Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-19

gard. After a little while, during which
he held my hand and stroked It with
fondnese, he broke TO me the tldlngs
that Conrad had died wholly without
pain and still unconsclous) on the even
Ing OF the operation.
TDeadl Conrad deadl" / cried, and
swo6ned completely away.
More days passed before | learned
news equally narrowing, in q way even
far more 80. Desiring most earnestly
TO see Linda, was told that | could
not, for the reason that she had become
Mrs. Olaf Ayellng and was on her we'd
ding tour with her new-marrled 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 enched hand at Oscar
OlafAveling wanted to perform that
operation" | cried, because he be-
lieved IL would kill me also,
"Victor!" exclaimed Oscar Sohreiner,
shocked and Mortified, how can you
denounce as murderer the man who
nus given JOu JOul iApoibJ
Liberty" l echoed, with scornful
sheer. What is my liberty worth, now
that Linda is lost to melinda whom l
loved with my whole soul?"
Oscar vlsibly shuddered and raised
one repelling hand.
IL had no dream that you cared for
her like this, he began, until Ayeling
himself told me-.
And then" shouted, you forced heI
to marry that treacherous devil! "
81 persuaded her"
"You forced her." l struck In. Yes,
YOU must have forced her, for she loved
me, she loved me. had seen 1t; | had
felt it through every fiber of my life!'
But, Victor, listen. 1t seemed such
n sacrllege for her to marry you, after
Conrad's death. Forgive me If l thought
this, but
you consented, however, that she
should marry the assassin OF my
brother,
"Oh, Victorl Think II he had wished
TO kill you, might he not have done SOP"
broke into laugh Of bitter irony,
"No. He was watched by those other
doctors. And you yourself have told
me that l was only saved by a miracle.
Victor, Victor" sighed my listener.
Remember that you are not yet we'll
that excitement like this may reopen
your wound
"I'll reopen it myself" now rang
from my lips. And with reckless hands
tore from my side the bandages which
chung to it. A great flow Of blood fol-
lowed, and for days 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
recovered, and as soon as regained
strength permitted l departed from o.
car Schreiner's house.
Almost Immediately | went back to
my native town among the Tyrolese
mountains, and have lived there in soil
tude and retirement ever since. | on
an old man now, and the story of the
severed bond Of flesh has become half
forgotten. 1t gave Olaf Aveling a great
surgical reputation, however, and he
has grown rich in consequence
Hundreds Of times, in my regret ant
repentance at the dea h Of poor Conrad
1 have cit like taking my own life. But
that is all past now; am in measure
quite at peace. Past, too, are the wildly
vengeful impulses to seek out Ola
Aveling and end his life by retribu-
tive blow Of hate. 1 comprehend the
utter failure Of my new existence, yet
strive to convince myself that it is O
penance justly inflicted for having pre-
sumed to tamper with the DEGREES Of ar
inscrutatle destiny.
Often do I bless the mighty hills
which engird me, and often IL seems tc
me that they have somehow taught me
noble and wholesome lessons. watcf
| their grandeur for hours, and learr