Middletown transcript., 1892-05-26
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watch over Desire. We went into the
library.
Now said he, trying to transfix
me with his shifting eyes, .what does
it meant"
II don't know. If I did. I
shouldn't tell you"
No, you think you wouldn't; but
I should get it out of You. I did it
on purpose tonight. I told the SER
wants I'd let you in. shut the great
gate. / made sure she shouldn't get
in till after eleven. Every night she
holds some sort Of a ceremony in her
room at eleven. Ifahe is delayed al
most to the hour, she comes near dying.
She talks for an hour. At twelve it
stops short. Now, this is my opinion:
his reverence the most reverend
priest" here he grew green again and
sneered-" has made q convert Of her.
She holds some sort Of high mass, and
she'll be in sisterhood in less than q
year, with all her properly"
answered by walking out Of the
room and up to Desires again. On
the top stair, before her door, sat
figure, its head bowed into its hands.
"What is iti said.
"a man of sin" answered the
priest, lifting face dreadful to see.
" A man who has denied his God for
q woman. Do you think she would
let me touch her hand with my lpsi
/ would pay the penalty: I would
give up touching the sacrament for
that"
Do you love her :" ] asked.
Am I dying for her-or not p
Then leave her in peace tonight" )"
He turned without word and went
down the stairs. There was no sound
from Desires room, and, after waiting
half an hour, I went to my own. It
was fatal error, mistaken fear. and
delicacy.
The next morning, long after the
usual breakfast-hour, she opened the
door to my knock. She had not taken
off her dress the night before she
was quite ghastly, and too hoarse to
speak. I took her hands, which
burned me.
Oh, you have taken such dread
ful cold r.
Yes, it is very likely" she said
quietly.
Desire, will you 60 to bed and let
me send for Gretchen :"
Yes, / should like TO. | should
like to be warm"
So we began nursing her through
the attack of pneumonia which DR..
Brigham said promised i'll. DIR. Solo,
mon was raging, for he was not ad-
mitted to the room, and the priest
was our messenger. A wretched man,
criminal as he felt himself he ran
in this and that direction as We
told him. Desire lay in stupor all
day. As the darkness gathered. she
revived, and called me to her in .
whisper: Will you leave me alone
from eleven to twelve" 7"
hesitated, but her eyes gathered
such misery that / could not resist
them, and promised. As the evening
advanced, her impatience grew until
she was beautiful and brilliant again,
consumed by fever. At ten minutes
of eleven she whispered, g Now, both
Of you leave me till twelve"
Gretchen and took up a miserable
watch outside the door. No words
can describe Desire IS We found her
when we crept in again at midnight.
I doubt it human genius could paint
her. It was white and gloriied face
on the pillow, lighted BY an immortal
happiness. Her voice was clearer,
too, and We exchanged delighted
glancea. She was better. The night
wore on, and / was watching alone.
Gretchen slept soundly on the little
sofa.
"Come," )" whispered Desire.
I put my face close to hers, and fed
on the woaderful brilliancy of her
eyes while she talked:
:" / must tell you something. / am
a very happy woman. Chello died,
| you know, and I was dead until /
came home from Italy. The FIRST
night l stayed here in my old room
he came to me, and we talked to.
gether. The next morning | laid
away my black clothes I had nothing
to mourn for. Every night he came
| at eleven, If | we're late, or If told
anyone, the spell would be broken. he
said. | was never late until that
dreadful last night. ] nearly died.
But he has been here, and everything
is right. We have had such talks |!
/ used to sit in that great chair BY the
window in darkness.-always in dark.
ness. I can tell you now, because he
will not need to come again" She
closed her eyes contentedly.
In an hour she was dead.
| met the priest On the threshold,
when went out in the early morning,