The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-16
much 10 have Mets with me the short time

olive, you can take your choice between
Us; either enc or must leave you"
alt Is bard to do without her, but perhaps
she is better of where she is"
Poor man. be now sees the great mistake
be made in marrying Lima Mason. His
home is oesolste one, made more SO by tue
absence Of the child IN whom his whole life
happiness was conferred; wretched, because
his wife is not the gentle, loving woman he
thought her. Yet he thinks she loves him,
and for that reason, and on account OF the dis
grace that would foilew her departure from
her home. be concluded TO die, ii Necessary,
without seeing Meta. Next morning Mr..
Woo0ruf was much worse; he was not a0e
to lesve bis bed, but lay IN an almost ia
conscious condition.
Madam Reek watched over him with
more care than nurses usually do, never
leaving his bedside except to go to her meals,
leaving Lima and Arthur with him until she
returned.
About noon DR.. Thornton arrived, noted
physician OF New York, for whom Arthur
had telegrsphed that morning. lie examined
Mr.. Woodrurs pulse and scented greatly
alarmed at his condition. Going into tbs
ne1t room and calling Madam Reek, he
tod her that which he feared.
"Oh, sir, do You think he viii der she
exclaimed.
Il do rot say ne will, bat the case does not
look very favorable now"
"What is the matter with himF'
"That is where l am puzzled myself, unless
he has been using opiates too freely"
"That could not be, Doctor, he has
never"
"Then you have known him sometims2"
interrupted DR.. Thornton.
"Yes, or rather his daughter; and she
talked great deal of her father"
"Where is she, that she is not with him
now?'
"She and her step-motber could not
Bgrs q, consequently she is compelled to re.
main away from home. Bat come, Doctor,
do all n your power to save him, and will
aid yon.'
"Ynu sre q brave nurse. I wish We had
more ike you IN this world"
They rs turned to the sick chamber, where
they fou Lima trying to revive her hus.
band wilt some wine; but as they entered
she left the room, taking the glass contain
ii with her. Why did she do this? Was she
afraid that soBe one might taste 1t? Even
If they did what difference cosld that
make9
After leaving some medicine Dr.. Thorn
ton went away, promising to return early
the next morning. That night Arthur aud
Madam Reek sat up with the sick man, who
seemed 70 be sinking rapidly. Lima, resting
In the next room. listened 10 every word
that was uttered, jealous OF the little woman
ia black. Those whose thoughts and hearts
aTe black sre al Eavs under the impression
that every one else are ike themsel yes
She would not have thought that OF Madam
Reek co0ld she have read her aching heart
and seen the unshed tears in her eyes, hid
den from the light by those hideous glasses
Even though Madam Reek said she va,
strong she was not as she was very nervous
and strong, healthy people scarcely know
what nerves are.
Arthur Brsden's eyes often rested upon
Der with steady, searching gaze. And hs
insisted upon her lying down to rest, but
she would not, saying she only lived TO do
her duty, AID that now was 10 nurse and
care for Mr.. Woodruff. she did never lesv-
ing him for one moment, bathing his
feversh temples and hands and moistsliDg
his paTched lips.
Arthur noticed how gently she moved
about, not making the lesst noise, snd how
she turned and smoothed the hot pillows.
All through the long night Mr.. Woodruff was
unconscious and morning found hin 40
better.
''Msdam Rsek. I must insist upon you
living down for on hour st least. at the SAD
Of that time ] Will cell You," said Arthur.
IF am tired am not conscious of it,"
But Won must remember you AKA work
ing against the laws OF nature. We can
not spare you now. but We will be compelled
TO ifyou persist In not taking some rest"
when / know that be Is better will do
as you ask, bat not before. God will give
me strength TO bear up"
II was Christmas morning. The snow wss
deep on tbs ground, and the wind blew it in
great drifts in every direction. EverI thing
was quiet st Woodruff Hall for the master
lay at deaths door. At Arthur's request,
Lima had consented to let him write to
Meta.
u will tell her all about his condition,
snd If she has the least particle of love or re
spect for him she will come home imme
a , A ri no nd f1a
Suing alone st the breakfast table
You may write, but doubt if she will
cor g, or even answer your letter"
Arthur wrote to Meta. but the letter was
not destined TO reach the one to whom il
was written, for it never left Woodruff Hall.
1t was destroyed; By whom it 10 unnecessary
10 say, as my readers can easily guess.
Day after day passed by, and Mr.. Woodruff
fingered between life and death; but his
daughter did not come to him. and Arthur
believed that Isins was right in saying sbe
was heRrtless. DR.. Thornton aid not leave
the bedside of the sick man, but watched
every Dew symptom, yet was as much pUz-
lied as be had been the urst day that be saw
Elm. At last he came 10 the conclusion
that he bad better consalt q brother paysi-
clRn. Accordingly, without saying any
thing 70 l. ma be dispatched for one, and the
next morning DR.. BOaZ arrived. and after
examining the case. Adjourned TO the next
EOOIN Win III 1nOFDtOD.
i Is very strange case, one that would
hstfie 81 human knowledge; unless tbs man
had been poisoned said DR.. BOaz.
Il believe that is exactly the case, and un-
less something is done for him To counterfeit
the effects OF IL be will not last bat for few
hours"
do he and his wife live happily to-
getber?"
That do not know, as ne has been IN
conscious most Of the time since | came.
dare say Madam Reek could enlighten you
on this subject"
''Csll her. by sll means. Madam Reek. do
you know whether Mr. Woodruff and his
wife live hsppy together or not?" Doctor
Boaz asked, as the lady in black entered the
room.
"As far as l know, yes. May 1 ask why
you want to know this?'
az suppose / may as veil tell yeu; IN fact,