Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-03
NO LONGER DOUBTED.

Norman Bradford. In "A weak voice.
Dr. Adair's keen black eyes suddenly
dimmed as he looked into tho face OF
his friend His voice was husky US he
tried to answer clleerfully:-
MY dear follow. while there Is life
there 10 hope"
Ralph. your reply Is evaslve.
must know the truth. Can ] liver
For a monument the physicians lips
quivercd. His heart Was touched. lie
took his patients hand az he said,
TREMENDOUSLY:
mo. nay poor fellow. your hours are
numbered"
II thought So" calmy returned the
sick man. "Call Bessie. then kindly
leave US together for a WHILE
The doctor left the room. and soon
pretty girl. with large blue eyes enter
ed.
DO you want me. Guardy?" she
asked In low. sweet tones.
Yes, Bessie. Close the door, please,
and come to me-"
She obeyed. When he had reached
his beside Norman took her hands in
HIS feeble clasp.
bessie, the doctor says ! am dying
You are poor, and when die Will By
friendleSg. want you To inherit my
wealth. There Is but one way in which
you can do that without reproach. dear
you must become my WIFE,
The girl literally held her breath.
How was She to answer hlm2 once,
twice, she eAsayed to speak. but, though
the lips moved. no words came.
1t Will be only for u few hours at
most. Bessie" the weak voice went ON,
land 1t will comfort me lnexpressibly
10 know that leave you provided for"
There was not a word about love.
Bessie looked seArchingly into the pale
face. and hcr own colored faded.
II cannot" she said. "But-O, dear
friend IL huTn a know Ihmt |
lose you"
SO Bessie Graham knelt by the sup
posed dcathbcd OF her guardian, while
the minister, who had been quickly
summoned, spoke the words that maze
item husband and wife.
Bessie was an orphan. When her
father died he left her--then n child
to the care OF Norman Bradford, his
esteemed and trusted friend, and most
faithfully had that friend discharged
the obligation.
Bcssics soanty fortune had been sufii-
Client to educate her; but now the last
dollar was spent and she was depend-
ent ON hor guardian for support.
As child and mnidcn she had looked
up TO him us her dearest friend. Now
that no was dying and wished her to be
his wife, she never dreamed Of oppos-
ing him; his Wish was her care. Her
tears Tell fast ~ she ltnelt there.
with the last words of the ceremony
the close clasp of his hand relaxed. and
she thought he was gone. But he was
not dead, only sleeping.
DR., Aduir shook his head as he eX-
amlned his patients pulse aud said he
could not possibly survive the night,
| but he was mistaken: the morning
! brought dVided change for the bet
| ter. II was Sen possible that he might
I =
! faithfully She could not have been
more watchful for his comfort-more
| solicitous for his recovery.
| But as the weeks passed and Norman
| slowly struggled buck to life She began
TO avoid being left alone with him, He
noticed the change and 1t troubled him
| greatly.
"She does not love men and regrets
| our unfortunate marriage" he thought.
| sOtrowfully. ut Is more than 1 can
bearl Why did | not die? Death would
hayo been preferable to this torture.
II cannot endure it, cannot must
| 10 away"
So. the next morning before Bessie
made her appearance. Norman left tho
| old home and went to the city, some
twenty miles distant. for the purpose
| OF making arrangements with his law
yer, who resided there, for his wife's
| support. As yet he was undecided what
| his next step would be.
When Bessie went to breakfast she
was surprised TO mud n note beside her
plate. She hastily tore 1t open and
read
Dear Bessle-I am going away For
give me that 1 did not say farewell, |
dare not meet you again. Forgive me-
too, FOR the wrong / did you In asking
you to marry me; had l dreamed that
my life would be spared l never would
have fottered you 80, But Ralph said
l had but few hours 10 live, and, be-
fore Heaven, believed him.
You have borne 1t patiently; but
trust me, Bessie, you shall be free
again. l claim nothing of the past. and
l can restore TO you the future. Tive
years must elapse, however before we
can obtain legal separation.
81 wiah you would stay IN the old
home with our faithful servants until
other ARRANGEMENTS can be made. Just
now l am too mentally shattered &c
think OF our future. II will be best fol
you not TO write to me; what comfort
would your letters he to either? Yol
cannot love, and must have your love
or nothing, Yours ever,
NORMAN BRADFORD"
For several minutes Bessie sat star.
Ing at the words before her. her breath
coming In short, quick gasps Their
she rushed down the stairs and al
most Into the arms or kind Mira. Powell
| wv A'ANthhNNNAt NAN HNu Dttn Y
mother to the orphan since her guar,
dams home had been her abiding
place.
"Auntle, please tell me where Norman
is2' she pleaded ~ must so to him
But dearie. why the need? He has
only gone TO see his lawyer Mir. Latl
mer."
oh, you don't understand. He ha,
left me foreverw said Bessie, witt
slowing cheeks and sparkling eyes
~ love my husband with an my hear
and strength, and he must know III
must go-lt would kill me to stay
hetow
IN an Incredibly short time the ex
cited girl was ready for her Journey
ana the day WAS not far advanced
when she found herself al the law ON
&c. whcr she learned that Norman har
been too III on his arrival to transao