The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-03-04

fectiOn for me-. She has told me herself
that she will never consent to our hap
piness. Gerald, / am too fond OF you
to wreck your whole life. There was
but one way to end 1t oil"
She paused. He leaned forward, and
still kept his eye. now wan and haggard,
upon her face. Then she sank pale and
trembling into n chair, and covered her
eyes with her hand. She was moved
with Pity, perhaps, or n vague regret
AT last she spoke.
~ have just accepted an offer of
marriage"
"from Badger" cried Gerald, and
walked to the door. "Your prndence,"
he added, standing upon The threshold,
has served you well. You have Just
got rid OF me in time. Ny aunt died
this morning, and has left everything
to her nurse and companion"
Then he got into the street, and
walked along with a faltering, stagger.
ing step. His eyes were wild his face
lividly pale. People turned to look at
him as he went by, and two or three
wondered what was sending that man to
the devil.
He went home and stood by the body
Of his aunt. There was n single fasci-
nation about this death-something
very wonderful and tempting in that
mysterious and absolute rest. Sudden
ly he became master OF himself, Of the
bitterness and despair Of the moment.
He walked firmly to the door, but a step
followed him, and, turning. he saw the
pale, perturbed face of Miss Williams.
Then he remembered her presence III
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 n penny Of this money !"
ct doesn't matter now" he replied,
at might as well be yours rs any
body's |"
but it is yours" she said.
ooh, as for me-" said Gerald, 81
shall not want it," He walked through
tie hail. Miss Williams followed him
stealthily. Ho entered the room, but
when tho door shut him in Llane re-
maiued, Eaggard 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
ly there was m ominous click the
pistol fell n 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.
can accident, Miss Williams" he
said. "Please send Adams for the
doctor, and then help me off with my
coat"
This brought Luane to herself. She
fastened TO do his bidding, dispatched
Adams, and returning again to Gerald,
stanchod the blood with strips of the
pillow-case from a bed. When the
doctor came she held the light for him
while he probed the wound and ex-
tracted the bullet.
"An inch or so higher" said the doc
tor, land you would have been buried
on the same day with your aunt"
"lt was II lucky thing, then, that
Mss Williams had an crrand to my
room when she did" said Gerald.
"As she opened the door my hand fell
and the pistol went Off"
"She has unconsciously saved your
life" said the doctor. Then as Luane
left the room he added, "She's the
finest young woman | know, and wonld
make n capital nurse i'll my hospital.
DO you know what she thinks of doing
10Y that your aunt is gomez"
"No," said Gerald, with n grim
smile "but / fancy she'll think of
something l"iyelier than that"
"Sho has snch IN excellent physique
and splendid nerve" said the doctor.
But | must go. Keep as quite as
yon can, and have Adams within call"
That night Gerald awoke with ar in
tolerable thirst his temples throbbcd,
his eyes burned. Looking oven 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,
bulb HbIll- liCSb ullu lOiltilLCb "a
that moment n %ponderous tnore re
sounded from the throat of tho sturdy
Adams, and Gerald almost leaped from
his bed. 1t was like a stab to hirn 1t
Was unendurable. He stretched over
his sound urm, and reaching o pillow,
threw it with all his might at the I'm.
conscious Adams. But in spite of the
agony the movement cost him, it was n
futile one. The pillow fell far short of
the object on tho floor, and Gerald sunk
back with n groan.
But suddenly the soft touch of a
woman's hand fell tenderly upon his
forehead, the sweet tones of n wOman's
voice fell soothingly upon his ear.
cit is time for your medicine" siad
Luane, and put the cup to his lips.
Gelald drank as il it was nectar. Then
she arranged his pillows for him, and
was about retreating from the room
when he family called for IL drink.
Then he Thought his head was too high,
or perhaps II trife 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 II little
beneath bis touch.
"Your hand didn't tremble when you
held the lamp for the DOCTOR" said Ger
aid. "He wants you for a hospital
nurse, but | told him you'd prefer
something more cheerful"
"Why, / think Id like it," said Lu-
ane. "You know l must do some
thing"
81 don't see the necessity" said
Gerald "you have my aunt's money,
and it will occupy all your time to enjoy
it,"
"Your aunt's money is your own"
said Luane. "and you insult me by