The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-01-20

gard. After little while. during which
he held my hand and stroked 1t with
fondness, he broke to me the tdtngs
that Conrad had died wholly without
pain and'still unconscious) on the even
Ing of the operation.
Dead! Conrad dead!" cried, and
swooned completely away.
More days passed before 1 learned
news equally narrowing, in a way even
far more so. Desiring most earnestly
to see Linda. was told that I could
not, for the reason that she had become
Mrs. Olaf Aveling, and was on her we'd
ding tour with her Newmarket hus-
band.
Then the whole hateful truth burst
upon me. Trembling with passionate
revolt and disgust, rose from the great
armchair in which was seated, and
shook my G enched hand at Oscar.
OlafAveling wanted to perform that
operation" cried, because he be-
lieved it would kill me also.
@Victor!" exclaimed Oscar Schreiner,
shocked and Mortified, how can you
denounce as a murderer the man who
has given you your liberty?"
Liberty" I echoed, with a scornful
sheer. What is my liberty worth, now
that Linda is lost to melinda whom
loved with my whole soul?"
Oscar visibly shuddered and raised
one repelling hand.
Il had no dream that you cared for
her like this, he began, until Aveling
himself told me"
And then," shouted, you forced her
to marry that treacherous DEVIL"
Il persuaded her"
you forced her," struck in. Yes,
you must have forced her, for she loved
me, she loved me. had seen it; had
felt it through every fiber of my life!"
But, Victor, listen. 1t seemed such
a sacrilege for her to marry you, after
Conrad's death. Forgive me if I thought
this, but"
You consented, however. that she
should marry the assassin Of my
brother"
"Oh, Victor! Think! If he had wished
to kill you might he not have done SOP"
broke into laugh Of bitter irony.
mo. He was watched by those other
doctors. And you yourself have told
me that was only saved by miracle.
Victor, Victor" sighed my listener.
Remember that you are not yet we'll
that excitement like this may reopen
your WOuuU!
"Pll reopen it myself" now rang
from my lips. And with reckless hands
I tore from my side the bandages which
chung to it. A great flow of blood fol-
lowed, and for days I was once more
Frustrated. wanted to die, and even
prayed for death. But health asserted
itself in obstinate refusal of my prayer
Within another month had completely
~Dl
strength permitted 1 departed from Os-
car Schreiner's house.
Almost Immediately l went back to
my native town among the Tyrolese
mountains, and have lived there in soli-
tude and retirement ever since. I am
an old man now, and the story Of the
forgotten. 1t gave Olaf Aveling great
has grown rich in consequence.
Hundreds of times, in my regret and
repentance at the death of poor Conrad.
have felt like taking my own life. But
that is all past now; am in a measure
quite at peace. Past, too, are the wildly
vengeful impulses to seek out Olaf
Aveling and end his life by o retribu-
tive blow Of hate. I comprehend the
utter failure of my new existence, yet
strive to convince myself that it is
penance justly inflicted for having pre-
sumed to tamper with the DEGREES Of an
inscrutable destiny.
Often do I bless the mighty hills
which engird me, and often it seems to
me that they have somehow taught me
noble and wholesome lessons. watch
their grandeur for hours, and learn