Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-06

Miss Heath-Leslie-good heavensl how white you look? You are not going to faint. arc you? Let me get you some water or something"
 "No-no," she whispered. ''I-1 am not ill. Dying-you say! Dying! An, uo-mo. It would be too cruel. Oh. surely you can get some help" she went on, wildly and passionately. "Surely you will not let him die without making an effort, at least, to save him! Why don't you? He will die-he will die! Oh, it is cruel!''
 She threw herself into chair, and covered her face with her hands.
 Carruthers grew very white.
 What do you ,nean?" he said hoarsely. What is it to you-his life or death?"
 She made no answer: but he could see that sine was trembling violently.
 Do you mean," he said, speaking very slowly, and with long pauses be- tween the words, ''that you-care for him-that you-love him?''
 She looked up then, her eyes dry and fearless, but full of maidenly indigna- tion at the ruthless question.
 You have no right she began in breathless whisper.
 Answer me-" he interrupted her harshly.
 Then all at once she broke into bitter weeping.
 II don't know-I don't know," she sobbed wildly. But if he dies-oh, if he dies my heart will breakv'
 The next moment she was gone, and Carru.hers was alone.
 He stood quite still where she had left him. The room seemed to grow sud- denly dark. He groped his way to d chair and sat down. "If he dies my heart will break!' The sweet, childish tones, vibrating with a new fierce note of woman's passion, rang in his ears still. He had half suspected for the last day or two that Darrell cared for Leslie, but never that she cared for him never. He hid his faco on his arm, feel ing curiously tired and sick. He sat quite still for some time, and when he raised his head his blue eyes were little misty, and his lips were trembling.
 Now, if any one had had leisure to think of the weather this morning, they would have noticed that the wind had changed during the night, and that it was thawing rapidly. Carruthers' atten, tion was drawn to this fact by stray sunbeam shining on the opposite wall and it strengthened his already half formed resolution.
 "Poor little soul!" he muttered, as the girls great despairing eyes seemed again to look into his. "Well-her heart shall mot hrooL # con balr, if
 He rose, crossed the hall, and entered tho sick mans room. Darrell was lying quite still, seeming to breath with pain full difficulty. His eyes were closed, but he opened them as Carruthers came tt the bedside. The latter bent over him and moistened his lips with brandy Darrell thanked him with Q look. He was past speaking now. Carruthers re plenished the fire, and went slowly ou of the room; then he got on his boots wrapped himself in his overcoat, anc provided himself with stout walking stick. AS he passed the door of Leslie. room he paused, fancying he heard { sound of stifed sobbing. But a he moved away the door opened | and the girl came out. Her eye were swollen and she was very pale, bu on seeing Carruthers she flushed up sud denly. He took her hands in his ane drew her gently into the sitting room.
 "I am going to Princetown to get : doctor," he said very quietly. ''It i thawing rapidly, so I dare say I shal manage very we'll. Shall you be afraie to be left alone-until I return?'
 "No-no," she answered with littl sob. "Oh, Mir. Carruthers, forgive m for my nasty words!-forget all said I did not"-
 My dear," he said unsteadily, q hav nothing to forgive"
 "She hesitated moment, then sh said, with earnest, troubled eyes raise' to his:
 May I-may 1 take care of him til you come back? He-he might die there all alone. And," eagerly, "you need no be afraid of infection for me. I ha diphtheria once long ago. And I wa with my cousin when she died, and never took it." There was a patheti quivering of the tender little mouth tha was almost too much for Carruthers. H passed his hand wearily over his fore head.
 "It is an awful risk for you," he sai in harassed kind of voice. "But- must go-it is the only chance for tn dear old fellow; and, as you say, h ought not to be left alone. I hop shall only be away a few houl at furthest; but if I should nc get back before dark, will you light th , little lantern and put it in the loft vii dow2 I don't know that there is muc
 you can do for Darrell" he wery on wit half break in his voice, "except giv 7 him spoonful of brandy from time time, if you can get him to take i ! There isn't much, but will bring som ! back with me. And-keep away fro, ) him as much as you can; there is no us ) running any needless risk" He tried 3 look and speak as usual, but he did nc succeed very we'll.
 Leslie looked at him anxiously. "You are not ill, too, are you?" sh
 said.
 "Oh no," he answered in quiet voic "Now, good-by for a few hours. N
 don't come to the door; it is too cold fe