Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-06-24
''NIother. motherlp moaned the

AotAti, hloliicii Hiodllcu Tue
child.
Pdilip Ayrell bent over her and plac-
ed his cool hand upon her forehead.
She looked up with a troubled yet fixed
gaze.
who are you?' she said.
Il am doctor, my child, come IL
make you well, answered Avrell gen
tly.
ITO make me welll'' she echoed with
the deliberate utterance of wandering
mind. ''Can you make mother happy
toO?''
lie saw the figure sitting 50 quietly
at the foot of the bed shiver and drop;
but his voice was as steady as ever.
''>he will be happy my child when
you are well"
''WIn she? Are you sure?" said the
child wistfully. Mother isn't happy
i know she isn't"
His heart bled for the woman whom
he loved still with a deathless love. He
saw her rise and glide out of the room
-he knew she must have broken down
If she had stayed-and Mary the nurse
came III to take her place.
Outside Gwendolen stopped and
wrung her hands in mute mysery. A
step was heard ON the stairs-a servant
came up. GwendOlen was calm, erect,
herself again to all outward seeming.
''Mr. CraufuTd's compliments, my
lady, and he would like to see you for a
few moments"
II will come.
She entered the dining room. A tall
fair, arlstOcratic-loOking man, who
was lounging IN an easy-chair, glanced
up as she came in, but did not rise.
"WhO told you to send for Avrell?"
he said, in an imperiOus tone.
She flushed little and answered.
Il sent for him because he is the first
physician in London; and Daisy is in
danger"
doctor Partridge will do for her."
"He will not; he is not clever, and 1
have no faith in his treatment"
There Il be a confoundedly heavy
bill to pay!" said Craufurd, getting up
impatiently. 81 know what these
fashionable fellows are-run you up a
hundred or two in no time"
''As you will not be required TO spare
so large sum froM your debts of
honor >" returned Gwendolen coldly,
you may safely leave the choice of
physician to me-"
~ tell you won't leave him in the
houseln exclaimed Claude Craufurd
savagely, stamping his foot. ''D'you
think l do not know why you had him,
and why he cOmes?"
She stood absolutely rigid for a mo-
ment CT two, her hands pressed heavi-
ly on the back of chair, her eyes fash
ing. Such taunts were not new to her
but this had an additional sting.
81 can answer your words" she said
II sent for Doctor Ayrell because |
wish my child TO recover. nurse her
myself because | wish her to recover.
Don't talk heroicS, Gwen" he said
avoiding her eyes. = What is the mean
ing of all this nonsense? You're not
to nurse her. | won't have you sitting
up and losing all your coed looks"
''I shall do precisely as | think fit.
have you anything more to sayp" Then
moving away-"Daisy will want me-"
$50 and" He stopped short and
bit his lip, looking after the tall grace
full form of his wife as she went out of
the room. 81 say, Gwen, as she paus-
ed. ''you haven't cheque about you?
I'm awfully short of cash."
she came back an expression cf con-
tempt passing over her beautiful fea-
lures. Unlocking desk on side-table
she took out a cheque, which she filled
out and laid on the table, then locked
the desk again, and left the room with
out saying word,
MY punishment, my punishment.
was her inward cry: "What bitter
Oh heaven, it is terribly
must beatoned for by such suffering?'
sand | must he in her presence and
speak TO her daily-a stranger, an ac-
luaintance, her physician-must see
her suffering, and may not speak one
word to tighten the load. had thought
this buried, past for ever: my love is
deathless; and she is the same Gwen
same girl who whispered
she would never forSake me. Sixteen
long weary years, and | cannot tear
this love from mel'
And now she was an unloved wife, a
woman, with all her glorious
beauty undimned, still, as ever, queen
of society, sought OUT, flattered by the
world, but not the loved queen of her
own home, her husband being rO.le
and gambler.
Day and night she watched her child
taking little rest and little food. and
that only when Doctor Avrell, with
gentle imperiousness, babe her take it.
"You will be ill, - he said; and Daisy
wants you"
That was enough.
Society missed her presence at ball
and garden party in those days OF sus-
pense. Her husband told her impa-
tiently and angrily that she would lose
her place in the world of fashion, and
taunted her anew with the novel at
traction she had found at home. But
his taunts fell on unheeding ears; she
seemed indeed scarcely to hear them,
and had not the remotest thought of at
tending to them. Her every thought
was for her child.
All this time Claude Craufurd never
the man he had so bitterly
wronged. Craufurd shrank instinc-
lively from meeting the physician, and
kept away as much as possible.
There came day at last when Doc
tor Avrell said
s'Your daughter has passed the crisis
Lady Gwendolen: she is out of danger
Her constitution is good; think she
Will rally"
Then he turned away he could not
meet unmoved the look on her face,
the gratitude that spoke IN her eyes.
at is not my doing; it IS Heavens
will. " he said briefly, almost abruptly;
and she shrank back.
So the day came when Daisy was
strong enough to be moved from one
room to another, and then-to go out OF
doors; and then she was almost herself
again, the bright child spirit of the
house, who could bring smile to her
mothers lips.
At last came the day that Lady
Gwendolen dreaded, when Philip Avrell
said there was no further need for his
services. But Daisy must go away for