The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-09-21

AbcSlls
But the light was less merciless
elsewhere. Itshowed the physicians
face pale and careworn, and bearing
traces of overwork and lack of sleep.
Dora founda a moment during Cara's
gay prattle to lay her hand upon his
sleeve.
! "Take care of yourself" she hall
whispered. 81 fear you forget that,
in your care for others. You are not
looking we'll"
"Nonsensel" he laughed. "The
idea of doctor not being able to
take care of hipself 1t is like the
cook allowing herself tostarve. You
would almost persuade my patients,
Miss Dora, to lose faith in me, which
reminds mss that Iamslosing precin1s
time, and must be of. A thousand
thanks for receiving this child! |
shall see you as often as possible, and
shall now have u double inducement
in coming"
Was it all fancy that his voice was
lower as he uttered this last sentence?
and was it all unconscious of the lit
tie, hand of his hostess as it lay for a
moment within his own?
However that might be, Dora's
heart felt strangely light as she list
ened to the echo of the retreating
wheels of Doctor Rays carriage.
Cara had been her guest a fortnight
during which time the doctor had
fulfilled his promise of devotinS to
them all his spare moments; but
those were very few. The fever was
increasing rather than abating.-
Miss Deane bid fair to have her guest
for long visit.
"But you're not tired of me, are
you?" Cara asked, when her guar
dian hinted something Of this.
"No, indeed" she answered, with
q bright smile. "The question is
what shall l do without you?"
The three were standing together
when she thas spoke, but as she fin
ished, Ronald Ray leaned over, and
in low tone said, so that only her
ear caught the words;
Tomorrow when | come / want
to see you alone. | have something
to say to you.'
Why-why could she not hide the
tell-tale blood which;so deeplysdyed
lllss ehpslas She haweds fher iss;s,sss
d. ~.
kehlapite thus before. Was it that
Cdra's bright presence had renewed
her own youth, until in his eyes she.
had recovered it? Surely she might.
dwell a moment on the sweet hope Of
which his'wish must form the thresh
old!
The next day she awaited him in
her own little morning.room. She
had given orders to the servants that
he should be admitted there. Cara
she had sent for a drive.
Her heart beat fast to suffocation
as at length she heard his step. He
crossed the room with his firm tread
10 where she stood, and took both her
hands in his.
"Do-a," he began 81 have come TO
you to confde to you the secret Of
my life. l know that you are frank
and true. Tell me, then, and tell
me honestly-am l too old to love
and to be loved9"
"Be:still, glad heart-be still
How long had her secret been mac
knowledged, even to herself? 1t
broke its bonds now, and burst upon
her in a glad, rapturous vision,
which showed the past gray and
sombre, the future in q brilliance
which blinded her.
"Too old?" she said, in tones that
trembled, spite Of her efforts to con.
troll them. "No--a thousand times
mol"
He raised her hands to his lips
and kissed them. II was the first
time his kiss had touched them.
'My friend" he whispered, low,
"you have guessed my secret, have
you not? You have seen it? How
could l hope to hide it except from
herr She suspects nothing. Tell
me how shall approach her that l
may not s,artle her. She is as yet
but a child. You are woman. Do.