Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-20

U.
if he died. he meant to die without accusing
me- Nv heart was too full for me to say q
word. l turned aside to hide my feelings
from tn, rough bearers who once more
ralse1 the PROSTATE form.
"Hum!n said the surgeon. "Very strange
for a man to shoot himself in the rlgnS
breast. Mus be left-handed, suppose
The risk of carrying Grant uD the hill was
too great to be incurred 50 BY my instruc-
lions be was borne to the inn There on
my own bed. was place the mon whom
had, without one thought Of comprnct'on,
that morning gone out to XII. Now, an
hour later, hung over him in speechiess
aronv. awaiting the result of the surgeons
examination.
Brief it was this. The bullet-my hand
after all must have swerved-hal entered
the right breast, crus ning through the
framework of bones. and was now living
embedded under tn, shoulder bla ie 1t
could be distinctly felt in its resting place,
and bv and bye could be cut out. Itwas to be
hoped that no particles Of clothing had been
carried into the wound.
But would he live--wcuid he ever be
himself againl Undoubtedly. unless un-
foreseen complications arosa The cure
would be tedious affair, bus he would be
cursd
As heard this favorable report, couli
have thrown myself on the surgeons neck
and wept for jov. If Eustac, Grant. when
be thought himself dying, could forgive Inc
and strive to shield ME, l felt certain he
would forgive me when his recovery b.
came an assured fact-forgive and, with
his solemn asseveration still echoily
through INV mind. darel to hope, All M
in recaining the woman who had LEFT me
for some reason which was now yelled in
mystery. But thrust this daw1ing hope
into the background. At present my one
task must be to undo. or 30 use @verv
human means to avert, the dire conSe-
quenceS of nv murierous dee
l left the roon saw til, 1l'SeenAr ani
his wife, an CAV, such uni mit,i instruc-
tions for every care and comfort pr ocurabl,,
that the COOL peoples ewes brlgntene1. No
doubt it seemed TO them that prosperous
days were dawning on st. Seurr1 1ordered
a messenger to BE- sent at once to u Orient
to request the attendance of tho best sur
geon the plac, boosted. 1 saou havs tele-
graphed to Paris for surgical aid but |
feared to waste precious time. Then l set
tlei down to nurse my late foe as on nurses
a brother. | neel not give in detail the
account of Grants progress towarl recov-
V.
which shook me as each day he seemed
little better or a little worse Tie an ,uish
l felt when fever set in-a1i he was for a
while delirlous. and. "a | believed, on the
point Of death-was a punis hment am fain
to think almoSs commensurate to nv de-
serts. l watcle1 BIZ him day AMI night
Such slice as Jo)l was Sna chad in a be
laid at the foot of his. All the world FOR
me seemed to be contained in tina SICK ROOM
Even Viola was for he timn almost driven
from my thoughts Until Grant grew well,
l could think # no one but nm.
Everything he took was from nv hands
1t seemed to me to be part of my atonenent
that should wait upon HIM like slave.
Hal he turned from me- in disgu st-had he
by = ord or gesture shown that tho constan5
presence of the man who hal don, his best
to kill him was u1supp ortable, | think |
must have gone mad
But he suffered me to nur 'e him: nav,
more seemei grateful for my aid Perha ps
it was nv devotion and solicltude for the
sufferer which averted the suspicion which
might we'll have fallen upon M 1 believe
the local surgeon guessed something of the
facts of the cas,, but be wa, Il di, Greet man
and said nothing The people a. the inn
were too much deligh tei with the winifall
to be curious us to how it was broughc to
their lee
A. the local surgeon hal pre- licted, the
case was a long AMI tedious affair. Four
dreary weeks passed. before l. for one
could hope that danger was at an end.
Then, to my indescribable JOY, Eustacs
Grant began to meni rapidly, so rapidly
that the little surgeon swellel with pride
and plume himself upon the SUCCESS. ul
is Tie brou ht about by his trea meat.
By his own request, Grant was moved to
his own house. the farm on the hill
In shamefaced way, l begged that |
might be allowed to accompany him, and
continue my duties of 81 ok nurse. In reply.
he held ou5 his wasted left hand. graspai
my own, and so settled the matter.
Scarcely word had yet passed. between
us concerning the veugefu act of mine
which had so nearly proved fatal to tue
man toward whom l now feel as a brot Ter
Once or twice stammere, out some PRAYER
for forg .ven,ss He hal always ciecSed
me by an action, as one would make who
has forgiven, or who has nothing to tor.
give. As ali talk likely to .itate him had
been forbidden. 1 was Obliged TO let nv ex-
pressions of contrition lie in allowance. 1t
was also part OF the punishment which |
meteI out to myself that du i,r thosa
weaIS Viola name never crosse m, lins
GRAM, great, gaunt wreck OF MS former
self, wos carried up to Bou.av', farm.
The journey did him no harm The
change rom the sheltered village to the
high, breezy table Ian l. wa a mos. bele-
neal on. II IortnIg 1t S time he could.
by leaning on nv arm, creep about, and
every day brou Ght him new strength
When he grew tired Of wa king, / had a
couch wheeled out in front OF the bouse
On tuis, under on awning mad, GU of an
Old sail, h lav for hours, druk hg in the
frs saa breeze One day he tvrl.. .oins.
"JuiiaE, h. sad-he often Us d nv
Chris ian nema now-'T feel 50 much
strong add tecte' that l must 20 to work
again. VIII you be nv anlenuen sIs!'
his right arm WAS still d;s7bei think
the tears we're in my eyes as thanked him
for the suggestion.
he gave me- look full Of sympathy and
forgiveness. Then, at his reques5. / souglt
Tor ana found bulle of m IN Iscript and
writing materials. Still lying on the couch
with mis- eyes half closed, ha d cta5ed to ma
Iage axe page OF a work which has since
appearel ahi brought him more fams and
FORUM
Except for the Fe.awakenad desire. the
craving which grow stronger arl stronger
every nou'-So hear tidin = of Viola. those
hours spent with Grant at that lonely farm
mouse on the elgs of the sea womb have
been very hGpDv ones to M. Leoyin- ont
OF the question the feeling of thanlfulne,,
that my tnurderous design, had faiiei. the
very charm OF the mans society was such
that coul have lingerel for months Mt
MS SIDE l knew that Eustace Graiit was
N q Int