" Not such q great while," said the CHEEKY
voice of the doctor, "but plenty long enough.
Here, take drop of this, }" and he gave him
some stimulating drops.
"Have been very sck?''
"You have been pretty sick, my boy, but
you must not talk. Turn over and 20 to sleep
again, and you can talk as long as you wish to-
morrow
{" Is that Ruth?'
dyes, Harry"
HTell Kate
"NOnsense, broke in the doctor "take little
more OF this and go to sleep without another
word )" but he turned to Kate, and his ewes
said, ''it will have to be dOne.'
She tried to sill the beating of her heart, but
she had no fear for herself
"Tell Kate"-Harry started again, but the
doctor-after quiet draught was adminis-
istered-said
"Why don't you tell her yourself?''
"Who? Is she here?" he asked excitedly, but
the doctor caught his hand quietly, saying, "DO
not get excited, Harry, but listen; obey me ex-
actly, and all will be well. Miss Dallas and
you have had some misunderstanding, but you
have fancied it to be much more serious than it
really was. She is here now to see after you;