Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-06

CO1eS sees MIN Dis she 10 l)dSSll0 lHIOupu
the long, gloomy hall, and of course
she goes to him. Lefty has never in
herli seen suffering in the humblest of
Gods creatures without seeking to al
leviate it, and her heart is bleeding for
her old long-ago playmate's sorrow.
There is no hope" he answers,
YEARLY.
There is always hope, always, Tony,
as long as Gods gift of life remains,
she says, gently. ''Send her to Flor
ida. The climate must benefit her"
Il cannot send her among strangers.
Mothers nerves unfit her for nursing,
and business complications will pre-
vent me from leaving home for months.
must keep myself in a position to
supply her with every comfort while
she needs it, and my absence would be
financial ruin just now"
''WilI you trust her to me Tcny?n
laying her hands tenderly on his head,
as a sister might. ''See! [ am strong
well; my nerves are like steel. VIII
you trust me to take your darling"
Trust you? AS / might trust an
angela saint-anything unseltish and
noble. But have no right to ask such
a sacrifice of you"
Never mind that; there ought to be
no talk of sacrifice between us, Tony.
Once-do you not remember it? you
asked me to be to her sister; YOU
must let me fulfill that promise now,
will you nOt?"
And Tony in his gratitude, thinks
there is not a woman in the whole
world equal to this one, and even has
his doubts of the saints and angels, to
whom he has just alluded. So they 90
to Florida, Lefty Coles and Yesta Tad
lock.
But not even Florida, with all its
sunshine and flowers and salubrious
climate, speaks ought of hope of health
to the lovely invalid, and Lefty Coles
fears that she has brought Tony's wife
here to die. Tony has written to put
them under the care of an old friend of
his, an eminent physician, wintering in
the state. He pays daily visits to the
hotel where they are stopping, but he
first he is ready to lay down his life for
Tony, and later for-well, Tony's
wife, let us say, for indeed he is singu-
larly attracted toward the young crea-
ture.
rs there nothing to be done?" Lefty
Coles asked of him one day, as they
are talking out of earshot of the in
valid beside whom a stout, middle
aged woman is sitting.
Nothing, | fear. There are in
stances where, in cases like hers, trans
fusion has been known to be beneficial,
but doubt the efficacy of such an
operation with your sister"
Miss Coles does not notice the word
sister.
''Transfusion?n
''She needs new, healthful blood. 1t
is just possible that it might with good
effect be supplied to her from the veins
of another person. There would be
some difficulty in finding suitable
subject, fear, and it is scarcely a
hope"
Lefty Coles dark eyes rest for mo-
ment on his. They are very beautiful
eyes. and though he is Jealous adj
voeate of celibacy-though, he has al
ready taken immense care to inform
Miss Coles, che is welded to his profess
sion," his heart gives a sudden ham
mer-like throb, well conducted organ
that it is; for Dr. Estaver is human,
after all, in spite of these little anti
marriage notions of his, and this bit of
pathetic feminine beauty quite docs
him.
Of this, however, Miss Coles is dis
tressingly unconscious; she is wonder
ing, sadly enough, how she is ever to
enter Cupid's towers again, ever face
Tony Tadlock, if this last hope dies as
have the rest.
TRANSMISSION? Yes, yes,r eagerly
1--WE will try it.
And so they do; and it is an artery in
Lefty Coles own firm, round arm that
pours out its rich treasures, of health,
hope, and life for Tony's darling
Lefty Coles, whose life has been spent
in the open air, whose health is so
gloriouSly perfect, who is so ready to
sacrifice everything for the sweet hope
of giving the young wife back to her
husbands arms. Exactly this does
Miss Coles do, and marvelously glad is
she to do it.
Another June lies over the land.
Lefty Coles's rose garden is something
worth a journey to see, all a-riot as they
are with loneliness. Blossoms and
buds nod their heads at her and strew
their colors lavishly beneath her feet,
and pluck themselves elder duckiike,
as if their hearts petals are not half
good enough for her to walk on, so
enamored are they of her.
Lefty Coles! Lefty Coles! Where
are YOU Lefty Coles?" cries deep voice
~. ~, II
father, am in search of rose, Lefty
Coles"
DR.. Estaver smiles softly. Tie doc
tor is visiting Tony, ostensibly. He
cannot resist this opportunity.
''And what should | choose but my
own Lefty Coles, eh, Lefty Coles?"
And he gently sets down the flower she
is potting and takes her hands, dogskin
gloves and all, into his. ''Ah, it is
you-only you [ want out of the whole
world, Lefty Colesr'
Lefty Coles bushes the color of her
own fragrant namesakes, but she does
not withdraw her hands. Tony is only
a brother to her now; her own brave
heart has overcome the sweet old love,
but it is not forgotten; it only deepens
and strengthens the new. One must
learn to preserve old memories as one
does the faded roses, for their fragrance;
one must see to it that they do not ruin
a useful life.
So they stand among the roses, the
yellow notes of sunshine dancing about
them all in a glorious drift of rose pc
tails; and in the steady, loving dis
charge of duty Lefty Coles finds her