Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-07

the thin and wasted cheeks and the closed
eyes. -,
He thought the hand of death was laid
upon her. He spoke gently, for him. say
ing:
..Milicent.'
The gentleman at the side of the bed
motioned him to silence, then. he covered
the wrist, of which he had been feeling
and rising, nodded for Ranse to follow
him from the room.
Ranse was so absorbed that he did not
notice the hand of the doctor put ont
toward him.
..She's in deep Sleep" said the doc
tor. under the influence of narcotics. She
wouldn't know you nCr anyone else were
she awake. She'll need for the next
week. the most constant and careful at
tention. or | shall not be able to save
her,
'.She shall have it, Ranse said. but it
was not the Ranse of the morning that
spoke.
The strength and the endurance of
the powerful man showed themselves.
Every morning he walked to his shop.
and every evening he returned TO Squire
Holbert's, doing the distance twice a day,
and in the time, never removing his
clothes to sleep. More than fortnight
passed. and as he sat quietly by the bed
side toward one morning, the dim light
Of candle scarcely dispelling the dark
ness, there was a slight movement of the
bed-clothing. and a voice, weak but
natural, asked, "Who is %
1T is Ranse," was the reply. do not
speak" 1t seemed to be satisfactory.
He was gone in the morning before she
had awakened from the sleep that an
nounced her safety and recovery.
When Ranse appeared again that evening
before Sqire Holbert. he called him apart
in his sitting room.
ut isn't much" said Ranse. laying
several bank-bills, piece of gold. and "a
few silver coins in the squire's hand. 1T
isn't much. not half what should have.
or what you deserve. She will get well.
The doctor said so this morning, and she
will explain everything to you better than
can"
Squire Holbert carelessly looked over
the money in his hand.
"Why, this is more than want he
said.
"What is left over replied Ranse. give
to her. will settle with the doctor"
He had risen as he spoke. and moverd
toward the door.
where are you going the squire
asked.
Back to Kettle Creek
Tonight"
Yes"
.And YOUR wife p''
81 have said she would explain it all to
you, better than can
He opened the door and stood upon the
threshold. looking out into the dark night.
He took one step beyond. and then, with
cry of pain, fell backward into the room
again, senseless.
"Ah. !" said the doctor. who, being sum-
moned. speedily appeared, what devotion
in this strong man But his strength will
not avail against Monsieur Typhoid. He
should have given up three days ago. /
am afreid it will 90 hard with him. What
mercy that he did not feel this first at
tack on his journey between here and
Kettle Creek. He might have died by the
wayside."
1t seems as though the stronger and
heartier the person, the more there is for
devour, and the longer it clings. For
many days. Ranse's nature, the disease,
and the doctor wrestled. Some of the time
you would have thought that the doctor
and the disease were fighting together,
and that against them nature would have
no chance but the end proved instead
that the doctor and nature were allies.
Ranse's recovery started suddenly one
morning. after three nights of danger and
solicitude. He had been lying in a stupor
for many hours. and hope for him was
low, if not exhausted.
His wife. Just recovered sufficiently to
drag herself YEARLY around. at midnight,
sat with others in room adjoining where
he lay. 1t seemed to them only turn of
the finger between his life and death The
doctor. who was watching him, came into
the room where Milicent sat.
His eyes are open." he said. go see
il he knows you"
Milicent arose and stood in the door
way. A bright light was at her back.
She could just see. in the dimly-lighted
room where she looked that Ranse's he ad
was moving on the pillow.
His face turned toward her. and his
eyes rested for moment on her. There
was cold. forbidding look in them. and
then he turned them toward the wall.
There was a similar experience on the
following midnight.
On the third night his face remained
turned toward her. In his eyes there was
happy, almost glorified. expression.
Miliccnt was sure that she saw in it every
thing that was inviting and lovable. She
ran quickly toward the bed and kneeled
down beside it; but his eyes must have
closed again before she got there. rapid
as had been her movements.
Continued Tomorrow
L 1,