The National tribune., 1891-12-31
BUT OF TIE DEEPS,
4 Pathetic Story Of WOman'S
Love.
BY ErHEL EARL.


RbOut you and then tell your mother how she
tE 10 help you to get well again"
There were four people in the room: Sir
William Parton, the great doctor, his cOnfrere
Dr. James. with whom he was met in con-
BultHtion, Mrs Fawcett and the patient her
only daughter, Helen Fawcett, giri ot u.
The pir looked up nervOusly, inqulsitlvelg,
with trnmu lons fear in her face and voice.
Am lam I-very ill2
Sir William looked at her face. at the shining
eves with the dilated pupils, the quivering,
sensitive mouth then he took both hands an
lis, with pity, which he did not show, in his
heart
' Not so IN as YOU might be, my child; but
when we have finished our talk, and are going
no tol Mrs Fawcctt how 20 take care Of you
and prevent your doing yourself harm, we
mustn't have you listening, for you are nervous
enough 20 fancy you have every illness under
the SUM-"
"Then shall get well-sOOn."
"Y0u must do as you are told thon,' an
Bwered Sir William lightly, as he left the room.
Keen observer as he was he did not notice
how moro terrible fear had grown in the
girls eyes as she found he avoided direct an-
swer6 She saw, ii the truth were bad II was
no use 20 try and force IL from between those
thin lips ii their owner deemed il better con-
cealed. She and her mother sat silent IN sus-
pense as though each dreaded TO hear the other
speak but when Mrs. Fawcett had been sum
moned 10 Join the doctors, Helen burst out
wildly 10 herself, "They are deceiying me,
know they think ] shall die. Oh, God, can't
cant!"
She sat in that siclzening terrible dread,
with her hands pressed tensey against her
forehead. The moments seemed TO drag out
their slow length like hours; still she could
bear ID no longer The resolve j viii know"
was fierce Ia her heart; she stole softly TO the
4 Mt side fhQ
staircase-the room opened into the bOudOir
where she knew her mother and the doctors
were. and was screened from il by heavy
velvet curtuin through which Helen could
heaF-her mothers sobs, passionate aud un-
controlled and in them the girl knew her
doom: but with the wild terror and anguish
Nichin her, there awoke more piteOus sorrow
for her mothers grief love-oh, how dear!
how near for that mother who must lose her,
whom she must leave
"No hope?" she heard Mrs. Fawcett ask in
u broken, implOring tone, then Sir Williams
voice in answer:
81 wish could give il you. but the disease
is so far advancod-she may live little longer,
or a little shorter period than ! expect"
There was a silence In the room, deathlike
Eilonce in the girls heart she listened; At
last her mother spoke again, her voice kept
resOlutely quiet:
How long can she liver"
" A few months-siK or eight perhaps. Ers.
Fawcett III You know how feel for you, you
would not think me cruel you must know the
truth-if you wish 10 keep that poor girl with
you ms long as possible. she must not know it
you must keep her mind quiet and happy. DO
you think you can2"
A faint sob that meant Yes"
And dol't drag her from home; il can do no
FOOd-all the Madoiras or EgFpts in the world
won't save her, but quietness aud freedom from
trouble may give her few weeks mOre-that
iE why she must not know"
But she has hardly any cough" sobbed
MH. Fawcctt. Aud people do live with con-
sumption for years and years. cant lose her
they do live"
Not ia cases like hers-I wish could say
otherwise"
Helen heard no more; the impulse 10 comfort
her mother with the sad comfort Of clinginF
arms and bitter tears was so strong she felt she
should yield 10 il If she staid. There seemed
90 be two leens in her; the girl who felt the
chill shadows OF the valley Of death closing
rOund the life which had been so dear and fair,
and the gifl whose impulse was 10 help the
mother who had no husband 10 help her bear
her grief; whose only daughter she was.
WhHt would she do without herewith no
girl eft, only the boys: one wrapped up in his
wife sRd two children, the other away IN
lndial Helen knew her loss would break her
mothers iiie; did she real ize that the bitterness
Of death would have been yet worse had she
thought her dying would be no enduring pain
W that mOiherg
She cropl away silently She met a servant
on the staircase; her voice sounded strange and
hollow 10 herself as she said
Tell mamma, when the doctors have gone
that ] am 10 tired have gone to lie down"
Then she went up % her room and locked
herself iH as size turned round size saw her face
ln the glass with wild bOpcicssnUss iu ID. How
Rhastly b WAS, ths face of a girl who had 10
die She had b. in her hands, afraid 10 meet
its look, aud duh stupOT came over her-she
was no longer able to realize this stern fate
which faced her, vailed. yet real
At last she reused herself; one thing was
certain; her mother must not guess that she
knew this Their last months togcthcr-at
all events iil the end drew very near-must
be ~ happy. or rather as calm, az they could
be. And ielcn felt that she could bear the
darkness better alone this strange darkness
that bad sudcc ily vailed the world. She feared
even her mothers sympathy and sorrow what
help or healing could avail horY
There was only one help she yearned for one
band, the touch OF which could have made her
brave; one voice, a loving tone Of wh ich could
have given her courage, even III they had
trebled her scnso OF passionate loss OF sweet
life.
As she thought this, she opened her locked
tORaph; iOr one minute she looked at ID as
though 10 draw life from it through her eyes.
and then she kissed il wildly, closely pressing
her poor dry lips against the cold glass then
holding "a nestled against her check It had
Saany time been clasped close 10 her heart
when she slept, she had looked at ID 40 often
6nd 90 long that she knew every faintest aud
finest line 0f the pictured face Of this photo.
graph, offered carclcssiy. accepted apparently
az Lightly bat Treasured as some faint tyne 0T
memory OF TIC one who seemed TO Helen Faw.
Ceit 90 b. thc whole meaning Of her life.
I" Helen. dear"
The giH Dad not know how long she had ss,
there; with a start she replaced her treasure Ia
its place and opened the door 10 hcr mother
Mrs. Fawcctrs voice trcmbled very slightly
but she acted Wcll a. she said:
Well, dear. why I'D you rush awavf Wer,
you 30 iughicuedi You see you needn't have
been. You arc 20 rest aud not trouble and Rei
quite WEI, again"
'Qute wcil said Helen. Really, mamma p
Yes. said the poor mother, not hearing tht
sad underfing iu her daughters voice. anf
loving o. cheat hors0il in deceiviug the child
who Was dear 90 her. mean 20 cure vol
quicker taan any doctor would; ] always
could, yDu know"
The PH lcaut her head on her mother
breast aud iclt the almost c0nvulsiyo cosenes
oi her clasp with strange throb half OF self
compHs l7n half Of pity, for the tender. brave
love winch was 50 anxious al all cost 10 shiel,
lls ohect from PAIN yet 20 helpless ia tie fac
Of death.
Both women kept the bitter secret 10 them
selves with aseii repression which lIeleu Ia,
Inherited from Mrs EaWcrit. and the lait.,