Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-07

Forrest; wen hehad thoughtsbe loved
him, time when hope had held on, q
future Of bright companionship AID
when all things were bathed III The
light Of 4 supreme JOY. Then came q
darker pictUre-one of a cloud darker
ing his hopes; of disappointment.
deep sorrow, and period OF dull des-
air. Afterward followed outward
resignation. but an inward regret that
would not pass away. Never for u
moment had he ceased 10 love Leona
Forrest-not even when she became
| the wife Of Allen Murdoch. Fer four
wears 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
| 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 NurJock went straight I'd the
beside of her little daughter and bent
tenderly over her. With mother :
quick perception she detected q change
for the better Then she turned to
Dr.. Dudley. He had PurposeIy closed
the blinds and stepped toa shaded por-
ton Of the room.
"Will my little one recover" she
asked in tremulOus tones.
II think she will. tits question Of
subduing the fever and maintaining tbe
/ vitality" DR.. Dudley spoke in his
lowest and most formal professional
tone.
..Philipr' The woman's fine or
ganizatiOn could not be deceived.
''Philip Dudley
SAT your service, Mrs. Murdoch"
Neither advanced toward the other
DR.. Dudley restrained an impulse to
spring forward and seize her hands,
while Leona Murdoch 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. DC
you not agree with us?n
Eyes" she responded quickly, ''Can
you save her?"
81 can try. Her case is critical but
not hopeless It was the physician,
not the cid 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
vaIescence. During all this time moi
2 look nor a word had escaped him
outside Of his professional duties.
But one evening the child was sleep
limo. soundly upstairs and Dr.. Dudley
and Mrs. Murdoch were seated in the
uncovered porch of the farmers
house. 1t was beween daylight and
dark.
IF my little girl had died / should
have wished to die, too. l can never
repay YOU sufficiently. Dr.. Dudley, fol
saving her"
is it so bad rs that? I had beer
hoping for very liberal compensa
lion.
You deserve it. But I was no
tbirkino- Of dollars and cents.
Nor :"
| Lecna 1Iurdock was silent.
s.Yns :, soid DR. Dudley after .
nause ..vo1Iy cbiId's life will now
brigbtan ron1, own for She l. > 1ovabI,
IIittIa croatu1.a twill oIu-ovs ba some
thino Of = comnensation 70 know fla
7 VIC inS+rT7n,ontoI in nrnvontinU :
oraat orief from overtaLino, Won A,
for nv further nav well2,, Dir
L