The Red Cloud chief., 1895-11-08

'Adrlan. he hears 70 weak voice
calling.
lie halts and observes he is before
his aunt's room. She has called him.
He enters.
you called, Aunt Catherine?" he
asks.
"'les. Adrian. Your wifc-is she
nearly over her %troublc?"
THE doctor is with her. 1t cannot
be long now"
The sick woman turns her head
rcstlcssly.
Poor child, | can understand her
srifcrings. Symputhize with
her. | have suffered much, Adrian"
Yes, dear aunt. You have indeed
been % great sufferer lie Is stand
ing by her bed, smoothing her pale
brow with one hand.
at win not be- long now, Adrian. !
shall not live to endure the terrible
agony Of pain much longer, to causc
you trouble"
at Is not ,ronblc, aunt. IL is our
duty to- labor for yon. A labor of love
To minister tn your wants. to relieve
| you from pain and suffering"
She does not answer. only lies with
closed eyes. breathing hard.
''lou have been good 10 me- she
murmurs ut last. II shall not forget
you Then silence. He stands Ivy
her bedside. She opens her eyes,
There has been much To blight our
family name in the past She says
Surrowfully. Pray that your Off
spring may uphold the dignity of the
proud ace from which our ancestors
| sprung
II pray heaven that il may be So
Ii, replies ~fervently.
You know / have made my WILL.
She says drcamily.
YES, eagerly, anxious TO hear
NOR. IAN ] possess will be your
child'S. providing
MIR. Dyke. Mr.. Dyke u voice In.
terrupts him.
A oman enters the room.
The master turns Ia her.
We'll, Mary" lie speaks impa.
ticntly.
The doctor wants to see you. Come
NJ once"
lie presses u kiss upon his aunt's
forehead.
60 to ,onr w-ifo. Adrian" she muir
murs.
lie follows the womun-Murv Calder.
the nurse ont of the room. The doe
tor is standing in the hall. note book
in hand. jotting down some items.
He appro iches him. The nurse en-.
tcrs the room where the wife is lying.
lis IL all over, DOCTOR" he cries
eagerly.
DR.. Wilbur looks ut him over his
glasses.
AN over he says. Then handing
him the book, You sec the page is
full
The husband and father takes it
with trembling hands. He almost
breads To- LOOK upon il. What il thai
little black book should record the cnd
of all his hopes. strike Il de~ath.blow t.
his happiness. He reads. In the dim
light Of the chandelier he sees tn,
doctors angular handwriting, the
marks of the lead pcncil--"Alice Dyke
Confined 1910 y. M. Aug. 20. 1850
Condition, critical: respiration, JOS,
pulse, liG; sex Of child. female" lie
mechanically hands the book to the
doctor. 'Sex Of child. female" The
words dance before his eyes. Fare
well to honor, wealth, happiness. ''SeS
of child. fcmale..' fo staggcrs and
scihes the halustrade for support. lie
hears TIE doctor speaking.
Il have marked your wife's condi.
ton as critical. ! see YOU are affected
by 1t. But don't give way. Size has
suffered greatly. 1t is her first child;
with good nursing aud proper care,
she'll pull through. / rarely lose Il
cast like this. l merely marked il SO.
so that in case anything should hap
pen to me, my partner, DIR. Garcau,
would pay particular attention tn tho
case. shall not leave the house for a
few hours"
And he leaves him. Leaves him
grasping the old railing that skirts the
stair. Leaves him, tho man. husband
and father, staring with wild, wide,
open eyes. at the wall opposite.
For nj least ten minut.s, the disap'
pointed. hcart-sick man. stands staring
at the blank wall. He has depended
upon this helpless child to help him
out of his difficulty; but now, it is all
over. He must face the exposure when
ii comes: he must make up his mind
to bear II us best nc may.
He does not Sue the dark figure
skulking through the trees upon tbs
lawn. He is not thinking of anything,
except his W bitter feelings.
For a long time he stands. Sud
denly he hears the sound of the gate
closing 10 violently. Some one is
either entering II leaving the grounds.
A vague feeling Of dumb curiosity
crceps into his brain, relieved by the
sight of Il man hnrrying toward the
house u man he recognizes: Conrad
Gardner, his gardener and trusty over
seer. He is coming up the path. lie
secs his master standing In the open
doorway. mr.. Adrian he says,
halting at the foot Of the steps.
what brings you here this time oi
night" demands the master. ncehani.
eally.
my wife. sir. She has a high fever.
Is DIR. Wilbur here yet?"
s"fes,' b. sighs. He thinks Of the
misfortune which has befalIcn him.
Il am glad of that. | was afraid
he might have gone home" lIc comes
up the steps. And missus?' he asks
respectfully.
''She Is u mother" No interest in
the tone. He has no interest in the
matter.
II am so glad. We arc both in luck