Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-07

shaded lamp and, turning the wick to its
greatest helght, let the bright stream of
light fail right On the suff -rer S face, 50
that his daughter saw that the dying
mans countenance was still very healtnily
tin ed.
''Oh, oh, oh!'' groaned Mr.. Bolton
Turn that lamp down. Is that you,
Nelly, daughter? Well. kiss your poor
father and tell him good bye. Oh, oh!'
Here, you are going to faint, Miss
Nelly. Gu out in the fresh air at once, "
said Bob. and as the door closed on the
girl turned to Mr. Bolton with Poor
girl! And she TO be married so soon to
Joe Banner! Your death will put her
wedding off, won't it ?"
What" yelled Mr.. Bolton, forgetting
to groan and sitting up in bed. soc
Banner! Not If | have 10 kill him.
The Banners and Beltons hated each
other as only people in small places and
over small matters have time to. Has
such thing been going on behind my
back? Pll-Ill-"
son, don't dearr interposed poor Mrs
Bolton. ''You will injure Yourself Lie
quiet till the doctor comes. | am sure Rob
is mistaken about Joe Banner Why,
Nelly never speaks to him, and, besides,
she and Rob are
Here's the DOCTOR exclaimed Rob,
rushing to open the door and cutting Mrs.
Bolton short in her explanation. Or.
Lester came in, looking sus pici0usly grave,
for there was very inconsistent twinkle
In his eyes. He felt Mr.. B .lton's pulse
and looked graver still, while the twinkle
fairly set his eyes to dancing, and then,
with Itain reluctance IN his voice.
said:
Il must not conceal from you, nv dear
sir, that you are suffering from cerebro-
spinal meningitis, combined with acne
mia of the medulIa oblongata. How is it
YOU never consulted me about it before
Didn' susptct it?'
Moo, said the patient, looking scared
and white. Doctor HiIl-will tit
be fatal?'
The doctor turned first and requested
Mrs. Bolton and Rob to leave the room,
which they did, when he addressed him
self to the sick man: 81 feel it my duty to
tell you the truth. You haven't one hour
to liver'
"Oh, oh, oh! Save me, doctor! I'll
give you $500 to do it-a thousand dollars
my whole place-anythin g-anything-
only save me!'
Cant do it, said the doctor, shaking
his head. Face it like man, Beltor.
Don t trouble about your wife and family.
Mary's married. Nelly could be TO NOR
row. and as for Mrs. Bolton, Marks, the
widower, said yesterday she was the
handsomest woman still In the county.
and that if she was only rid OF You he'd
ask her the day after the funeral.
What! shrieked the dying man, fling
ing himself out of bed, and dancing over
the floor as if it was red hot. 40 Jericho
with my cerebro- spiting whatever you call
it, and my oblong medal! Die! No, I'll
not die, nor for hundred years! You
make tracks, Or. Lester, this minute! 'm
tired Of your bread pills. Yes, they were
bread, and knew i all along. The idea
of mans wife and daughter planning,
aye building on his death, and proposing
before the breath's out of his body to dance
over his body!"
Here Mr.. Bolton grew d little mixed in
his language, but he knew what he meant.
and that was all that was necessary. 1t
was hours before he could be got to quiet
Gown, and days before he ceased to growl
inarticulate and mysterious threats direct
ed against no one could quite gather
whom. But from that time on, Mr.. Bel
ton has never complained Of an ache or
pain, and fercely d.sclaimed feeling even
under the weather whenever informed that
he looks So.-Pniladelphia Times.