The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-10-15


/ his remedies.
"Am / 80 very sick, doctorw she
asked, when, after his orders had been
obeyed and the medicines prepared, he
took his seat beside an open window,
instead Of leaving her in the orthodox
way.
"You are quite SICK" he sa > TOntI
"and certainly in keen suffering. But
Twill relieve you very soon, l think,
and tomorrow you will feel very much
easier. If you will allow me "-and he
smiled one Of his rare, grave smiles
that showed ust what thoroughly
noble. honest nature he had if YOU
will allow me, / would prefer to look
after you for an hour or so."
Mrs. Gorham gratefully accepted his
kind courtesy, on Mabel's behalf.
81 shall be forever in your debt, doc.
tor" she said, with warm, eager de.
light. Everything seem so strange
and unlike sickness here in this hotel
If we were at home, l would know what
to do; but feel helpless as a baby.
What is the matter with her, doctorW
"Almosta congestive chill-probably
she was too long in bathing to-day. But
think she is over the worst of it now."
Half an hour later. when he stepped
up to the bed, he found her asleep, and
went back to tell Mrs. Gorham there
was no further necessity of his remain
ing longer.
"But you will come again early in the
morningP" she requested, earnestly. 81
do not at all mind any expense. Ul
course you will look to me, doctor, to
settle your bill; for Mabel could not
think of doing SO. She is a dear, good
girl, and, although only few months
with me, / have learned to love her
dearly"
He went back to his room, thought.
fully, remembering what lovely
creature his new patient was, and how
gentle and unselfsh she had behaved
even in all her suffering.
Then he went to bed, and slept rest
fully and uninterruptedly rs he had not
done in weeks-undisturbed by dreams
even of sweet-faced Mable Vance.
He found her much better at his
morning CALL, although she would be
confined to her bed Tor several days; and
during those bright. beautiful, breezy
days, he learned all about Mrs. Gorham
and Mabel-that Mrs. Gorham was a
wealthy widow lady from Philadelphia,
who had recently employed Miss Vance
as governess to her two little girls and a
sort of companion for herself, and that
the girls sweet, modest intelligence had
won her employers friendship most
effectually.
Well, Doctor Willis fell in love with
Mabel Vance, and Mrs. German was in
ecstasies, and Mabel herself used to
think that fate was very good TO her for
once in way, in permitting the happi-
ness OF enjoying her new-found friends
Society.
For fate had not always been so kind
TO Eer. Away back, three or four years,
in past That made her shiver TO recall,
was memory that hurt her to remem-
ber-that even now, when she might |
have been so happy, thrust itself be-
tween her and happiness like ghost at |
a banquet.
He was 50 good to her, SO kind and |
devoted, and in every look and word |
she read how he cared for her. And
then, one night-the Grst night that he,
as her physician, had permitted her TO
b. out-he told her how he loved her,
how he never had so much as thought
OF woman before this way
He told her he was poor man, but
able to fight his way. He told her his
hopes, his ambitions, and then he asked
her if she would be his wife.
And Mabel! Her fair face was dropped
away from him. lest he should see the
adoring love she feared would show
itself upon. it. Her heart was athrob |
almost to dismay; her whole soul
yearned to turn to him and give herself
to his arms.
And in that one silent moment, be-
tween his last, low-spoken, eager word
and what she might have said, there
passed them man, dashing, cookbook
ing, bold-faced, dressed in elaborate
style that almost bordered on the hashy
IA man who gave them quick, in
quisitive look, that suddenly merged
into one of almost malicious satisfaction
and surprise, as he halted directly in
front of them and raised his shining silk
at with overwhelming sar casm of salu-
tation.
Indeed. Mrs. Wyant, l am delighted
to meet you at last, after three years
search for you; but l hardly expected
TO find a gentleman dangling at my
wiie's heelsr"
II the coarse, impudent fellow had
given DR.. Willis the strength Of his fist
between his eyes, he could scarcely have
felt more dazed, more bewildered.
Mrs. Wyant! Another mans wife, for
whom her husband had sought three
years to iind-just as he had told his
love to her
While Mabel-never, while DIR. Willis
lived and remembered anything, would
he forget the sound of that cry that
went up from her lips, The look of her
white, appalled,, terrified face, as she
swayed and then fell in faint at their
feet.
Richard Wyant looked down at her
with an insolent smile.
"She'll come out of it. I've seen her