The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-09-05

I'd ont Al the rod glow the sun. itself
sunk out ~ sight. had left behind u IN
the sky. I retired from the room with
i chilli on my senses that shall never
forget.
The purport 81 james Waytc's letter
flashed on me like lightning when was
out of Alices apartment. The clear
meaning ~ his language, interpreted
with the all Of what She had told me,
was that he had married her when he
already had wife that. his lawful wife
being now dead, ne sought Ia legilize
his union with Alice, and - gain her
favor and fortune. This Thought fol-
lowed swiftly; Alice was not ia law the
wife 81 James Wayte, and, according Ia
her fathers will, II she was not legally
married 10 him on her 2ist birthday the
80. 900 would fall 10 me- That night
sat al my open window until past mid
night. thinking on the subject that a. !
was human and reasonably selfish. nat
turall, agitated me- Before going 10
bed visited my patient. She was
asleep, but the nurse said that she had.
until within an hour, been wakcful. She
brcathed with IN unnatural. hollow
sound. Her vitality was almost eN-
hauStcd. Clearly. She could not live
many days. and she Nigh, die before
many hours. | mixed some powders,
calculated. by stimulation. Ia prolong
her life little, and gave the nurse Iii
recfions how 10 administer them. A.
went from the room, the question came
TO me. a. though from some intelligence
outside Of myself. "Suppose she should
die before her 2l~t birthday The OBJ
yious answer was that would have no
claim on her fortune.
Early on the next morning. tsle-
graphed to my brother and other rela-
lives that Alice could not long survive.
had previously kept them informed Of
her condition She grew weaker dur
ing the day, and. in the evening, was
barely able 10 speak. The end Was
nigh. gave her more ~timulant; with
out il. She would have died before mid
night-hcfore her 2ist birthday. Ny
heart bounded when the clock struck IL.
and impnl-iyely bent over the almost
unconscious sufferer 20 see II ~hc really
was living That was selfish. but GER
tainly il was NOT criminal In keeping
her alive with drugs. had done simply
my duty rs a physician. 30 far. my
conduct had not been affected by The
$50. OOO
A messenger nj daybrcak brought 4
telcgraphic message for Alice. She was
speechles>. but not PAST understanding
what wa ~aid 70 her. ! opened the dis
patch and read il aloud. II was from
James Waytc. dated Cleveland. June IL (.
and ran A. follows:
Am on my way % your bedside. VIII
reach yOu Tomorrow afternoon. You viii
be my wife on your slsi birthday. after all.
Bear up.
Alice smiled family. took the message
in her forceless hands and tried 20 put il
70 her lips
She was happy in the expectation Of
vet diving the wife Of James Wayte. a.
for ME, was stunned: and, before had
recovered my sclf-po~SeS>ion, ! wa~
bending over her and saying ..You
shall BE- hi~ wife ! viii have clergy
man here when he comes" There was
a pressure III her hands on mine, 20 faint
As scarcely % be felt. and her eyes look
ed the gratitude that she could not speak.
Kindly readers will observe that ii
lnl- IfUliiA Il dttf-tA uAttffAdAH nv
! sent for a clergyman- and To him. a.
well As to the relatives who came ia re-.
sponse 10 my telegraphed summons.
explained THE de~irahility Of a marriage
ceremony Immediately nJamc~ Wavte's
arrival II wa by stimulating medicine
that kept Alice alive from hour q
hour. thus helping 10 put her s5o.0ot
beyond my own reach. Why should
. do IL? Was il fair to myself that shonlt
put into 4 rascals pocket the money
4 that would otherwise fall into mine
These questions seemed 70 provide theil
, own answers.
| Atio-clock in the afternoon anothel
message came from Wayte, telegraphe,
| from railroad station. and saying tina
| he would arrive In the evening. rcas
, il To Alice. She was too weak toexhibi
/ any feeling. yet she might have lived ;
day or two longer on the drug that wa
( giving her IN frequent doses. startes
Z toward the table on which the medidin
L stood. intending 10 give her some: b,s
4 stopped short. turned on my heel. ant
y went ont Of the room. That was wher
I began To be murdcrou>. II am indec'
= "A murderer.
4 | sat m hour alone i'm my office. ant
4 tried 10 decide the question that ! an
| now referring 90 my readers. Was i
y crime to Let Alice die a little sooner tina
J. she would il continued my efforts !
n prolong her life to the utmost? TIL
4 right answer then seemed 70 be !. No.
| returned 10 the death chamber, an
|, saw that already the lack ~ stimular
\ had made change for the worse in m
|. patient stood hesitani by the tabl'
/ with my hand close to the medicine.
y ..Will She Inst much longcr2" m
i mother asked.