Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-28
indifferently, she lay back again aud

indifferently, she lay back again and
closed her eyeM
When she opened them again, they
happened to glance directly over q
corner of the room which had before
been dim, but was now illuminated by
a shaft of sunlight. A carved bracket
hung there, and on the shelf lay a
singular looking little instrument,
shaped like dagger, of Moorish de-
vice, the handle inlaid with gold, left
rough and unpublished. When Margaret
saw this small object, she gave little
cry and tried to rise, but finding that
impossible, she dropped back upon her
pillows as if she had been shot, her
eyes fixed upon the little instrument
with look of recognition that was
half pleasure, half alarm. What
strange trick was fate about to play
her? How could this thing be possi-
BILE?
There was noise; the front door
opened and some one came along the
hall with q firm, measured step.
Margaret's heart, that well-regulsted
organ, beat to suffocation. She hardly
dared listen or look. She threw her
arms up over her forehead, nearly con-
cealing her face. Some one entered
the room and paused beside her. A
well-remembered voice, graver, deeper
than of yore, yet with CHEEKY ring in
it, said, 'fLet me see what I can do to
help you, madam" A chair was drawn
up to the side of the couch, gentle
hand took her own. Her pulse was
beating furiously; the hand was held
rather long, as if something perplexed
him. She felt searching eyes bent
upon her face and suddenly threw
down her arms. The doctor drew
back, his face paling, and the two
looked at each other for minute in
silence She spoke first, putting out
her hand timidly.
'Richard, don't you remember me ?"
sRemember youP As if I were likely
ever to forget you"
She softly touched his empty sleeve,
pinned over his breast, two tears stand
ing in her eyes.
cat Black Gulch, he said 'I have
got over minding it. Don't grieve."
"You left the army?"
eyes, four years ago. My health
gave way. studied medicine in
indianapolis, was invited here by an
old friend to become his assistant, and
shortly afterward he died. That is
all"
"You never-never-"
eyes; married"
ta r1o at al Al.
Margaret gasped, amazed that she
should care. Her face suddenly be-
came suffused with color, and she
turned it away.
"She only lived year---Margaret,
said the doctor, bending down to study
the fair, flushed face, suddenly pain
smitten.
"My arml" said Margaret family,
drawing his attention to the lesser
hurt.
He was the doctor again at once,
and, for the next half hour all profess
sional gravity, and as impersonal as
the sphinx; yet the woman felt through
every nerve, like the musical vibra-
tion, the thrill of his firm, warm
fingers, the scrutiny of his eyes. He
was changed, worn through suffering
rather than years, his face lined, his
hair grown gray; with nothing young
about him but his eyes, which sparkled
with cheer and brightness no grief
could dim, for they mirrowed mind
above all personal consideration, con-
cerned with those large, loving inter-
ests belonging to humanity.
The doctor came and went quietly,
her eyes following him. When he in
tercepted the look she blushed like
schoolgirl. Too busy all that day to
give her more than necessary atten-
ton, he yet lost nothing that passed,
and she had sense which was oddly
pleasant that he understood something
of what was passing in her mind. 1t
was terrible, too. There were moments
when she wished herself miles away
Besides all the physical pain which
she endured that long day, Margaret's
soul was the battle-ground of q strug-
gle far more exhausting. Ambition,
pride, and love of the world fought
hard against tender, newly-born i'm
pulse, which it seemed that a single
breath of reason ought to chill to
death.
The Goals burned red in the open
stove; little tea table was set in the
middle of the room, and in the easiest
chair in the house, piled with all the
available cushions, the doctor placed
Margaret, taking his position opposite
her. The solemn Swedish girl brought
in supper, which was we'll cooked and
served with scrupulous cleanliness
that almost atoned for the absence of
more dainty service.
The doctors face shown with salts
faction, but his manner, although gem
ial, was ceremonious. Margaret felt
that, in the few feet intervening be-
tween them, there lay years of care
and grief and disappointment. She
felt yearning to bridge the chasm, to
draw nearer to him, even though she
herself had to take the hard steps to-
ward understanding.
Thought the woman: "Does he love
me still?" And thought the man: els
she tired of the world. and COZ Id she