Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-28
CHAPTER Y.--THE ORACLE.

"Oh, doctor, he's going to die-I know
he is-but you won't let him, will you?
1t would kill me. Where is he? Can't
we see him? We must see him"
1t was Minette'S voice, broken and
trembling. She looked up at the ply
stefan with her white, scared face in an
agony of fear and apprehension. Stan
brough stood beside her. They had
reached the hospital ten minutes after
Malvern had been passed over to the doc
tor by gendarme.
"He's unconscious now" said the doc
tor, in reply to Minette. perhaps it's
little too soon to say that the case is
really hopeless. We shall know more
about it in the morning"
ooh! let me see him, DOCTOR" inter
rupted Minette, imploringly.
The doctor called an attendant. "We
will follow you in minute" he said as
they disappeared. Five minutes later
the octor and Scarborough approached
Malvern's cot. There, seated on low
stool by its side, her head buried in her
arms, and resting on the side Of the bed,
sat Minette weeping convulsively. She
had passed through the trying ordeal
with remarkable fortitude, but the sight
of Malvern's PROSTATE form and closed
eyes, his head sunk in the pillow and al
most concealed by the coverlet, had COM
pletely unnerved her. They had come
Just in time, for the patient was begin
ming to show signs of returning con-
seriousness. The doctor walked quickly
| to the bedside, and, placing his hand on
Malvern's forehead, said in a low tone:
"Hes breathing little easier now
Minette did not look up. Finally
Scarborough took one of her hands gently
| and said:
''Come, 11inette, we must be brave
we are the only friends he has in Paris,
and we must nurse him back to life
! again"
Minette rose quickly, dashed the tears
away with her handkerchief, looked up
with sad smile, and said:
"Well, I'm brave n, w, what do you
want me to do?'
! I'm going to take you home first" he
replied, land then tomorrow the doctor
says that you can come and sit with him
a couple of hours. | shall be here the
+ rest of the time. Shall call for you at
/ 10 o'clock"
! eyes" said Minette; ST will be ready"
! Late that night Malvern walked into
Stanbrough's room.
! "Well, how did you leave herr" he
asked, anxiously.
! 1.-THE most thoroughly conscience
! stricken girl that ever lived" replied
! Scarborough. cat first she was terror
] stricken. While we were following you
/ down to the gate I was afraid that she
/ was going to faint. She didn't, though.
( But when she saw you in the hospital
/ that was too much for the poor girl"
"Yes, and it came very near being too
much for me, too" said Malvern. 81
/ couldn't have stood it much longer. You
came just in time"
Its perfectly plain-sailing now" said
1 Scarborough. "All you want is an OPP
7 portunity, and the doctor and I have ar
/ ranged to make one for you tomorrow.
I Put on you hat-we'l take stroll, and
/ I'll tell you about it.
When Minette and Scarborough ap-
/ peared in the doctors Office the following
morning, the physician gave them seats,
/ closed the door, and drew his chair near
/ to them.
"He's conscious now" he began; twas
50 last night. talked with him little
while. The worst feature of the case
now is his mental depression-said that
! he had nothing to live for. We must
/ get him into better state of mind some
! how. What was the motive, do you
| known
! But N1inette had already risen from
her seat. She restrained herself with
( difficulty until the doctor had finished.
Thus she answered his question by say
| ing simply:
al