The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-09-29
"Who left the door open? / supposed

"One of the servants that knew
nothing of the lady left the doorl
open"
well, it is all too bad; but here
comes the doctor, and high time it is. "
1t was the doctor, and after closely'
examining the still, lifeless form, with
. grave, anxious face, he said:
Ladies, your patient is IN consider
able danger. She has received very
severe blow on the left side of the
head.
1T will be weeks before she will re-
turn to consciousness, and perhaps
months. There must be the very best
care taken of what little life remains =
she is very young and frail to receives
such a shock, and if there is the slight
est disorder, or any person she does note
like near her, | will not answer for the
consequences.
Gertana stood there looking dc yn
upon that little round, white, lifelessf
face, as it rested in its clusters of gold X
the little hands, lying across the breast,
were almost like q babes, SO soft, 50
white, and dimpled.
The tight-ftting blue satin had been
removed, and long white robe, with
heavy lace trimmings, now covered the-
pretty little form
By the side of the bed stood the
nurse and the Italian, whose heart was
then rent with temptation.
"That poor beautiful girl lying there
before me is, no doubt, pure and limo
cent as / once was, but, for some rea-'
son, she is more fortunate than l. Syl-
yester could not steal her heart as he.
has mine, and as he has her in person.
/ heard from her own lips that she did
not love him, and will never consent to
be his wife.
ooh, why am so tempted and tossed
about? Shall | in some way take the
little life that remains in this little.
body for revenge upon him, or shall /
be more merciful?
"Shall | nurse back to life this girl
who seems to be more than all the
world bes des? Shall l do this, and
let Heaven deal h m his just reward
Oh. spelk, conscience, and relieve my
burdened soul!
aye, dear heaven, l Will do right,
for the many wrongs of my life have
now blackened my soul darker than
night.
4 will love and befriend this girl and
nurse her back to life.
"Then God, the just Judge, will,
punish the guilty and give me my re-
ward"
The doctor had given Mrs. King the
necessary directions and then left the
house.
While Gertana was standing by the
bedside Mrs. King noticed the many
changes of the expression of the beau
tiful, sad face, and knowing that Lee
nora had dethroned the misjudged wom-
AN, shudder of fear ran through her
large, coarse body, and she said:
Madam, [ hope you will be kind to
my lady, for she is innocent and pure
as an angel. She has been much
wronged, l fear"
Gertana looked up with a smile.
"You need have no fears on that
point, for l intend to devote my whole
time and thought to this poor injured
beauty. Her path is now rough enough
without me scattering more stones"
The gas was turned low, and Lenora's
new friend retired to her room.
The nurse, Ill soft slippers, stole
noiselessly about the sick chamber,
while the house was again as still as if
the death-angl had stolen away the
most beloved.
1t was very late the next morning
before the windows We're thrown open,
or any signs of life could be seen at
the Noll cottage. The master of the
house did not waken from his long
sleep until near noon, and the sun
slone brightly in at the windows.
Why, what has happened? What
Nearly twelve o'clock, and [ have
slept here on this sofa all night! All,
yes. | know now"
It seemed that every particle of
blood in his body rushed to his head,
as memory returned. He then grew
pale and nervous, and started for the
door, 50 excited, so anxious was he to
know whether she was really lost
lost-forever. Finally the door Of his
room opened and he reeled into the
library.
"Yo-you here, Gertana? Why
have You allowed me to sleep so long,
when you knew / wanted to know how
the search ended and how matters
stand?"
at was not necessary, Sylvester, that
you should be disturbed of the rest
that you so much needed. All is as
well as could he expected, under the
circumstances.
what! Oh, heavens, is she found,
and is she safe?"
"She is in her room, but probably
will die" Noll raised his hand to his
forehead. and an expression crossed
his pale haggard face that Gertana
never forgot.
He sank YEARLY into a chair, that
stood near where Gertana sat, and re-
manned silent for some time.
"Tell me all that has happened,
and just how she t."
About eleven o'clock last night
Mrs. King came home with Lenora in
a carriage; we thought her dead, but
sent for a doctor Immediately. He
examined her and said she was seri
ously injured, and that she had re-
ceived severe blow upon the left side
of the head She is now unconscious,
and perhaps will rem 3in 50 FOR months.
Inc uOctJT lOfDdde ally one 10 he al
lowed to go near her that was repug
nant, and that no one shoald enter the
room but the nurse. When she was
! brought in her jewels were gone AMI
her dress was very much soiled. The
| policemen were carrying her out of an
! alleyway, on the South Side, when
| Mrs. King came along, and with some
| difficulty she succe eded in getting into
carriage the lifeless form of Miss
Lenora. AS You know, she left the
house in her evening dress; no doubt
she kept rushing on and o., like mad
woman, until some villain noticed her
! jewels, knocked her senseless, and tore
/ them from her. The nurse saws she
breathes little more freely this morn
ing but notices nothing, and cannot
! speak"
! The news seemed to almost stun
/ Nolls senses, for he sat long and mo
tionless, with dropping head and down
cast eyes.
The manner in which Gertana had
/ explained matters to him was not of an