Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-11

lot my VIE, my beloved, mas come Dack TO
me at last-come back to me from the
dead!'
In teYerish excitement I listened. But
there was no answer, not a sound, when
that trembling voice ceased, to break the
stiffness Of the night.
Presently il began again.
They tell me it is thirty years ago.
Nonsense. Thatis only dream. 1t was
yesterday yesterday, that you spoke to
me for the last unexpectedly that you
Oade me goodbye, and kissed me when |
went away. And to-day, you are as you
We're then. No change, no change, none
at all. You are as young aud SIS fair as
when / first took your hanQ ia mine and
called you wife"
Then there was a pause, and / was con-
sciOus of some movement beyond the
tapestry behind which 1 was gulltily ND
ing.
what followed startled me, but it called
me back to life. With a voice thrilling
with emotion, the man once more broke
the silence.
Gertrude! These are yours. This is
your birthday, and our old wedding day,
and | have not forgotten you. You do not
yet believe that [ am rich and famous, and
that your husband has many friends.
Seel These are gifts frem those
whom | have rescued from deathl They
Here is bracelet. 1t ia set with emeralds.
No rarer could be found. An how Charm
ing il looks on that dainty wrists And
here is something a Princess might wear.
1t is tiara Of diamonds; and it is yours.
Al, my wife, let me place it on your brow.
on, my queen, my queenW
Unable to restrain myself longer l eau
tiOusly drew aside the tapestry and peer
cd into the chamber beyond it. 1t was
comparatively small, but richly furnish
ed, though In the fashion of olden times.
1t was, thought, iady's boudoir, but
from where | " as concealed, only a por-
ton OF the room was revealed to my view.
II was not the room that arrested my at
tention, but what it contained. On
small table, almost within reach, lay those
very ornaments-tbe earrings, the neck
let, the pendant-of rubIes and pearls,
the loss Of which had first led me TO uu-
raYel, if | could, the mystery Of the great
jewel robbery. | could not be ~ mistaken.
The description given me had been most
minute. An exact counterpart Of the set
was not in existence, aud here it lay on the
table before me.
AS | looked on with astonishment, from
the part of the room / could not see there
approached me, slowly and with pensive
step and bowed head, like one walking in
his sleep, the man whom | now almost
dreaded to see-the famous doctor, Gideon
w est.
Could he be the author OF these mysteri-
Gus thefts? [ could not believe il, and
yet the proofs of his guilt lay before me.
No longer hesitating, stepped forward.
So sudden and so unexpected was my APP
pearance that the man was unconscious
Of my presence until l had placed my
hands upon his arm and gasped ia tremb-
ling tones:
"Dr. West-I-aTest-'. But the sen
tenee was never completed.
With cry that might have been heard
almost in the grave, the unhappy man
shrank from me. AT that in slant | turned
in the direction TO which he was pointing,
with that agoni1ed leok upon his face, and
as ] did so / loosened my hold and my
hands fell pOwerless 10 nay side. la the
corner Of the chant Der hitherto hidden
from me, | saw one of those old.fashioned
bydsteads, with heavy draperies around
il. The curtains were of silk once a pearly
white, now dulled and faded by age. The
c0unterpane and pillow, once like driven
snow, were white no m0re. Lying on the
bed, with her head on the pillow and her
body partially concealed by the bed linen,
| saw the torm Of a womaR-a woman
who must once have been fair and beauti-
fu TO behold, Her luxuriant hair fell in
wreaths on each side OF her face, aud was
then brought together over the bare white
throat. Her arms were uncovered by the
Counterpart, and, clasping an infant
child In their embrace, lay folded across
her breast.
AS realized all the details of what
seemed like a vision, | confess that my
nerves failed me. | c0nld only look at
that cold, pale face, lying SO still on the
pillow, with the child face nesting beside
it; and as | looked 1 realized that the
stiffness was the stiffness OF death.
Like one entranced remained motion
less for some moments, when again | was
aroused TO action,
A figure clothed in white-the face
scarcely less pale than the face OF the
dead, the scanty locks Of hair, white with
age, hanging loosely about her shoulders.
the eyes liked on the bed and the hands
stretched out supphcatingly toward it.
glided into the room, Then, catching
sight Of the PROSTATE figure Of the man
VINO had cast himself beside the bed, with
his hands spread out on the form that Law
there, this apparition of woe, turning on
me glance OF repr0ach that Will haunt
me to my dying day, exclaimed, amid
streaming tears:
you have killed himI My son, my
sonl"
And now, how shall finish nv story
without wearying you with explanations {?
Let nae 90 back to that old question once
asked by Gideon West: "Wnxt if success
should come too late2' For all the happi-
ness 10 could briag him, 1t did cone too
late. His struggle with fate, il not a long,
had been a bitter one. There fell grieV-
GUS sickness on the neighb0rh0od: disease
ana death stalked abroad, and moved
down their victims without counting the
numbers. Against the grim tyrants Gid
con West fought day and night; his ener-
gy was endless, his courage undauntad,
and he triumphed. No, not Gideon West,
but the weapons OF science triunlpbed in
his hands. Disease and death We're driv-
en- from the held; as they fed they shot
one last bolt nc their vict0r-it glanced off
bis armor, but left his wife and child
dead nc his side.
Yes; he had won. But what was the
victory worth? Fame, reward, wealth,
all were has; but the one hope of has life
was dead. Yet be never spared himself
never ceased work for day never hesi-
lated at any sacrihce. He lived, he said,
for only one Oblect-it was TO wear out
his lHe." The old home knew him to the
end, and one faithful and devoted woman
gave all her years 70 cheer the one hero of
her life, the poor struggling surgeon, the
great physician-the man who for pure
love had married her only child-Ger-
trude's husband.
But the end came suddenly at last, and
outwardly there seemed TO be no signs or
failing power. The mind seemed as fresh
and as vigorous as ever. Only in one di-
rectiOn did it give way. Years of never