The morning call., 1891-12-06

nights, thev told her that her husband
would not die. a mementary relaxation Of
the contracted muscles of her face was her
only sign OF joy, The silent concentration
she displayed astonished everybody. She
seemed to live only tn minister to the
sick man. like machine working in
some marvellous way. The doctof, who
was also a friend OF the family, was rather
uneasy about this dumb silence in a woman
usua lily so stirring and lively and prattling
as jeanne Was. One day he sat down be-
side her, and. while talking gently to her,
going into small details of things with Il
view to interesting her and making her talk
little, he gave her to understand the COM
ing back to life after such an accident was
little short of a miracle The explosion had
been frghtful. Three workmen had been
killed on the spot aud dozen others wound
ed. Several of these latter had since sue
cumbed TO their injuries. Karl had sus-
tanned no serious fracture, although his
whole bldy had been covered with bruises
II was in the face that he had been worst
attacked-it had been terribly scalded by the
steam-the doctor hesitated and looked at
the yorng wife. She caught that look, full
Of pity.
He will be disfgured for IifeP" She
spoke low.
I'VE eRnnot tell at present. There win
certainly be deep sears. but"
But what, then?"
MY poor child. you will need all your
1ost-at least we fear so.
Jeanne, who had been so brave since the
nrst day, who had excited the admiration
OF the doctors, whom she had done her best
so CALAMITY 10 second in their endeayors,
feit all her fnr courage desert her in al in-
slant. She rose upright and scanned the
doctors face for one secnnd 10 see whether
lhiS sentence was without appeal, then fell
her full length unconscious on the floor.
From this time forth she seemed to IN
dergo Slow revolution. She measured her
strength and thought of the task which was
set before her, and trembled to find it in-
snfnelent. 1t would have taken a closer OBJ
server than were Those friends who ap-
preached her most nearly to discover the
slightest change IN that petite Mime. du
Boys, whose praises were in eyerybody'S
mouth. Her devotion was unlimited. The
doctors were not sufficiently courageous to
tell tie Sorrowfu truth. themselves, to
their patient; and the day on which the
bandages were finally removed from the
poor, scared face, and Karl first realized
that he was blind, it was she who bore the
brunt OF that first terrible explosion OF de-
SPAR. the despair OF man struck down in
full career. a man who finds himself dead
TO all lntents and purposes while in the
very midst Of lie.
The dangerous period once past, and the
long course Of the malady established in all
lis dull mhnGtOny, the visits of the doctor
became fewer and farther apart, and
Jeanne was left very SOLITARY with her sick
husband. Life ctme slowly back to him !;
he experienced that languor which is the
outcome of extreme weakuess-that alb
sorbms somnolence incident to beginning
existence all over again. Oftenesl an op-
pTeSSlve SILENCE reiGned in the darkened
room Jeanne, with idle hands in her lap.
and wide-oDened eyes seeing nothing they
seemed to be looking al, but sending their
gaze lar, very far into that future which
frightened her. would remain for hours
without once moving.