Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-11
bestow upon her the inestimable privi-
leyps of Widovvhood


course, and was accompanied by many
why's and wherefores intended'to mod
ify, To some extent, what she consid-
cred the fiendish conception and the in.
delicate execution of the plot.
IL was Of no consequence whatever
To Hemingway that she desired his de-
mise; was even figuring upon it Al that
moment with pleasurable anticipations
OF time when il would have cast
about her mantle of unimpeachable
dignity and permanent security from
social prosecutions She was sitting
there, like section of paradise, fitted
into that dingy chair, Illuminating the
whole room and filling il with the ex-
qulslte odor of heliOtrope. To such a
presence a man may forgive much.
There was but one thought in his mind
after he was assured that il was not an
illusion which had come to torture him
with malicious contrast. "Her friends
would certainly object"
She assured him with strict Yeracitv
that il was her own affair entirely and
rested with them selves.
When it all came out Annie was
shocked beyond anything. She had
always known that Meg" would DO
something disgraceful, but she was not
prepared for this. To deliberately
propose to a man and then coolly sit
down with the eyes of the whole COM
munity upon her and wait for him tc
diet was too much.
The doctor was secretly in sympathy
with what he called the Mutual Benefit
Association, and the result of all this
was an immediate and quiet wedding,
at which the groom did not wear the
regulation black. - --.ff-- ~ b
Any unpleasant gossip that might
have followed the event was neatly
averted by story industrously circulat-
eel by Tom Ainslee to the effect that
Hemingway was really an old lover of
"Meg's," and some mysterious hints
OF romantic story in the background
that he could tell if he felt disposed.
week later, when AinsIee came for
his usual afternoon visit 10 the invalid,
Meg called him aside and hesitatingly
inquired whether he thought it would
hurt the patient to be moved
Um-m-m, no, don't think il would
hurt him To be moved; in fact, l am
sure il would not; but / would suggest
that you are in danger of defeating your
own purpose. II You nurse him too well,
you know, he might recover, and that,
under the circumstances, would fail
little short of disaster"
"Doa't be brutal. Tom" she said.
This place is inelfably dismal, and he
may ~ well he comfortable for the little
time that is left"
She took n cottage in the suburbs
near the river. with plenty of space
around it and windows That looked out
upon an eXpanSe o. shining water and
far-blue rims of hills. II was June:
about the verandas and windows hung
a mass of climbing roses that filed the
place with fragrance, and into the airy
front room, with its wide windows and
It's distant glimpses of river. and green
hills beyond, went the invalid bed.
All day long the fresh breeze from
the river. laden with the odor of roses.
parted the fleecy drapery of the win
dows and blew softly upon his face.
Everywhere reigned the delicious quiet
his tortured nerves had needed above
all things; the grateful absence OF the
sOunl of wheels and other urban noises
that had fretted his soul with their din
the only echo of these that reached
him now was the daily pilgrimage Of
Tom Ainslee's buggy. Near him, all
day long, lat Meg" in her soft white
dress and her flowers with the soft LIGHT
ON her brown hair, and q softer light in
her great violet eyes; surroundings
whicl certainly invited an interest III
terrestrial things. and, as the weeks
passed by, John Hemingway, n man OF
honor and sensitive conscience. bepan
to be troubled with n misgiving-a mis-
giving that after all he was not going to
fulfil his part of the contract. He felt
that for the first time in his life he was
about TO 90 squarely back on an obi
cation. He had entered into a deliber-
ate contract to die within given time,
and what amends could he make for
his ungenerOuS recovery? 1t would be
but poor return for her aSsiduous at
tention and tender ministrations. She
could not have been more swcetlv care
full OF his comfort if she had loved with
a love that was more than love- IN re-
turn for which he was about TO inHict
upon her permanent and unmtigated
disappointment. In vain he assured
himself that had he ever dreamed of a
possible recovery he would never hav0
allowed her to take such a risk. This
could not possibly alleviate her disap-
pointment nor excuse his perfidy.
He was thinking of these things one
day as he lay with his face turned in.
ward looking at Meg, whose ewes had
wandered from the book in her hand to
the hills beyond the river. She brought
them back presently, and they rested
for a moment on the face among the
pillows. The disiguring beard had
been removed and the face was GER
tainly better than when she had first
seen it. She supplied an imaginary
roundnesS of contour and decided that
nothing but health was needed to make
him a very handsome man.
John. your face is certainly getting
fuller; suppose, after all. you should
get well?"
This sentence, inspired by tender
interest. had somehow heartless ring
when uttered.
1t would certainly be an unglateful
return for all your Kindness. but am
afraid / am getting BETTER" he said,
apologetically. "Iu fact, Tom init.
mated to-day that might recover"
Meg also had a misgiving. She had
thought good deal about the posi-.
bility If his recovery, and wondered
whether il would make much difference
To- him. Whether John Hemingway,
restored to health and no longer in need
of nursing. might not wish himself q
single man again; whether there might
not be in all the lands he had trayersed
some one he would have preferred 70
her il he could have had his choice and
known that he was going TO live, and
there was nothing reassuring in his re-
marx that he was "afraid he was get
ting better"
Don't you want TO get well, John?"
she asked. sadly. trying to scan his face
in the deepening twilight.
- Ii is not the thing TO do under the
circumstances" he answered. pl.lintive-
y. After moments silence he reached
down for the hand that was resting on
his counterpane, and asked, trcmu-