The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-08-06
INTERESTING STORY.
WRITING FOR LIFE.

have complete and perfect rest for some
weeks. You have been OVERRIDING it in
nursing that old uncle in the country for
the last three months, and, to nv own
knowledge, have taken the last train down
there at night and the first train to town in
the morning, and have consequently not
had good nights rest for all that time.
How can man stand it, added to Your
hospital work all day, without suffering
from it 2 Don't you feel to require rest ?'
" Not the least in the world,n returned
Raven. oddly enough, the nursing seems
to have done me good. l confess to having
felt thoroughly knocked up some six weeks
since; but l battled bravely against the
feeling, won the victory, and now I'm MS
fresh as paint and up to work better than
over"
=" You don't look it. repeat you look
thoroughly worn out. But you know your
own business and state of health and. now
your uncle is gone and has left you potfull
of money, you can take things easily"
Yes, old boy, Pm game for anything
mind and body first class; and l intend to
stick to my hospital work. It's very good
of you, Jack, to take an interest in my
health and all that, but say no more abont
it, beg"
promise to say nothing to nobody"
Raven and were at the same hospital
st. Lazarus-where he held q medical and l
q surgical appointment. We were both hard
worked, often day and night and my time
and attention, for about three months after
the above conversation, were so fully occu-
pied and engrossed that thought no more
OF the occurrence. Raven looked in good
health, and was very successful-indeed he
babe fair to rise in q short time to great emf.
nence in the profession. He was immensely
popular with every one. His gray hair and
bright blue eyes and healthy forid complex
ion, combined with a frank, open, and
hearty manner in speaking, made him
friend with everybody, and inspired conf
dence in all his patients as we'll as in all his
friends.
As nearly as l can recollect ii must have
been about three months after his uncle died
that Raven came up to me one day in the
h, y lital.
I've just received q summons to Exeter"
said he. The family is wealthy and in.
fiuential; and, from what / know of the
case I've been called there to attend, l am
sure it's more of II surgical than medical
ono. 1t will be an excellent chance for YOU
Lawson and can promise you good fee
to be gin with. Therefore, if you can posi-
bly, manage it, meet me Mt Paddington this
evening at half past nine, and we will go
down together by the express. Send me
word during the afternoon if you can come
or not"
hesitated. II was the depth of winter
and I hardly liked leaving my wife and a
most important baby; but fees were scarce
this was a golden opportunity not to be
rashly neglected. decided to risk my wife's
disappointment.
g 1t is most kind of you, Tom. will GER
tainly go down with you. So far as l can
see, there will be nothing to prevent my
doing So"
CLEAN of satisfaction shone in his bright
blue eyes.
You promise p''
Unless anything unforeseen should hap
pen to prevent me, will be at the station
by half past nine"
:" Remember p
Raven was dramatically impressive, 1
thought, as we parted and arranged my
work SO as TO be able to keep my appoint
ment The hardest task was breaking the
news to Amy, who would be low spirited
and conjure up all kinds of horrors and i'm
pending railway accidents, and who finally
dissolved in q shower of tears as tore N.Y.
self away, burdened with no end of rugs
and comforters to alleviate in some meas
ure the moral wet blanket she had thrown
over me.
was only just in time to catch Raven.
who hastily opened the door of the railway
carriage.
Jump in, Jack, jump in Half crown
to the guard has secured this compartment
for us all the way down so we shall have
1t to ourselves without fear of interruption.
Times up; you have run it fine. Fire
awayp
lie flung in my bag and the several rugs,
et-cBtera, and we entered The guard
touched his hat and shut the door with
bang.
" This door is unlocked, guard ?n said /.
" Yes, sir; side nearest the platform is
always unlocked. The other door is locked"
He whicilad opd Tho tra;,, atartoJ
can't bear the idea of both doors
being locked" remarked to Raven. In
case of accident it would be impossible to
escape from the carriage"
g 1t doesn't mltter," he said, and then re-
lapsed into silence.
For about twenty minutes he remained
opposite to me, sometimes with his ewes
closed, sometimes with them fixed upon me
In most unpleasant manner. All my en-
deavors to draw him into conversation failed,
and after time I gave them up and also
relapsod into silence.
Suddenly he rose from his seat and drew
from the inside of his overcoat q long and
pointed knife, which flashed ominously in
the lamp-light.
Jack Lawson, we must both of us die
tonight" said he calmly and deliberately,
without any excitement of manner 81 feel
that the time has come for us both to quit
this vale of tears"
Yes; l quite agree with you, Tom
Raven" l replied-seeing what had hap
pened-in as calm a voice as his own. 81
have long thought that life was becoming
very undesirable; and, to leave it in your
company, with you, my oldest and warmest
friend, would be the most agreeable thing
to me that could happen. But-you are not
married, Tom"
Thank Heaven, no."
Remember, ] am married; and, had
you given me notice of this wish of yours
before starting, would have made arrange
ments, and have spoken to my wife to pre-
pare her. Have You made your will 2"