The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-01


them now and only in important cases like
my own.
In the twilight before there were lights
burning in the wards, one day when / was
stroB ger woke from my sleep 70 find him
sitting at my bedside. The nurse was near
him talking in q low voice, and ne was listen
ing attentively. Nv heart seemed to stop
still when i was sure il was he.
was right / knew him by his eyes In
all else he was a changed man. He was nine
years Eva's senior, but / had not thought to
see him with hair as white as snow and with
q hundred foe, deep lines about his face. IL
was q very stern face, with the thin lips COM
pressed as / had always known them but II
was handsome still, for all Its gravity AID
oldness of expreseion. A face of intense
power, q clever mans face. from which a
poor, weak sinner like myself seemed TO
cover and try to hide away, lest its very
looks should blast him.
"ThIs is Sir Edward" said the nurse.
Il know" nurmured hoarsely.
leave u.s." folio we'd the dry, hard tones
j of the surgeon, and with q Certainly, Sir
Eds the nurse departed.
Then there was silence. He looked stead
lily at me. as | had thought he would look
aud looked away from him down the ward,
and along the row OF sufferers there.
"Elwinl" he said at last, aud | glance d
wisfully toward him. / tried to speak, but
could not
You have had two hard fights for your
7 life," he said calmly, and witbouta q1aver
of his voice, but you are spa ED, l am glad
3 to say"
"Giad ?" murmured
Yes very glad"
/ could not reply. Strange hot tears came
] to my eyes whose founts had been sealed for
years
e 1--WE are always glad when we succeed in
. difficult case, and yours has been the most
| critical that have ever known ne contin-
ued in a hard, metallic way, that brought
me slowly to myself 1T is triumph OF
surgery to restore GU to the world"
y To restore me to his wife! Did hs think
s OF that in the midst of his success. | Won
y dsred? Or was that q matter which did not
II concern him ID the least now, which was not
any part OF his thoughts? Yes, he was hard
o man she had always called him hard and
t uusy mpatheuc; it had been his profession
first. his wife second. ard bis wife had IA.
sented the preference fretted, complained
aud fled
"He will never miss me-" she had said; "he
q will be happier without me-"
It Perhaps he had been. Who could tell,
If looking into that infexible face, whether he
d had suffered or not | was not sure, even,
v whether he knew me; he spoke SO calmly,
!; and regarded me as u patient in whom, on
n account OF the complications of the case. he
o was more than ordinarily interested. And
K for no other reason2
do you know VINO ann" asked at last
b fretful and impatient.
d You must keep cool, sir" be said pc
litely, but firmly; excitement is all we
l. have to fear in YOU"
"You do not answer my question, Sir Ed
Is wsrd."
o why do you ask"
n II can not say can not explain" / re-
e piled. but would be very glad to know"
n Twill 1t ease your mind TO know
le Il think 1t will"
b Eyes. knew you directly you were
d brought into the hospital. | never forget q
,r face" he said quietly.
j, why did you not kill me when was SC
,t completely in Jour powerP' l burst forth
= He laid his hand upon my arm and ros,
le from the bedside.
There, there, that will do" he said. "Yor
must recollecta surgeons pride, his fame
o rests on the saving Of his patient, not tn
killing Of him."
% "Ah. we you may kill me presently il
Of always"
IL Thank you" he said dryly, II know that
r And now try to sleep. And good night I,
y you, for II is what you need most
as He walked down the ward somewha
feebly, thought tor his four and fort,
Il. year and the nurses arose and CONTESTED I,
him as he passed, and the patients watched
ID him with their big. wondering eyes, a gian
ID among men, and as he stopped at the far en-,
O. OF the room, before one who was also his es
9, pecisl care, the students seemed TO rise abou
him, and hang upon his words.
ID "A good man. IL he not, nufse?' said h
ID the attendant, who had approached my sid
y, lagain.
n ~ don't know. He's great man, at al
d events"
d Yes"
8. 1T is an honor to us for him to come now.
n nv N n IN nat hn L.
" have been 30 deeply interested In you. Ev
n erybody has thought him particularly inter
lestsd Bat then It's miracle that your
st alive, with a skull all smashed into the brair
y ~ yours hss been. Why" she added cheer
ie fully, In order TO raise smile In me. you'v,
I the record 7"
ID mo, have no business TO be alive,n
se murmured. That 10 It."
"Ahl we'll 20 10 Sleep" she said sooth
ingly; you'll be more cheerful In the morn
i, ing"
CHEERFUL In the morning / waited YER,
snxiously for him. longed 10 see him.
d had thought OF many things which shoulc
d like to say, and wished 10 find the courage
70 the strength 10 say them and TO thank hin
for all his thought for me. Bat he came not
that day nor the next He was keeping ou
Z OF my way now. Perhaps he thought hil
sr presence disturbed me- aud led TO AN excite
II ment that was not good for me; or, hsvinl
set me on the road 20 onvaescencs, Their,
was gone ali interest In the matter and hs
!. eft me 10 men whose time was not 10 preoioul
n IN his own.
u had got we'll enough 10 see visitors nj
q sst, but had begged Eva not 10 come yet
J, not 10 come st oil. Aud II was for her hus
4 / bands sake rather than for hers. l would
| have spared him. / was peset with strange
d unknown fear OF those two meeting and pos
sibly at my bedside. IL was too horrible "a
!, 70 pntemplate,
} She did not come. She took me NJ my
word and left mo 90 myself And I wss
. greatly relieved. The fear OF seeing her was
Il awfully strong upon me, the woman who
had shared my lite, who had sacrificed her
|. life Tor mo and 10 whom had surrendered
o my ambitions. my friends, my honorable
J. career, the woman who was my whole life |
q did not wish ~ tee, ! was AFRAID OF any