The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-12-15

" 4AAAA-A CtLEA1Ar4
sat by her side and endcaFored &c
converse nationally. but my hearts CRY
would not be stiied.
"Oh. Miriam, Miriam. why did l no,
meet you frstr'
She caught the passionate look In my
eyes, and involuntarily shuddered. ]
collected myself and arose, saying
would take q turn in the gardens.
As / did 50 there was a report and a
bright fash, and there lay Miriam, white
as death.
Irushed to her, and although nearly
wild with excitement managed to use
my medical knowledge to advantage,
and she oon opened her eyes.
By this time the gentlemen who had
remained in the dining room rushed into
the room, and upon seeing Mrs. Gunter
lying senseless the widest excitement
reigned.
Her husband could not be Gained, and
insisted that he should shoot himself if
anything happened to Miriam.
We Gained him finally by frequent
assurances that she would Recover. |
had her carried to her room. and asked
Mr.. Gunter what medical attendance I
should summon.
why, Warren. I'll trust her to you,
Of course. II any one can pull her
through you can"
Ny heart throbbed at the thought Of
holding her life in my hands, but I was
determined to prove worthy in thought
md deed Of the responsibility.
In the mean time the police had been
summoned and the place ~ransacked, but
90 trace Of tho would-be murderer. 1
had had no time to speculate on that,
being fully occupied in writing prescrip-
dons to be filed and ascertaining the
exact amount Of danger Miriam was in.
/ found that the ball had entered her
left side. just escaping the heart. When
my instruments arrived / probed for the
ball and Dol extracted il. leaving her
free from danger
For several weeks l tended her, and
she gradually gained strength until at
last she could sit on the piazza for an
hour each bright day. During all the
weeks the detectives had been at work,
but no clew could be found. No reason
able theory could be formed.
| questioned her If she knew Of any
one who would have any motive for such
a deed. She only shuddered, and it
seemed to retard her recovery every
time it was spoken.
SO finally it became accepted as q mys-
terry.
l had called one afternoon and found
her sitting in her boudoir. She held out
her hand and said:
Il am glad You have come, doctor. 1
want to talk to you"
AZ am always glad to be talked to-" 1
namely remarked, wondering what was
coming.
"You overheard some words one night
that require an explanation, she began,
and her face was bright scarlet. "They
were wicked words. l am afraid, but l
have thought them many times.
81 met Me- Gunter when 1 was II, and
the fascination he had for me | mistook
for love, so that when he asked me if /
would marry him l said Yes In a few
months / saw my mistake, but knew not
how 10 communicate the fact. | threw
out a few hints, and he Immediately be-
came of ashy whiteness, and said if he
should lose me he never would live an
hour, and rather than Q me another
mans wife he would shoot me.
ST was very young and believed HIM
In fact, l believe still he spoke the truth.
l had no courage to face these facts. so
gave myself up to the inevitable. soon
learned, even before marriage, that he
had a violent temper. No one eve
crossed him.
81 have been Inundated time and
time again by that cursed temper. God
knows, / am naturally Of a happy nat
ure, and tried to make the best of it.
Il thought marriage would soften
him, but no, it hardened him, and had
no love to help me bear it. / knew he
loved me with a wild, selfish love, but it
was not the kind to make me happy.
You will wonder why l tell you all of
this; no, don't interrupt cannot help
knowing your feeling toward me, and /
think it best that we should part.
"One thing more" as tried to inter-
rupt. II have my suspicious about that
horrible night. Don't, for Gods sake,
ask me any questions. Now viii you be
merciful and go?
l was shivering.
The mere thoughtof going away, never,
perhaps, to see her again, was almost
beyond my power. But l saw to cross
her would be detrimental to her health.
So I said, Eyes. l viii 60"
THANK you, Bentley" she said, using
my Christian name for the first time.
"You see you could not stay here after
knowing my story. 1t would not be
right"
II shall try TO see you again. Good
by, good-by, Miriam, God bless you,
childr' and rushed from the room.
A week later l sailed for France. For
months / travelled through Europe,
then l went into the Holy Land and
thence through to Japan. For nearly
two years l thus wandered about.
One day while at Cairo received my
European mail, which had chased me
for some time. noticed a letter with
a strange handwriting and Immediately
opened it. It ran thus;
DEAR WARExE-when you receive this ] shall
be among the .sgone before" lam tired Of life
But first / must ease my conscience, as al sinners
on their DYING bed are wont to do. When you