Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-07-29
LONE BREE.
BY MARY C. PRESTON.


''Crippled for life! I will not believe
It! 1t would be far easier to die than
believe it | tell you something CAL
be done!"
''All that human skill can do has
been DONE" said the physician, sadly
TRY to bear it patiently. You vii
remember that men as powerful and
hopeful as you have been stricken
down every day, and the noblest
among them are the last to com
plain"
The white, drawn face among the
pillows turned even winter; a burning
mutiny glowed in the hollow, brilliant
eyes that had looked at the world so
fearlessly and frankly a month before,
ere that terrible accident, which had
left so many Of his fellow-passengers
lifeless, had flung Harold Vane among
the debris of the railway train, with
crushed and mangled limbs. which
now he knew would never bear him
more.
"Don't preach to mel" he cried, bit
terly 81 want none of 1t; | am sick
OF it But tell you [ will not lie help
less and useless on a couch for years
and years., who have such promise
in my life-I will notr'
f'Then pray heaven to work mira
Gle in your behalf, for human power
must fail you'll" answered the old doc
tor, gravely.
And poor Harold turned Impatient
" away from the light, shudders going
over him, as the physician quietly left
the room.
He had dreamed so confidently; had
loved so fondly and so well. Were his
dreams to be but scorpion stings,
while the love he had won from lone
Bree, must he fight it down now in the
very dawn of manhood?
It was hard to know that he could
never stand among his kind, strong OF
limb, graceful and handsome, as ne
mad stood, a very prince IN bearing;
it was harder still to know that, while
his fertile brain might still allow him
to keep the place which it had won
him among writer's and thinkers of his
day, his works must be sent over the
world, unfollowed by himself; as Mil
ton, blind and feeble, sent from his
study those glorious thoughts that
sought him in his darkness. was forgot
ten as a man, and but remembered as a
mind, so must he, and it was terribly
hard to know it.
But it was hardest of all to realize
that now he must cast from his own
the fair young life that had twined it.
self about his heart so closely-sO
closely! It was death to him-the
knowledge that now hemust give back
her troth to lone Bree, and perhaps
see another win her.
'sOh, my love-my love-" he walled,
IN a hushed, heart-sick voice, as he
wrung his hands-"Oh, my stately
love! | am tasting of something
worse than death as [ renounce you,
and dearer than my own life always,
you have never been SO dear as now
Father in heaven! had you spared me
that one thing-the love Of this wom-
AM could have found strength to
bear all else. But | cannot Say THY
Wilt, who behold the utter wreck OF
my life Why did I not die with all
who died that day? Why was this
pitiful breath left me?
Perhaps the thought stole serpent-
like to him in that hour of despairing
pain, that other men, having lost al
that made existence worthy, had flung
the husk of life away. If so, like Cat.
aline, when ambition had wrecked
him, he realized that suicide would be
''the towards cure" and put the
thought away, as Cataline had put his
poniard.
He had asked to be left alone, and
alone they left him, while the sun sank
behind the mountains, and over the
world closed in summer cleaning
soft, gray and glorious.
Time was not needed by him, while
unmindful Of physical pain, he tossed
from side to side, and strove to con
quer himself. He had not succeeded
His impetuous, impatient soul was
chatting ike Gagged lion still, when the
door was pushed open noiselessly and
a girl glided ina lovely girl, with
calm, tender eyes and sweet, Womanly
lips, and masses of dark hair waving
back from broad brow. But a look
OF pain was IN the eyes, and q CULVER
on the red lips, as she paused and
watched Harold, herself unseen by
him.
AS a low moan died on his lips she
went forward impuisively aud knelt
beside his couch, laying her white
hand on his forehead.
Harold" she whispered, sI have
known it for many days, dear, but We
could not bear to tell you before Dc
not sorrow like this. If you love me
do not, my best beloved"
Clone" he cried, f'do you know that
am never to walk again-that | an