The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-01-07

: her hands about the knob aud opened
the door. Gerald turned quickly /;
there was an omibous click the pis-
l tol fell little as it went of. The
blood soaked through his coat and
trick.ed out upon the floor. just IS
!. Luane was about sinking at mis- feet,
Gerald put out his haud 20 her.
. San accident, Miss Williams" be
Z said. ''Plesse send Adams for the doc
! tor, and then help me off with my
> coat"
= This brought Luane to herself. She
hastened to do his bidding, dispatched
Adams, and returning again TO
{ Gerald, staBched the blood with strips
: Of the pillow-case from the bed
Z When the doctor came she held the
light for him while he probsd the
: wound and extracted the bullet.
, "An inch or so higher" said the
: DOCTOR" and you would have been
buried on the same day with your
: aunt"
sit was lucky thing, then, that Miss
Williams had an erraRd to my room
when she did" said Gerald. "As she
opened the door my hand fell and the
pistol went Of"
"She has unconsciously saved your
life" said the Doctor Then as Lusne
left the room he added. "She's the
finest young woman I know, aud
sEQnld make q esRikal nurse -ip my
rr0spftsn. DO you KNOW what sue
thinks of doing now that your aunt is
gone ?"
"No." said Gerald, with a grim
smile; "but fancy she'll think of
something liyelier than that"
''She has sdch an excellent phT-
sique and splendid nerve" said the
doctor. "But 1 must 90. Keep as
quieta as you can, and have Adams
within call"
That night Gerald awOke with an
intOlerable thirst his temples thrOb-
bed, his eyes burned. Looking over
at Adams, he found that be was sound
asleep. This of itself was offensive to
Gerald. What business bad the man
to sleep when he was suffering
How terribly oppressive the stiffness
was, this semi-darkness and loneli-
ness At that moment q pOEderOus
snOre resounded from the throat of
the sturdy Adams, and Gerald almost
leaped from his bed. 1t was like
stab to him; il was uncomfortable.
He stretched over his sound arm, and
reaching pillow, threw it with all
his might at the unconscious Adams.
But in spite of the agony the move
ment cost him, it was q futile one.
The pillow fel! far short of the object
on the floor, and Gerald sank back
with groaE-
But suddenly the soft touch of a
woman's hand fell tenderly upon his
forehead, the sweet tones of q wO-
mans voice fell sOothingly upon his
ear.
''It is time for your medicine"
said Luane, and put the cup to his
lips. Gerald drank as if it was nee-
tar. Then she arranged his pillows
for him, and was about retreating
from the room when he family call
ed for drink. Then ne thought his
head was too high, orperhaps a shade
low; every movement caused him
intOlerable agony, but he hated to be
alone with Adams again. Besides,
he was curious about this woman.
She must have really OWNED his mo-
tive, and come to him to save his life.
She was again about to leave him,
but he put his hand upon hers to de-
tain her, and found that it trembled
little beneath his touch.
"Your hand didn't tremble when
you held the lamp for the DOCTOR"
said Gerald, "He wants you for
hospital nurse, but told him you'd |
prefer something more cheerful"
"Why, I think I'd like it," said |
Luane. "You know I must do some |
thing"
al don't see the necessity" said
Gerald you have my aunt's money |
and it will occupy all your time to. en-
joy it."
''Your aunt's money is your own"
said Luane, END yOns insult ue-zhy !
thinking would take advantage of |
poor lady's weakness never will
touch penny of it. And, Mr.. Erism
you must not talk"
"One word, only one" pleaded Ger
aid. "But for you might have been
like-like our poor old friend below"
Gerald shuddered and turned pale. 81
am cowardly enough" he went on,
''to hate even the thought of it now.
How can I thank you, Miss Will
liams ?"
"By taking what is your own, and
using It well and nobly,p said Luane,
and vanished from hissight.
But as she left him he felt sudden
throb in the hand beneath his own,
and saw a quick flame leap into her
cheek, glow to her eyes.
"Three long years." murmured Ger
aid, sand 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 warm
ly as she entered his room. She look
ed paler than ever in her black dress,
but Gerald thought he never had seen
so sweet and noble face.
"How l would like to go down,
Miss Williams" he said, "and enjoy |
the surprise of the good people below!
I'd like to see them bow and smile to
the heiress of my aunt's fortune. Pm
as bad as tue rest of them, suppose,
for feel like making all sorts of
pretty speeches." Gerald paused,
and his face grew suddenly grave and
tender. t.Go now," he added, land |
kiss my aunt good-by for me tell her
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. It seemed awful to be warm
and happy even after she entered the
dark, gloomy drawing-room, even af-
ter she had bent and kissed the cold
stern face for Gerald and for herself.
t'I will not take it." she whispered,
hot tears raining on the dead wo-
mans FACET will not take penny |
of it; but it has given me such |
gleam OF happiness. God forever
bless you for it."
Then the people began to pour in,
and the ceremony commenced. Lu- |
ane's were the only tears that were
shed, and the most of the guests came |
from civiIity or curiosity. Miss En- |
ism had taken but little active part in |
the world for many year, and the
poor lady was very soon put away |
aud forgotten.
The most important part of the pro-
ceedings was when they returned /
from the burial to hear the reading of
the will.
Luane trembled when the the POM
pous lawyer unroiled the parchment
and began in sonorous voice-"in |
The name of God, amen"
What would they think OF her
what would they say of her? Oh,
how glad she was that the only one
she cared for in the world knew all
aOOub IL . 1ON lHAOCcnb 5nc 'HdSs
and how ignorant!
But even while she thought thus
tie heard the lawyer read. "FO my
beloved nephew, Gerald Erism, L
give and bequeath all my property
personal and otherwise" Luane
could scarcely belieYe her ears. She
listened to the end, and heard at last,
ITO LuRne Williams, my faithful
nurse, 1 give a Mountaineering and
the sum OF $50"
Then she went up stairs to Gerald.
"The king shall have his own ~
she said.
"Only on one condition." said Ger
aid ''I'll take your money only on
one condition"
you'll take my money ~ echoed
Luane-"my poor little fifty dol
lars % Luane's face shone with a
profound joy. '.Your aunt left her
money where il belonged, i4r. Erism.
1 have just heard you declared her
sole surviving heir"
0--ofI -o,,oo.nad Sfupna N and ha