The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-03-05
THE STORY OF A KISS.
BY W. IL. MAHER, IN HEARTH AND HOME.

he u Sh1 Or q KISS,
BYw. II. MAHER, IN HEARTH AND HOME.
you wished to see me doctor?
Il did, Miss Dallas, and upon q
very serious matter. Pardon me if
appear to be meddling with your Sc.
crets; | do it only to save a fellow.
creatures life.'
The young woman's face flushed
during 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 prostrated with a brain
fever. saw at the outset that the
case was desperate one, but hoped
that skill and care might bring him
through. From that day until this
have been almost constant in my at
tendance upon him have battled
with the disease inch by inch and
striven with what skill | had at COM
mand to save him.
Early in my attendance l 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 ques
tions, that Harry was deeply and tru-
ly in love with you, but that an es-
arrangement has 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, and tonight
will answer our questions as to wheth-
er he will live or die. Without any
help but sach as / can render him he
may be saved f; but a mans life is
too great jewel to trIfle with, and
we feel if you would out help us we
could surely save him. Will you
consent to assist us p
what could l do p she asked.
'Th- plan l 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 fate will be decided.
The main point will be to have him
make an effort for his own life
Should he try to live, his chances
will he among the best should he
make no such effort, we might with
stimulants carry him beyond danger;
if at that moment he recalls the past,
and despondently sinks under 1t, no
power under heaven but you can save
him.
'And what would you have me
do p
Just this, Miss Dallas : if, when
he awskens, be 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 how p
'We could pretend you had recall
ed your decision of few weeks ago.
'Oh, that would be too horrible
l could never do that
Not to save a mans life 2 he ask
ed solemnly.
'He would not thank me for saw.
ing his life by such a mockery,' she
said. 'Why, might have to say
that | loved him, might / not?'
Yes
'Oh, could not do it.
'Not even to save his life p
you said that BEFORE she said,
'but not even for that could do this
thing. Harry and 1 have ever been
dear friends. l never fancied that
he could love me until he surprised
me by his avowal, and then l told
him it could not be. How could 1
stand at his bedside now and say that
loved him ! No, no, it cannot be.
Think of some other PLAN
Il have thought of all ways. Miss
Dallas. / 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 wh at
you ought to do, my dear young lady
but promise you, if am compelled
to ask your assistance, that [ will ex-
plain the whole matter to Harry, just
as it is, and give him a correct re-
port and understanding of your part
in it,
But how could ever meet him
again ?
1T will be no harder then than it is
now. And l have no doubt Harry
will leave the place if he RECEIVERS.
Il would be glad to help you, Doc
tor, but this would seem like profan
ity to me-.
st is to save a fellow creatures g
life, and be all the blame on me-
Il wish could do it, but what an
awful thing it is tor girl to do y
Il can appreciate your hesitation,
and yet, if you were my daughter, l
would say it was your duty to do it.
Thank you tor saying that, Doc
tor it decides me. l will do what
you ask
Thanks; 1 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
Kate Dallas. The doctor had ex.
planned to the others the part he had
persuaded Kate to act, if it should
be necessary, and they had thanked
her over and over for consenting.-
They sat near each other the moth.
or and sisters wondering in their own
hearts that any girl could know their
Harry and not love him, but yet, they
are women enough to know that love
can not be forced or reasoned.
'How is he now, doctor p the moth
or whispers, and his reply:
There Is no change
They await the slow turning of an
other 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 it to the others. BY and by
there is another movement, and the
doctor beokons them out of the
| room.
/ En- n ous,ta, of an hr,r ,onea ha