Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-02

strong.
Io5eyed her implicitly; had l wished
to do otherwise, had not the power. At
every other step stopped and sternly,
intensely tried to steady my quivering
limbs and swimming head. 1t was use
icss-l could not do 1t. At one Of these
pauses Miss Clare looked at me atten.
lively and said:
Its OF no uSe-yOu can't succeed; not
because you have not the will, but be-
cause your will partakes Of the weakness
of your physical nature. Yield, throw
aside your pride, and humbly wait till
nature recuperates herself
l did not answer till reached my own
door: then. as l rested before entering,
said:
1T is hardly consistent for yos to ad-
wise like that"
How do you know with surprise
that appeared to have little alarm IN it.
by your face" said.
Sho looked relieved, and turned to 60
called her back.
"You must DO brief" she remon-
strated; II don't want to have you faint
ing again"
II only wanted to ask you, In case
am unconscious, not to allow Mrs. Jcr-
dan to have physician here who Is very
ignorant. l have little faith in country
doctors-not much In any. You'll know
by his appearance if he's a quack. Pre-
scribe for me yourself, rather than allow
such to attend me- You promfse7"
held out my unsteady hand. She
took 1t and said, II promises" then ran
down stairs for Mrs. Jordan. / stag
gercd into my room and fell upon the
bed, utterly in the grasp of that unseen.
strange power Of disease. The next
month is not blank to me, though but
for a few blessed memories should pray
that it might DO so. There were some
moments of calm, moments when ]
opened my weary eyes in realization Of
everything around me. Twice saw
Miss Glare sitting near; she gave me
back an answering look OF intelligence to
that which she saw in my face. did
not speak, had not the slightest wish to
do so. l closed my eyes with feeling
of deep and entire relief, for, while ]
realized her presence. feared no more
/ the incubus Of fever.
The days Of eonvalesccncc at last
dawned upon me. Sleep, the mercifui
and all-healing, smiled upon my tired
soul There were days when it seemed
to me that slept nearly an the time
slept with o sense Of quiet bliss that
made me wish for nothing beyond tie
present
When I fell into the habit Of lying
peacefully awake for several hours, ]
noticed that the doctor camo every day.
thought him quiet, reliable nah, who
! appeared to understand his business.
secretly wondered If his was tho obscure
fate Of practicing In the little village
near by. AS soon as l had sufficient
| energy and strength to talk, asked him
where he lived.
"In NJ, " mentioning city about thirty
miles away.
do you como from there every dayr
asked.
Eyes; why not?''
l. did not reply, but inquired eagerly,
who sent for your
Il don't know. l only know for whom
was sent" lie smiled tantalizingly and
went out.
had not seen Miss Clare since the
fever left me- The next time Mrs. Jcr-
! dan came in asked if Miss Clare would
come up moment. She had gone to
walk. Mrs. Jordan replied; she would
give her my message when she returned.
lay dreamily waiting for her coming.
my wasted fingers aimlessly playing with
the countcrpane, folding and unfolding.
doubling and undoubling, with tho rest
less wandering Of sick person.
At last-my heart beat heavier rs I
heard ia faint rustic Of garments in
the passage. and Miss Clare opened the
door. She advanced with quiet tread
to my side, and took hand of mine in
hers. My weakened frame felt the re-
vivifying effect Of the vital life and cleo
tricity in her, as my hand closed round
her fingers had not sufficient control
over myself to prevent my eyes from
eagerly devouring her face. Her eyelids
dropped beneath my gaze. Sho smiled
and spoke:
$50, Mr.. Perrom, you think yourself
sufficiently recovered to receive visitor?"
II think myself we'll enough to receive
you," said, feebly OBTAINING the hand
she attempted to withdraw.
"As get better, grow curious" ]
continued, relinquishing with smoth-
cred sigh the fingers thatlay passively in
mine.
"Yes, think your nature Is essen
TALLY inquisitive," sho said. sitting down
in o low chair near me. do you de-
sire any information that lean give your
"How came you to know of this ply.
stefan from Mp" asked, half fearing
that 1t might have been MIS-. Jordan who
had procured him. She replied directly:
"A friend Of mine In Boston has great
faith in him; 30, after one interview with
the doctor over there in the village, !
sent to ~; hope you are favorably i'm
pressed by him. for think ho has done
very we'll by you"
"And you didn't like tho village doc
tori"
Like him!" with slight laugh. 'he
would have bled and blistered you 70
death: and. as you placed your life In
my hands. ! felt somo compunctions.
Though not SO tender hearted as should
be, would be willing to leave only my
enemy in the hands Of an ignorant
quack."
Her voice sounded SO refreshing. 90
musical, after my long Punishment. that
would willingly have had her talk
hours, even had she spoken nothing but
the veriest insip;dities She sat by
small light stand, on which stood few
Walls and glass; she rested one arm On
the stand, and bent slightly forward as
she spoke; her position one OF easy. fault
less grace; her form. in its soft, dun
hued dress. was elegant and bewitching
in every curve; the faint fragrance
that hung around her stole sweetly
upon my senses: and her face
what strange happiness it gave me only
to look at her face again! Those large
eyes looked quietly at me, or glanced
casually about the room. In them lay
the wonderful power of her face; in them
lay quiescent the FIRE and sweetness Of
her soul-the terrible anger and uufath-
unable kindness OF her nature I saw,
100, that her mouth was another index
70 her temperament; that It's proud lips
betokened the furious volcanic disposi-
lion, which was probably an inheritance,
and which she had never learned TO
control.
| At LENGTH I r,,,,sed myself and aroEe.