The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-03-11


pale, perturbed face of Miss Williams.
Then he remembered her presence in
the room, but his madness and grief
had prevented him from realizing it.
{" Just one word, Mr.. Erism," she
said. "Of course you know that will
not touch on penny OF this Honey T.
g 1t doesn't matter now" lie replied.
cit might as well be yours as any
body's %
=" But it is yours, she said.
"Oh, as for me" said Gerald, Sc
shall not want it." He walked through
tie hall. Miss Williams followed him
steslthily. He entered the room, but
when the door shut him in Luane re-
mained, haggard and trembling, her ear
glued to the cold panel between them.
A grim silence reigned about her. She
could hear the clock tick in the dead
woman's room below. Suddenly she
put both her hands about the knob and
opened the door. Gerald turned quick
"; there was an ominous click the
pistol fell little as it went off The
blood soaked through his coat and
trickled out upon thu floor. Just as
Luane was about sinking at his feet,
Gerald put out his hand to her.
4" An accident, Miss Williams," he
| said. Please send Adams for the
doctor, and then help nae off with my
coat"
This brought Luane to herself She
fastened 10 do his bidding, dispatched
Adams, and returning again to Gerald,
stanched the blood with strips of the
piliOw-cass from a bed. When the
doctor came she held the light for him
while he ProbCd the wound and ex-
tracted the bullet.
" An inch or so higher" said the doc
tor, ''and you would have been buried
on the same day with your aunt.
alt was a lucky thing, then, that
Miss Williams had an errand to my
room when she did," said Gerald
Gas she opened the door my hand fell
and the pistol went off.
"She has UnconseiousIy saved your
life, said the doctor. Then as Luane
left the room he added, "She's the
finest young woman know, and would
make capital nurse in my hospital.
Do you know what she thinks of doing
now that your aunt is gone ?"
No." said Gerald, with a grim
smile "bUt I fancy she'll think of
something livelier than that
She has such an excellent physique
and splendid nerve" said the doctor
:" But l must go. Keep as quite as
you can, and have Adams within call. F"
That night Gerald awoke with an in
tolerable thirst his temples throbbed,
his eyes burned. Looking over at
| Adams, he found that he was sound
asleep. This of itself was offensive to
| Gerald. What business had the man
to sleep when he was suffering? How
| terribly oppressive the stiffness was,
this semi darkness and LONELINESS at
that moment a ponderous tnore re.
sounded from the throat of the sturdy
Adams, and Gerald almost leaped from
his bed. 1t was like stab to him it
was uncomfortable. He stretched over
his sound arm, and reaching a pillow,
threw it with sill his might at the IN
conscious Adams. But in spite of the
agony the movement cost him, it was a
futile one. The pillow fell far short of
the object on the floor, and Gerald sunk
back with a groan.
But suddenly the soft touch of a
woman's hand fell tenderly upon his
forehead, the sweet tones of a woman's
voice fell soothingly upon his ear.
g 1t is time for your medicine" said
Luane, and put the cup to his lips.
Gerald drank as if it was nectar. Then
ohI tst al gu Lib JtAAOMo 4OL lllLs anu
was about retreating from the room
when he family called for a drink.
Then he thought his head was too high,
or perhaps a trifie low; every move
ment caused him intolerable agony,
and he hated to be alone with Adams
| again. She must have really OWNED
his motive, and come to save his life.
She was again about to leave him, but
he put his hand upon hers to detain
her, and found that it trembled little
| beneath his touch.
"Your hand didn't tremble when you
held the lamp for the doctor" said Ger
| aid. I" He wants you for a hospital
nurse, but 1 told him you'd prefer
something more cheerful"
"Why, think I'd like it." said Lu-
ane. 6 You know I must do some
thing"
81 don't see the necessity" said
Gerald "you have my aunt's money,
aud it will occupy all your time to enjoy
it."
"Your aunt's money is your own, u
said Luane, "and you insult me by
thinking L would take advantage of a
poor old lady's weakness; I never will
touch penny of it. And, Mr.. Erism,
you must not talk. "
Zone word, only one, " pleaded Ger
aid. g But for you might have been
like-like our poor old friend below. "
| Gerald shuddered and turned pale. 81
I am cowardly enough" he went on, '' to
hate even the thought of it now. How
can thank you, Miss Williams ?"
by taking what is your own, and
using it nobly and we'll" said Luane,
and vanished from his sight.
I TFv1N 81, I,eA L.
| throb in the hand beneath his own, and
saw quick flame leap into her cheek, a
glow 10 her eyer.
Ihree long years, murmured Ger
| aid, "and l never knew her till now"
Gerald was young and strong, and
| the fourth day, the one appointed for
/ the funeral, he was able to be up and
| dressed, and welcomed Luane warmly
\ as she entered his room. She looked
! paler than ever in her black dress, but
! Gerald thought he had never seen so
sweet and noble face.
| How l would like to go down, Miss
| Williams he said, "Rnd enjoy the
surprise of the good people below I'd
! like to see them low and smile to the
heiress of my aunt's fortune. I'm as
| bad as the rest of them, suppose, for
| feel like making all sorts of pretty
| speeches. Gerald paused, and his face
| grew suddenly grave and tender. $50
now" he added, "and kiss my aunt
Rood-by for me tell her 1 am quite
satisfied with everything"
Luane went from the room and down
the stairs For the last three days she
| had been like one in a dream. 1t
| seemed awful to be warm and happy
even after she entered tine dark, gloomy
drawing-room, even after she had bent
and kissed the cold, stern face for Ger
aid and for herself.
"I will not take it." she whispered,
hot tears raining on the dead woman s
face-"I will not take a cent of it, but
1t has given me such a CLEAN of happi-
ness. God forever bless you for 1t. " e.
Then the people began to pour in,
and the ceremony commenced. Luane's
were tho only tears that were shed, and
the most of the guests came from civil
ity or curiosity. Miss Erism had taken
but little active part in the world for
many year, and the poor lady was very
soon put away and forgotten.
The most important part of the pro-
ceedings was when they returned from
the burial TO hear the reading of the viii
Iluane trembled when the t,ounDo,1s