The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-12-11

city. Inere was no troublesome queS-
tioning, no doubt, apparently, in the
minds of the solicitors about her claim.
She had grown calmer now. She did
not cover and tremble before her own
conscience any more. She began at
for her child. The city was ringing
with one name Just then-a name that
had thrilled her heart in the old time,
that had power to thrill it still. She
held back for while for the sake of
those old days. She scarcely da1 ed to
| face the past yet in the person of DR..
| Mel Collamer; but when her child's
health is in question n mother forgets
everything. - --~>
DR.. Collamer, receiving, one by one,
the throng of visitors that waited in his
anteroom, looked up and saw lady in
deep mourning leading golden-haired
child by the hand. He drew himself
very proudly, and there was only an adj
ditional chill in his voice as he said,
"Mrs. Leonard"
Nora grew pale. Perhaps he would
not undertake the case. She had for
gotten almost that he had cause for re-
sentiment in the memory of her own suf-
fering.
Excuse mel" she faltered. 81 would
not have intruded, but for my child. Oh,
Mel, she is all have; your skill is so
lauded l could not go to anyone else
with the same confidence! Oh, save
her, ifyou cani have suffered enough.
For the sake of the days when we were
TO have been all to each other, save my
childw
Madam!" exclaimed DR.. Collamer,
quietly; you agitate yourself unneces-
sarily. l am q physician. l refuse no
one, my best skill is at your service.
God forbid that any memory, however
painful, should stand in the way of my
duty"
Nora sank into chair and burst into
tears. The revulsion of feeling was so
great, the old love so strong in her
heart. To see him take her child on
his knee in such caressing way, to bear1
him question the little thing with all
thrilled her in the old days was oh, so
bitter-sweet, so full OF rapture and OF
pain! ''
1t would be a tedious case, of course,
all such diseases were slow to yield
even the most hopeful. So Nora settled
down to a daily expectation of those
visits which made the charm of her life.
And DR.. Collamer, too, began to feel
the icy world of pride in which he had
shielded himself melt and break beneath
the smiles of the only woman he had
ever loved. So,
Glove took up the glass OF time, and turned
it in his glowing hands,"
and Nora, in surprise, one morning,
suddenly recollected that her husband
had been dead just one year that very
day.
At the thought came back memory
of her struggle and crime. 1t had
haunted her occasionally, ofcourse; but
security and success had hushed her
fears, and the unwelcome visitant came
schooner now. This morning, how
ever, she was in somber mood. because
Bunny seemed feverish, perhaps because
her own he art was growing restless and
questioning painfully about her own
future.
She sat down with Bunny in her arms
Mt the open window, and somehow the
faint, subtle odor of magnolias seemed
to steal in with the soft south wind. 1t
was like a breath from vault to Nora
gloomy, funeral. She hastily turned
away and laid the child on the bed. As
she looked into the pale, worn little face,
her heart misgave her. Had she grown
so absorbed in her own self that she had
ceased to note the changes in her dar-
ling?
docs Bunny feel very sick9" she
asked.
No; God is coming to cure Bunny
said the child, confidently. He can
do more than DR.. Collamer, you know.
He made blind people to see, and lame
people to walk. and want Him for my
doctor. So l just asked Him, and
know He'll come; maybe to-day, or to-
morrow. I'm waiting for Him."
Nora felt n strange chill at this words
ut handp Was this the lamb for the
sacrifice, this child for whom she had
sinned, whose life she had bought with
such a price?
She had dared to believe that she,
held in her hands the keys of life and
death; and now, perhaps, God stood
ready to show her that only He could
fulfill or mar the schemes of men, that
the mysteries of life and death are His
alone. She looked anxiously into Dr.
Collamer's face when he appeared.
1.-The child is worse" she said. 81
see it now; she has not been gaining al
ALL" 80.
Il am glad you see it for yourself!'
he said kindly. II have not been able
to tell you. There was no hope from the
first. complication with the BRAIN"
Bunny lay in feverish sleep, and the
mother stood by her with a startled
agonized face as if she would fain snatcl
her up then and hold her back from the
gates of death.
"No hope!" she groaned. "Oh, my
God, am punishedw
Punished?" echoed DIR. Collamer, il
Il questioning tone. my dear Nora
you are not, 1 hope, one of those who
fancy God is argry with you for loving
your child?"
Nora did not speak. She buried hel
face in her hands. What was all hel
wealth to her now? 1t could buy few
feet of earth for her child-nothins
more. God was breaking her idol be
fore heI eyes, that she might see where
her idolatry had led her. Suddenly IN
unusual hustle in the hall startled her
and then a low knock at the door.
"Bress de Lord, honey, Use foun' yol
out!" exclaimed well-known voice
which made little Bunny open her eyel
and stretch out her arms. "Yes, rs,
come a hard road to trabbel to get t.
my pore lamb. My hearts been {
breakin' bout her, honey, and l wa.
boun' to get to her eff it took my las
cent. And how is my pet?"
"Chloer' said the child, in quick
excited voice. "When you came in
was in heaven, and my back wa
straight, and l had wings like tn
angel in the picture over there"
! Chloe knelt down by the bedside an,