The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-19

IT might as well be yours as any
But it is yours, she said.
"Oh, as for me-" said Gerald,
shall not want it. He walked through
the hall. Miss Williams followed him
stealthily. He entered the room, but
when the door shut him in Luane re-
manned, 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 wo-
mans room below. Suddenly she put
both her hands about the knob and
opened the door. Gerald turned quickly |;
there was an ominous click the pistol
fell little as it went off. The blood
soaked through his coat and trickled out
upon the floor. just as Luane was about
sinking at his feet, Gerald put out his
hand to her.
can accident, Miss Williams" he
said. 'sPlease send Adams for the doctor,
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,
stanched the blood with strips of the pill
low-case from bed. When the doctor
came she held the light for him while
he probed the wound and extracted the
bullet.
ssAn inch or SO higher said the doc
tor, "and you would have been buried
on the same day with your aunt.
't It was a lucky thing, then, that Miss
Williams had an errand to my room
when she did, said Gerald. 'E As she
opened the door my hand fell and the
pistol went of. "
tsS 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 would make a
capital nurse In my hospital. Do you
know what she thinks of doing now that
your aunt Is gomez
"No," said Gerald, with grim smile !;
ss but 1 fancy she'll think of something
ivelier than that"
sShe has such an excellent physique
and splendid nerve" said the doctor.
ss But must go. Keep as quiet as you
can, and have Adams within call
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 suffering2 How terribly oppressive
the stiffness was, this semi-darkness and
loneliness At that moment ponderous
snore resounded from the throat of the
study 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 pillow,
threw it with all his might at the rncon-
scious Adams. But In spite of the agony
the movement cost him, it was futile
one. The pillow fell far short of the OBJ
ject on the floor, and Gerald sank back
with q groan.
But suddenly the soft touch Of a
woman's hand fell tenderly upon his
forehead, the sweet tones of a woman's 8
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 nectar. Then
she arranged his pillows for him, and was
about retreating from the room when he
family called for a drink. Then he
thought his head was too high, or per-
haps trif1e low every movement
caused him intolerable agony, and he
hated to be alone with Adams again.
Besides he was curious about this woman.
She must have really OWNED his motive,
and come to him 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 a little beneath
his touch.
&c Your hand didn't tremble when you
held the lamp for the doctor" said Ger
aid He wants you for hospital
nurse, but I told him you'd prefer some
thing more cheerful.
'Why, / think I'd like it," said Lu-
ane. 's You know must do something. p"
'sI don't see the necessity" said Ger
aid you have my aunt's money, and
it viii occupy all your time to enjoy it. .
&c Your aunt's money is your own, y
said Luane, "and you insult me by
thinking 1 would take advantage of a
poor old lady's weakness / never viii
touch a penny of it. And, Mr.. Erism,
you must not talk. :"
aid. 50 But for you / might have been
hke-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 thank you, Miss Williams 2"
'tBy taking what is your own, and
| using it nobly and well," said Luane,
and vanished from his sight.
But as she left him he felt sudden
throb in the hand beneath his own, and
saw a quick flame leap into her cheek, a
glow to her eyes.
&c Three long years, murmured Ger
aid, 'f and 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 en-
tered his room. She looked paler than
ever in her black dress, but Gerald
thought he never had seen 80 sweet and
noble face.
'' How would like to go down, Miss
Williams, he said, Sc and enjoy the sur
prise of the good people belowI I'd
like to see them bow and smile to the
heiress of my aunt's fortune. I'm as
bad as the rest of them, suppose, for I
feel like making all sorts of pretty
speeches. Gerald paused, and his face
grew suddenly grave and tender. ts Go
now," he added, "and 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 dream. It seemed
awful to be warm and happy even after
she entered the dark. gloomy drawing