Ellsworth American., 1877-06-14

! ly was asleep in her crib. As the clock
was on the stroke OF twelve, the bell rang,
| and she admitted the man she had met the
! night before. They were clcseted together
! for an hour; then they came into the little
] parlor. The man, whose habtual manner
| TO women savored OF familiarity. was
+, grave aud awkwardly respectful; Mrs.
| Danford's face VAS bOodless. He poured
| out glass 6f%Dter, and gave IL to her.
" ou have overtaxed your strength in
keeping your secret, madam. In man
we would call such reticence heroic; but
find IL not uncommon with women. |
think thev are prompted to it by-vanity,"
Il disagreeable smile lurking on his mouth.
She bowed coutteously, but he knew she
had not heard a word. BE seated. Walt
one moment, doctor; have a question TO
ask of YOU"
DIR. Prey sat down uncomfortahly. En-
inent specialist as he was and used to
dealing out of ite and death. practising
| among the wealthiest classes" wide CARD,
he could not feel at ease with this woman.
whose clothes and house he had decided
could scarcely be called gentccl. she
does not consider +. VI. Prey gentleman "
he clustered inwardly. struggling to act as
though he stood on the same level with
her
"A question, Ell? Really, now. my dear
madam. better ask no questions at all. The
wise patient leaves all details to his phy>I-
clan. You are eXhausting nervous power
"lou have not given my disease a name
10 me"
You assuredly must have guessed it."
roughly
Mrs. Dan'ord looked quickly to the
lat. b.t -
something. She did not speak for mo-
ment. 'Canceri"
He nodded
"lncurable:''
lie hesitated. The fire cracked. the
ashes fell on the fender. 4 little stir in
the next room was heard in the silence.
| Mamma :" cried Nelly.
at is unusual for patient to insist upon
such questions. Measurably you take the
case IN your own hands"
She raised her hand with a quick gest-
u-e.
III you will have 1t, then, see no prob
ability of cure. The case has peculiar
features which have met with in no other.
All that can be done Is to put yourself in
my hands. can alleviate your suferings.
Ny large experience" etc, etc.
He talked on until he observed that she
did hot hear him. Her eyes were fixed on
the closed door behind which was her
/ baby. When she spoke she did not look at
him. "IIow long will il bei''
About four months. probably. Ger
tainly not more than that" lie began
10 draw on his gloves bri,kly There was
no demand tor sympathy. the woman took
it so coolly.
"Onc moment, | have something more
10 ask" She had risen. and stood with
her hand. clasped over her head.
The doctors eye swep. over her shes
had remarkable beauty In her day; but
her day Is over" he thought.
Patients with this disease often have
heard that Il was loathsome, horrible be-
yond words shall /" She stopped.
swallowing once or twice,
Even In the mans vulgar face shune
sudden CLEAN ot pity. But he was ashamed
OF II. lit 1, usually the case with patients
IN Ihi, disorder. see no reason "a hope
+ that YOU will escape. Mrs. Danford."
Il thought sol thought 90. sharply.
We'll. there Is nothing to b. done about
Il. VIII YOU write me a general prescrip.
tion-to alleviate pain. yon said:'
You do not wish me to attend YOU reg
ularly then?'-with Il surprised glance.
Il may be removed out OF your reach. II
she said, eyaslvely,
when he had written the prescription
and torn the leaf from his book, she
handed him his fee. waited until he had
LEFT the house, aud then went in to her
. baby.
When old Sally came 10 presently, She
heard Nelly laughing and talking for an
hour or more aud wondering that her
mother made no sound IN reply. I.1te ii
the afternoon telegram came from Dan
..N, !. H.. 4,
7. VI. Shall keep Charley until 90 out"
Lizzie read il, and laid it down. That
is better" she said III saw him again,
| could not go" For she had quite made
up her mind now what she would do.
Her husband. her children, should not see
her horrible end
The house and the children's clothes,
were in perfect order. But she went from
place TO place With Nelly in her arms. It
was singular that il was not only OF their
practical loss when she was gone, that >nr
thought sally can cook; but who viii
keep the house, or make their clothes in
the spring: Charlie will have nobody To
tell his stories about school to when he
comes home. And Richard" But she
forced that back.
She sat down aud rocked the child
looking by turns at it,, feet,i hands push
every age-a school -girl-grown up.
"She will have no mother-no mother"
She had been a devout, prayerful woman,
but, she could not pray now. 1t seemed I"
1 her as If God did not know what He was
doing when He did this thing.
She made herself up bundle Of clothes,
fastened il in a shawl-strap, and laid let
ter she had written on her husbands pill
low. The evening had fallen cold and
drzzling. She gave Nelly her supper, un-
dressed and rocked her to sleep; then she
laid her in her crib. Only yesterday She
had been busy making a cover for the crib
and Charley's bed. 1t was all over now.
She would never do anything for them
sgain-neyer again.
Ii was time now. She put on her hat
and cloak took up her bundle. There was
a blotted exercise which Charley had left
half finished that morning; She took that
with her. and tn stocking which Nelly
had just worn, still warm, the creases in it
which the little foot had made. Then she
went to her husbands old chair, where he
had sat every evening for years, aud knelt
down by it. Sally, in the kitchen, thought
she heard call, Richard. Richard" -
but all was still.
As Lizzy knew size did not pray. She
meant to bid good by to her husband
but she could not. Would he ever forget
her? Would he marry again? Those were
her thoughts. There had been certain
Annie Ward, years ago, Of whom Danford
had made friend.
Elizabeth sprang 10 her teet and walked
straight TO the glass II hope he will be
happy He ought TO marry, for the chillren's
sake. she said over and over. But he
will not remember me as loathsome. Annie
Wards face does not compare with mine
now
This new sharp pang gave her sudden
strengt She staid alone with her Child for
a few moments. and then passed hastily out
stopping at the kitchen door. The old
black woman was busy over the fire, sing
ing Methodist hymn.
Coin to the depot. Miss Betty? Got on
yoh wraps?-coming to the door.
Elizabeth put her and on the skiny fln-
gers. Take care of the children tor me
Sally
'Sartin, Yoh's not goin' fur?-with
vague alarm.
put Elizahafh M nd