Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-02-20
THE STORY OF A KISS.

By VIM. II. Mayer, in the Hearth End Home.
"You wished to see me, Doctor?"
81 did, Miss Dallas, and upon a
very serious matter. Pardon me if
l appear to be meddling with your
secrets; l do it only to save a fcl-
low creatures liie."
The young woman's face flushed
during the remarks, but paled when
he spoke SO gravely. He continued:
"rhrec weeks ago l was called 10
the bedside of Harry Gilman, and
found him prostrated with brain
fever. l saw at the outset that the
case was a desperate one, but hoped
that skill and care might bring him
through. From that day until this
| have been almost constant in my
attendance upon him; have battled
with the disease inch by inch, and
striven with what skill l had at
command to save him.
Early in my attendance | saw
there was some dreadful disappoint-
ment beneath his malady, if not the
cause of his prostration. 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 in
love with you, but that an estrange-
ment had come between you lately;
and l think this blow has been the
one that brought him under my
care. Tonight the crisis in his
disease will be reached,a ,and to night
will answer our questions as to
whether he will live or die. With
out any help but such as ! can ren-
der him he may be saved; but a
mans life is too great a jewel to be
trifled with, and We feel that if you
could but help us we could surely
save him. Will you consent to as
sist us?"
"What could l do?" she asked.
"The plan l have marked out in
my mind is 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 for his life. Should
he try to live, his chances will be
among the best; should he make no
such effort, We might with stimIants
carry him beyond danger; but if at
that moment he recalls the past, and
despondently sinks under it, no
power under heaven but you can
save him."
"And what would you have me
do?"
"Just this, Miss Dallas; if, when
he awakcns, he is hopeful and re-
members nothing of his disappoint-
ment, we will not need you at all.
But should he begin to sink, the
sight of you would save him."
"But howl"
ave could pretend you had re-
called your decision of a few weeks
ago."
."Oh, that would be too horrible!
l could never do that"
mot to save mans life?" he
asked solemnly.
"He would not thank me for saw
ing his life by such a mockery," she
said. "Why, l might have to say
that l loved him, might l not?"
eyes"
ooh, could not do it'll"
"Not even to save his lifc?"
"You said that BEFORE" she said,
"but not even for that could do
this thing. Harry and l have ever
been dear friends. never fancied
that he could love me until he sur
prised me by his avowal, and then
told him how it could not be.
How could l stand at his bedside
now and say that | loved him! No,
no, it cannot be. Think of some
other plan."
II have thought Of all ways, Miss
Dallas. may not have to ask you
to do this that you dislike so much,
unless in the contingency | spoke
of. ] will not say 10 you WI at you
ought to do, my dear young lady,
butt promise you, if am compelled
10 ask your assistance, that ! will
explain the whole matter to Harry,
just as it is, and give him correct
report and understanding Of your
part Of it."
"But how could l ever meet him
again?"
ut will be no harder then than it
In now And I have M dnuht Har.