The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-04

hang upon you. Tell ne, do you know
to whom or to what she alluGed:'
II do"
Then i'll heavens nanc, tell me. Sho
must be reused from her lethargy if sho
is to live. What did shc mean:''
Doctor. cannot tell you''
But you must. insist upon it, Is
that life of no consequence to you? Can
you SEQ her die and keep back what
might save her life?''
yes
"Then you are committing murder"
The nurses eyes were fixed on the fire
She seemed to be seeking guidance from
the flames AT last her courage failed
her, and III distress she cried
"Oh, heaven! What shall do? I 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 hidcous and unbearable by the
memory of tonight. Cannot you trust
me? You know she looks upon mo as o
friend. The secret, if secret there be,
is as safe with me as with you. You
@AAN''S WA AiN. w iltc tltl silO IIctul ny
Linley? Is it Il mans name?"
Yes
The doctor glanced involuntarily at
the bed. No. she could not hear; ho
need not have lowered his voice.
"Hcr loycr?"
eyes.
The clock struck, and the woman on
tho bed was ono step nearer tho I'M
known.
&c Is this an old affair? l mean is it in
the past?''
"No."
Tho doctor sighed. He had brought
tho woman into tho world, and he loved
her Us his own child
"What are we to do, sir?''
What indeed, nursc?'
He roso and paced tho room in his
perplexity.
Linlcy Who was he? Pshawl what
did it matter? Tho woman would most
surely die unless she could be reused
from her lethargy-this Linlcy might
do it, for he was i'll 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 go 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 no
to do with others? Saving life was his
business. She must be saved. This Lin
ley, whoever he was, must be sent for.
and at once
Nurse, we must send for him.
But the nurse only shook her head
Or 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
Ill scorn by those who admired her be-
fore. To be scoffed ut by those whose at
tentlons she had not deigned to accept.
10 lose her mother, husband and child
at one blow, and gain-what? No, a
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 D."
He threw himself into chair, and
the nurse took his place at tho bedside.
Doctor, she called out at length
He stood beside her and noted tho
change.
Cali them, nurse. She will not live
the hour out. -
Again they stood by tho side of the
woman, spcechless with grief. How
beautiful she looked How utterly love-
lyl Oh, the 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
ltor was come, and the woman breathed
her last i'll 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 out
of the scoundrel to break every bone in
his body. Linlcy Linlcy Nurse will
have to tell mo who he is. -
But the nurse kept her secret and did
not tell him.
For it was the Doctors own son.
Good Company.