The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-09-03
VI. THE DooToR's STORY.

For the last three weeks l have been
tending an old schoolmate of mine. His
name is Will Holbrook and he has been
very low with brain fever. He was at
one time quite well off, but lost every
thing by an unlucky speculation, and
was forced to accept clerkship with
one of the firms with which he had for
merly done business. A too steady
application to his duties, coupled with
great depression of mind, brought on
his illness, which has threatened to ter
inmate fatally more than once.
noticed just before he gave up how
badly he was looking, and one evening
when he called at my Office he confded
everything to me. The loss of every
thing he possessed was naturally heavy
blow to him, but it was nothing in com
parison to what it had brought with it
the breaking OIL of his engagement
with the woman he loved.
Her name was Nena Godfrey, and they
had been engaged for about year. AS
soon as her father heard of the change
in Wills affairs, he wrote to him, giving
him to understand that he could no
longer regard him as future son-in-
law. On learning, however, that Miss
Godfrey's heart was unchanged toward
him, Will determined not to give her
up, and to make every effort in his power
to regain his lost fortune as quickly as
possible.
When he was taken sick I had him
brought to my house, and during his de.
lirium, he would keep asking for Nena;
then he would imagine that she was
with him, and would implore her not to
leave him. Late yesterday afternoon he
became so much worse, and begged so
piteously for her to come to him that l
sent Miss Godfrey telegram, and about
eleven o'clock in the morning l was in
formed that she was waiting for me in
the office. l went to her at once.
She attempted to rise as l entered the
room, but sank back on her chair as
though completely exhausted, I at
tributed this to perturbation, and hast
ened to quiet her fears about Will.
She insisted upon seeing him without
delay.
Will seemed to be conscious of her
presence the moment she knelt by his
bedside and took his hand He became
more composed, and at last sank into a
doze, still holding her hand. This lasted
until midnight, and then he opened his
eyes and saw that he would live. He
spoke her name in whisper, and tried
to raise her hand to his lips. She made
no sound, but gave him a look of love
and tenderness that he understood at
once, and he closed his eyes again as
| though her mere presence was all he
asked. After he had lost himself, Miss
Godfrey looked up at me, and the ex-
preston on my face told her the glad
truth. The next instant she had tainted.
carried her into the adjoining room
and called my wife. She came to my as
sistance at once, and, after we had
worked over Miss Godfrey for few mo-
ments, she opened her eyes and said,
with faint smile:
"I am sorry to make you so much
trouble, but think my arm is hurt, and
that is what made me faint. The train
on which left R met with an acci-
dent, and guess that l have not escaped
uninjured."
On making an examination found
that her left wrist was sprained and the
forearm considerably bruised. Although
suffering intense pain, the plucky little
woman had managed TO keep me in ig-
norance of her injuries until she knew
whether her lover would live or die. l
did everything for her that my skill sug-
| gested, and then forced her to take some
rest. A couch was arranged for her in
the room adjoining Wills, and, al
though she obtained but little sleep
she was up every hour to look at him
and ask how he washer condition this
morning was much better than had ex-
pected.
Shortly after daylight some one rang
the Office bell, and when opened the
door l knew instinctively that the man
standing before me was John Godfrey.
He stepped into the office, told me his
name, and asked if his daughter was in
the house, told him that she was, and
he requested me to send her TO him.
I Whatever his feelings toward me were
he did not show them.
went to Miss Godfrey and informed
her that her father was waiting to see
her. She trembled for az instant, and