Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-02-26

the tiny fingers thst lay like snowfakes
on the satin coverlet. She had thrown
off all pretense of GOODNESS. / won
dered then how, even for an instant, |
could have suspected she was lacking
in sensibility or love.
doctor" she cried. turning her an
guished eyes to mine, "tell me-is there
no hope?''
There is always hope" evasively.
"Be patient; be submissive. Think
what is better for the child" added,
as an aiterthought.
"God help me was only thinking
of myself"
I laid my hand gently on her bowed
head. familiarity my age and position
as her husbands friend permitted me.
The cry wrung from her tortured heart
had gone straight to mine. We were
no longer strangers; | felt at that mo-
ment she was as much my daughter as
Jack, without protestations on either
side, had ever been the son of my
adoption. / did not answer. 1t was
better to leave all words unsaid than,
by ill-chosen ones. touch false or ire
sponsive chord; but [ think the con-
seriousness of my mute and unobtrusive
sympathy had it's good effect, for she
looked up gratefully through tears that
began to fall quietly at first. then after
wards as though the foodgates of her
heart, once opened, would never close
again.
| went away quietly, knowing that in
diligence in her sorrow would be it's best
relief. Downstairs found an elaborate
cold luncheon spread in the dining
room, of which Jack insisted on my par
taking, though he himself ate nothing,
and flung himself down on chair near
the window after drinking tumbler of
claret at draught.
"You'll excuse me sitting at the table,
doctor; the mere sight of food turns me
sick. I have scarcely swallowed a
mouthful since the child was taken i'll. !"
I might have considered this an affec
tation, or, at least, an exags Grafton of
grief, knowing the child was doomed
from it's birth, and that it's life had been
already protracted beyond their hopes;
but | caught sight OF his face in the side
board mirror that fronted me, reflected
between the massive pieces of shining
silver plate that stood before it, and
could not doubt the sincerity of his
speech, though ignorant still as to its
meaning. However, [ could wait pa
tiently for an Xpianation-it having be-
come clear to me that not only on ac-
count of my presumed professional skill
had l been summoned, but as an old
friend, to give extraneous advice In some
crisis of the boys life.
He turned to me now, his eyes glitter
ing with strong, only halt-controlled ex-
element.
Doctor" he broke out earnestly, lis
there no hope"
The same question his wife had put to
me, and / answered more plainly than [
had dared to do on that occasion, that
few hours at latest must see the end.
Professionally speaking, it was impossi-
bic the child should live.
With d deep groan Jack buried his
face in his folded arms, and by degrees
bluTted out his story, Or, at least,
enough oft to make me understand the
rest.
In my profession condolences are Oft
en- forced upon US in moments of exul-
tation that are subsequently repeated
in cold blood, and [ myself had invar-
ably found that these indiscretions
were visited on me, who, if at all, had
only passively offended. This resulted
in my cultivating a manner 50 deter
mlnedly stern and unsvmpathetic
that the most efuse were restrained by
it. Even now, when [ would have scat
tered such prudential scruples to the
winds, | must unconsciously have
fallen into it again. for Jack,
after the first unconsidered burst
of eloquence. began to falter in
his recital and something. much
or little, was left to my intelligence to
supply. Enough | had gathered to be
sure that what L anticipated had taken
place. The young wife had gradually
discovered her husbands want of love
for her, and had resented it, not in
angry words or glances. but by studio j !,
scornful indifference. most CALLING to one
of Jacks open and impulsive disposi-
ton, especially as hewas beginning to
realize he had merited no better treat
ment at her hands.
The enlargement grew more serious
every day, she going her way with quiet.
accompanying pride, he trying to stihe
his conscience, and forget his existence
in designations that had formerly been
little to his taste strained state ofafairs
eliminating at last in passionate scene
between them, when Mrs. Carisfort had
declared that only while the child
lived, for it's sake, would she remain be-
meath her husbands roof. If it died
she would consider. herself free to go,
leaving hiIl half the money he had 80
degraded himself to gain.
w dCLACI SuO lld0 ncI0lJ GulS one
grievance against him, or whether her
wrath had been aggravated by any
deeper wrong, [ could not tell. The
strangest part of the story was that
ever since the day they had resolved to
meet in friendly intercourse before the
world to silence any rumors that might
be afloat, ever since that day Jack had
been desperately in love with his own
wife-with less hope of ever touching
her heart again than if it had never
been his entirely, to do with as he
would. The death of the child, which
had been daily, sometimes hourly, ex-
pected, would be the signal for their
separation, if in the interim he had not
succeeded in proving his repentance
and winning pardon with her love.
So much Jack Carisfort had told me,
when a message came from upstairs
begging my immediate presence.
The child was sinking fast. I could
see that the Instant | entered the room
and this, if it was not read in my ex-
preston. must have been OWNED by
my order to stop ali remedies and slim
ulauts, with the intent that, all hope
being over, these last moments might
be peace.
In perfect silence We waited for the
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