Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-06-08

must have an answer. You are keeping
something back. Your mistress life may
hang upon you. Tell me, do you lnow
10 whom or to what she alluded3"
"I do"
"Then i'm heaven s name, tell me. She
must be reused from her lethargy if sho
Is to live. What did sho mean?"
doctor, cannot tell you"
"But you must. insist upon it. Is
that life of no consequence to you? Can
you see her die and keep back what
might save her life?"
eyes"
"Thcn you arc committing murder"
Tho nurses eyes were fixed on the fire.
She seemed to bc seeking guidance from
the flames. At last her courage failed
her, and in distress she cried:
"Oh, heavenl What shall do? l dare
not"
The doctor moved up to her.
Nurse" said he, lone thing you
must do. You must tell me what you
know. II you do not, your life will be
made hideous and unbcarable by the
memory OF tonight. Cannot you trust
me? You know she looks upon me as n
friend. Tho secret, if secret there be,
is rs safe with me as with you. You
must tell me. What did she mean by
Linley? Is it mans name?"
Eyes"
The doctor glanced involuntarily at
the bed. No, she could not hear; he
need not have lowered his voice.
"Her lovcr?"
eyes"
The clock struck, and the woman on
the bed was one step nearer the un-
known.
"Is this AN old AFFAIR." mean is it in
the past?"
"No."
Tho doctor sighed. He had brought
the woman into the world, and he loved
her as his own child.
"What are we to do sir:''
"What indeed, nurse?"
He rose and paced the room in his
perplexity.
Linley! Who was he? Pshaw what
did it matter? The woman would most
surely die unless she could be reused
from her lethargy-this Linley might
do it, for he was in her mind. He must
be sent for if her life was to be saved.
Her life! What would it be worth after
that? Better death than dishonor. Let
her so down to the grave leaving spot
less name, let her mother sorrow for
her, let her child treasure the memory
of good mother, let her husband mourn
the loss of his faithful wife Aye, let
her die. Yet dare he take this RESPONSE
bility upon himself? He could save her.
OF this he was confident. What had he
to do with others? Saving life was his
business. She must be saved This Lin
ley, whoever he was. must be sent for,
aud Mt once
Nurse, we must send for him. "
But the nurse only shook her head.
COR she will die"
Better so, sir. "
And the doctor wavered.
Better so; aye, better so indeed The
price is too great to pay, even for life,
life Of agony and dishonor. To be held
in scorn by those who admired her be-
fore. To be scoffed at by those whose at
tentions she had not deigned to accept
To lose her mother, husband and child
at one blow, and gain-what? No,
thousand times, no. Let her die"
The doctor wiped great drops Of agony
from his brow as he signed her death
warrant.
"You are right, nurse 1t is best she
should die"
He threw himself into chair, and
the nurse took his place at the bedside.
Doctor, she called ont at length.
He stood beside her and noted tho
change.
Call them, nurse. She will not live
the hour out"
Again they stood by the side Of the
woman. speechless with grief. How
beautiful she looked! How utterly love
lyl Oh, tho pity of it she must die, so
Young and SO loved! Oh, the irony that
love which should have chained her to
life had been her doom.
The clock struck once again. The Wis
itor was come, and the woman breathed
her last in her husbands arms
"Linley! Linley!" muttered the doc
tor on his way home. II wonder who he
is. should like to let him know his
villainy is known, to thrash the life ont
Of tho scoundrel, to break every bone in
his body. Linley, Linlcy. Nurse will
have to tell me who he is"
But the nurse kept her secret and did
not tell him.
For it was the Doctors own SON.
Good Company.
| A Hint to Bicycle Riders.