Jamestown alert., 1881-11-11

child is sick he will insist on your remain
ing" And before Kathleen could prevent
her the woman had gone
Kathleen knelt down by tho bed, encir-
cling her child in her arms. Presently o
firm step passed along the floor. She did
ot need to look up. She knew who stood
there.
"Kathleen," he said, and his voice
sounded softer and huskier than 1t had tho
short hour before Kathleen, you must
stay. You must not imperil your child's
life by going. We shall not meet any more
than we did before, for had you not sought
me we had neither of us known that the
same roof sheltered us two. W.
I There was silence in the room, save for
the little ones means; then:
IF you have any-any One-whom your
long absence will render anxious will send
! messenger, if you will tell me to whom. J"
The great beads stood on Fritz's forehead. ;.
It had cost him much to say this.
II have no one but my child. -.s-.'
A thrill of joy transhxed him at this
answer. lie steaded his voice.
You are, then, widow"
She raised her head slowly, with her eyes
on his, which watahed her with a nameless
fascination. s.
II was never wife," she said, "though
I believed was," and dropped her head
again. ".S
set mouth worked ominously; he clenched
his hands; some storm was brewing within
him, but ho beat it down. Finally he said
gravely: ..s.....- s........., p. ,s.
1The doctor will be here tomorrow.
Your child shall lack for nothing. May
she be spared to you. FAREWELL" He
turned to leave the room. --i
Fritz" she cried, holding out her clasped
hands imploripgly toward him; "Fritz, do
not leave mel" for she felt this to be fare
we'll forever, and yet she knew that he
loved her still, and she clung to him, and
could not bear that he should leave her
thus. ..t.. 4.,.. SIN
He paused with his hand on the lock Of
thu door. Then coming toward her and
resting it gently on her head Hush" he
said, you will disturb your child" and
opening the door he quietly left the room.
After this Fritz went steadily and sternly
about bis daily work. He never saw Kath-
leen, but he understood that fearful time
was ensuing, and that she was battling with
death for the possession OF her child whose
disease had been pronounced scarlet fever
Of the most virulent type. He still loved
her blindly, madly; t4l- s;glt Of her had
Brought him back from death to life; he
knew her free and yet he hesitated. How
conld he forget all that was past with the
child always before him2 A fierce jealousy
consumed him. The child might die!
This thought he brooded over till it be-
came his one wild hope and desire. 81.
He was startled by the change in her. Her
foca uor xrnr, op1 ,,lOcha1 with cora. rher
eyes unnaturally large, were dim and sunk,
en- with sleeplessness and weeping. Her
whole aspect was piteous. She clung for
support against the walls as she slowly
stumbled along. ..g H..
When Fritz saw her grief, he felt ashamed
of his wicked hope. And his generous ma
tule sprang into love and protection toward
her and her little one. ,q-7 rrf
Kathleen" said he taking her hand.
Kathleen, let mo nurse your child with you.
have had much experience with the sick;
may be able to help you. ,e.....,-.
She opened tho door and drew him into
the room. The nurse who watched the
child motioned them to be quiet, and as the
whispered, "She sleeps-this is the crisis, !"
and left the room. 80 .aE is.r r
leang Len eae aeUn eRd f
hand. Alovely, tender expression rested
on her face. She was praying. Fritz stood
behind her and looked on. The child's lit
tie face, which he had seen last SO radiant
and sunny, was wan and death-like. The
sllken faxen hair hung over the pillow,
matted and damp, while the breath came SO
softly that she hardly seemed to breath
at all. ..rr
His breast heaved, and the scalding tears
chased one another down his cheeks-the
first he had shed since he had learned Kath-
lsens untruth toward him. "E '-.@'
And so the hours passed in silence, while
blessed hope and joy crept into Fritz's
heart; for was he not there alone with his
beloved and the little one whose life he now
craved as much as he had hitherto wished
for it's death. -......-.
At The first gray streak of dawn the child
opened her eyes.
Mother" she said softly. 7> 81
Kathleen arose..
"Saved!" she cried.
thank thee" -.>
"Amen!" answered deep voice behind
ler. .-. 4.,e
"Fritz! you here?"
II have been here all night, love. My
prayers have gone up to heaven with yoQfs
for the recovery of your-our child. May
it not be SO, Kathleen!'
She disengaged one hand from the child's
neck and passed it around Lis, while she
laid the other, clasping the tiny hand, Into
his open PALM. .... .s,..-.s ..... ..
"Yes, ours, she murmured, "our wLite
violet"