Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-07-12

"have you an idea what the mistress
meant by that word 2"
But the nurse did not or would not
hear.
Look here, nurse" continued he,
al must have an answer You are keep
ing something back. Your mistress's
life may hang upon you. Tell me, do
you know to whom or to what she al
luded ?"
II do"
Then in heavens name, tell me.
She must be reused from her lethargy
If she is to live What did she mean 7"
Doctor, | cannot tell yoa"
but you must. | insist upon it Is
that life Of no consequence to you 7 Can
You see her die and keep back what
might save her life ?"
eyes"
Then you are committing murder"
The nurses eyes were fixed on the
fire She seemed to be seeking guild
ance from the flames At last her oour-
age failed her, and in distress she cried
"Oh, heaven What shall do2 |
dare not
The doctor moved up to her.
Nurse said he. lone thing you
must do. You must tell me what you
know. If you do not. your life will be
made hideous aud unbearable by the
memory of tonight Cannot you trust
me ! You know she looks upon me as
friend The secret, if secret there
was, is as safe with me as with you.
You must tell me- What did she mean
by Linlcy? Is it a mans nameH"
Eyes"
The doctor glanced involuntarily at
the bed No, she could not hear he
need not have lowered his voice.
Her lover 7"
eyes"
The clock struck, and the woman on
the bed was one step nearer the un-
known
as this an old affair : mean Is it ia
the past ?"
mo"
The doctor sighed. lle had brought
the woman into the world. and he loved
her as his own child.
"What are we TO do, sir 7"
"What indeed, nurse p
le rose and paced the room in his
perploxity.
Linley Who was he2 Pshaw I! what
did il matteri The woman would most
surely die unless she could DO reused
from her lethargy-this Liuley might
do il, for he was in her mind. He must
be sent for il her life was to be saved.
Her life What would il be worth after
that2 Better death than dishonor. Lot
her go down to the grave leaving spot
less name, lot her mother sorrow for her,
lot her child treasure the memory Of a
good mother, lot her husband mourn the
loss Of his faithful wife. Aye, let her
die. Yet dare no take this great re-
sponsibilty upon himself ? lie could
save her. OF this no was confident.
What had he to do with othersf Saw
ing life was his business: She must DO
saved. This Linley. whoever he was,
must be sent for, and at once.
Nurse, we must send for him."
But tho nurse only shook her head.
"Or she will die
"Botter so, SIR"
And the doctor wavered.
"Botter 80; aye, better so indeed.
The price is too great to pay, even for
life, life for agony and dishonor. To
BIO held in scorn by those who admired
her before. To DO scoffed ut by those
whose attentions she had not designed
to accept. To lose her mother, hus-
band and child at one blow, and gain
whatT No, a thousand times, no. Let
her die"
The doctor wiped great agony from
his brow as he signed her death war
rant.
"You are right, nurse II is best she
should die"
Io threw himself into a chair, aud
the nurse took his place at the bedside.
Doctor" she called out at length.
He stood beside her and noted the
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-
ly! Oh, the pity Of it she must de. SO
young and so lovely Oh. the irony
that love which should have chained
her TO life had been her doom.
Tho clock struck once again. The Wis.,
itor had come, and tho woman breathed
her last in her husbands arms.
"Linley Linley !" muttered tho doc
tor on bis way home. IL wonder who
he is. should like to let him know,
to thrash tho life out Of tho scoundrei,
TO break every bone in his body. Lin
ley, Linlcy Nurse will have 10 tell
nc who he is."
But the nurse kept her secret an she
did not tell him.
For it was the doctors own son. -
Good Cdmpany