The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-06-07

resignation, but an inward regret that
moment had he ceased to love Leona
/ 1Forrest-not even when she became
/ the wife of Allen Murdoch. For four
years he had not looked upon her, and
now they were again face to face, she
widowed and he in attendance upon
her sick child. What strange freak of
i fate was it that led him TO choose this
spot for his summer vacation and
brought him in the presence of his old
love?
| Leona Murdock went straight to the
| beside of her little daughter and bent
quick perception she detected Il change
for the better. Then she turned to
DR.. Dudley. He had purposely closed
the blinds and stepped toa shaded por-
ton of the room.
'.Will my little one recover?" she
| asked in tremulous tones.
Il think she will. Its question of
subduing the fever and maintaining the
vitality" DIR. Dudley spoke in his
lowest and most formal profession
tone.
'.Philipr' The woman's fine or
ganization could not be deceived.
''Philip Dudleyr'
'.At your service, Mrs. Murdoch
Neither advanced toward the other
DR.. Dudley restrained an impulse to
spring forward and seize her hands,
while Leona Murdock was oppressed
with a sudden flood of memory.
''How came you here?" she asked.
''That can be explained later Our
present concern is your little girl. Do
you not agree with us?"
"Yes," she responded quickly. "Can
you save her?"
81 can try. Her case is critical but
not hopeless" 1t was the physician,
not the old lover who spoke, and
thenceforward nothing could have been
more cool and business-like than his
behavior. The mother, too, was
watchful of the sick one, and tender
and constant in her ministrations.
DR.. Dudley soon left his directions
for the day and night and took his de-
parture. For three days thereafter he
made visits to the farmhouse at inter-
walls of a few hours, and at length was
able to assert that the critical point in
the fever had passed. Then came con-
valescence. During all this time not
look nor word had escaped him
outside of his professional duties.
But one evening the child was sleep
ing soundly upstairs and DIR. Dudley
and Mrs. Murdock were seated in the
vine-covered porch of the farmers
house. 1t was beween daylight and
dark.
If my little girl had died l should
have wished to die, too. l can never
repay you sufficiently, DR.. Dudley, for
saving her."
''Is it so bad as that? l had been
hoping for a very liberal compensa-
ton"
"You deserve it. But 1 was not
thinking of dollars and cents.
'sNor l."
Leona Murdoch was silent.
Yes" said DR.. Dudley. after a
pause, ''your child's life will now
brighten your own, for she is lovable
little creature. 1t will always be some
thing of compensation to know that
l was instrumental in preventing
great grief from overtaking you. As
for my further pay we'll" DIR.
Dudley hesitated. .Do you never
think of the old days, LeonaP"
She started and trembled. can
swer me-" he persisted, seizing her
hand. Il have found you, after all
these years, free again, and my love
comes back hundred-fold. cannot
return to the world without YOU"
He was so intensely earnest that his
voice wavered, and the strong clasp of
his hand almost gave 'her pain. Her
heart beat with agitation, and then
came the sense of contented rest.
Phillip she whispered, Il am loyal
to the memory of my husband who
died, but"-her voice sank still lower
IL think my time of real happiness
has just begun
And he took this for the answer on
which all the brightness of the future
seemed to depend.
Thus was a Young life saved and two
hearts filled with new life. In after
days the zest with which DIR. Dudley
told of his fishing-trip was never quite
understood by his little step-daugEter.
though the enthusiasum of the narrator
always enchained the close and won
dering attention of the listener