River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-03
TOM HALIFAX, NJ. d.

TOM HALIFAX, VI. II.
She had been resting her head upon
her hand, full OF thought, when sud
denly she heard the sound of horses
hoofs Gathering down the street. She
looked up wondering who the rider
could be, and looking up half startled.
Il was DR.. Halifax himself, and as he
reached the gate, he slackened his
speed, and dismounting, came up the
garden walk with hurried step. She
did not wait for the servants, but step
ping into the hall, flung open the shade
blinds in response to his summons and
stood before him.
He certainly had not expected t. see
her, but he did not vince, merely bow
ing, and coloring slightly.
II beg your pardon, Miss Ashby," he
said; "but | have come to solicit char
ity on the behalf Of one Of my patients.
7 am not a rich man myself" with the
calm, handsome eyes on her face, "and
your father told Ine that | might rely
upon him in this terrible trouble
az am very glad to be of service" said
Bessie. "What is most needed, DR..
Halifax ?"
He made a few suggestions as he
thought proper, and, ander his direc-
tons, she filled large basket with food
and wine. It seemed as though he was
at least ten years older, ard Bessle's
heart grew very full at the sight of his
pale, grave face as she completed her
task.
"Can / do nothing more ?" she asked,
as she gave him the basket. 30 DR..
Halifax, if l only couldp And in spite
Of herself, the thick, gathering tears
filled her eyes.
He looked surprised, and then his
. face softened. "Thauk yOu!" he replied.
81 will remember what you have said"
When Tom Halifax mounted his
horse again, it was with thrill OF
pleasurable pain and backward glance
at the slender figure on the piazza. He
had looked down upon the pretty face
beneath its yelling curls, the wet lashes
and tremulous mouth, thinking little
sadly of the days when her eyes would
have met his with warmer glow. Yes,
it all came TO the same thing in the end.
The old wound was not completely
healed, and soft glance from the girl
ish eyes had set it throbbing again al
most as fercely as ever. That night
he came upon Captain Housted.
"Can not | help you, Halifax?" said
the kind hearted fellow. "You are kill
ing yourself. Let me do something, If
it is only to grind powders"
''You must not run the risk of infec-
ton" said Tom. "You have something
at home to take care Of"
eyes" said Captain Fred. "But |
u Etfla nbpflxy
much" His voice had stopped tone
or so, and he was tapping his boot with
his whip, as though musingly-
"Ask her. suggested Tom, with short
laugh, that most choked him.
81 am going to ask her tonight"
said the captain, raising his head sud
IDENTIFY, with half smile. cts all a
lottery, you know. 1t remains to be
proven whether my prize is a blank
or not"
Three hours after Bessie stood with
her cousin in the garden.
at is no USE" she said, with impetu-
Gus tremor. ~ don't love you, Cousin
Fred-at least, not as / must love the
man | marry. 1 thought 1 did, but
lately"-She stopped, dropping her face,
and then added, almost in a whisper:
81 have been very wicked and foolish.
Please forgive mel"
The captain looked down little
gravely. "When did you change your
mind, Bessie?"
"a few weeks ago, since this dreadful
plague. 1t made me think, AID saw
that had not been doing rightly"
1t was fully three minutes before Fred
Housted spoke again.
"See here, BessieI" he said at last,
81 am learning something too. | never
believed the gossip before nova
moments pause, and his smothered
doubt burst forth: Bessie, why did you
quarrel with Tom Halifax"
"Oh, Fred, DON'T" she said.
Don't cry" said Fred. 81 want to
know the truth"
have said Bessie Ashby never did
ANYTHING by halves. In her grief and
excitement she forgot she had fiirted
with her cousin; forgot about the posi-
tom" forgot everything, but that she
was frightened, and miserable, and
tired of acting.
II have been so horribly selfish, she
sobbed. 81 didn't think l cared so
much, and-and he was so poor, and
then we quarrelled, and | thought
could like you well enough. don't
think | should have been so wicked,
but he was so proud, and things got
worse every day; but lately it has all
come back, and can't help it,
"You have not treated me well, Bes-
Sic" said the honest young captain after
a short silence. Men don't want wo-
hca fax Z
they can like them we'll enough;' but l
think you see how you have wronged
me 1t is ali over now, so we will say
no more about it."
have said before that hearts do not
break. They may stretch and perhaps
suffer a little in the rebound, but really
breaking is out of the question; and
warm and tue though our brave cap
tain's might be, it was not likely to
disgrace the general India rubber repu-
tation by swapping, even in this painful
strain; so pray do not blame poor, pen
itent Bessie for any misfortunes which
may hereafter befall him.
The next morning DIR. Halifax met
his rival in the street.
al prophesied rightly, old fellow,
said the gentleman, quietly. "The atfir-
NATIVE proves to be negative after
all"
"Madamoiselle is changeable," said
Tom. Il hope / am not going to have
you for a patient, Housted. You are
as pale as a ghost"
Broken heart, +" laughed the captain.
ono, I don't think you will" The
warmth gives me slight headache;
that is all.
But there was something more. As
the day grew, the slight headache be-
came a severe one, throbbing and pulls
ing, the pale face flushed, and the
strong limbs trembled q, d failed as
they had never done before.
At about o'clock, as Tom sat in his
office writing out some prescriptions.
Captain Housted entered the room and
staggered into chair.
al am afraid you are going to have a
patient Halifax" he said smiling feebly
II feel rather faint" And as ne said
it he dropped his deathly face upon the