Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-12-04

without a single word, she took her bow
again and drew it softly across the vi
brating strings. Austin looked up in
momentary surprise. Then he sat spell
bound, while she played the weird "Ro-
nance of Svendsen's, once heard never
forgotten.
He had heard it played by more than
one finished musician; but this was q diff
ferent rendering. 1t was like the de-
spairing cry of a lusty swimmer falling
near the shore, or the wall of a lost soul
striving to escape from the sea of tor
ture and driven back by a host of fallen
angels. In those strains he read her
heart as plainly as though speech had
passed between them; he knew the bit
terness of her life; he saw the vista
gray and barren before her: and when
the last note died away he learned in a
brief glance from Ida's eyes. all the
strange discords had not confessed.
1t was but for an instant. For, in the
next, overcome by the strong excitement
she had just experienced, the bow slid
helpleSsly from her neryeleSs fingers, and
she tainted.
Symptoms of little moment in an or
binary person might in her case prog
nOSticate the worst, and any new phase,
however slight, was at once submitted to
medical opinion. In the present instance,
as she failed to respond readily to the
customary treatment. Austin FASTENED
" Liz d-1lSI w IlIC SIN do CdI1lSu "
her room. She had ~oyerexerted herself
with her music was the general e~xplana-
ton of the seizure, and this was what
he doctor was told when he answered
the haSty m In a brief space,
however, she yielded to his restOratives.
and before he left the house she had
dropped into a sleep quiet and natural.
For some time father and son went
homeWard in silence. Then the doctor
asked abruptly:
Does Ida know you are going away"
Il told her this evening"" Austin an
called the way she had received the
news. Father, do you know -"
"Ah! That accounts for it." said the
old man, as though speaking to him
self. Yes. Do 1 know what?"
Well think-that is, I'm afraid
the confession was alike tender and
humiliating. But his father, who had
feared such a contingency we'll nigh from
the first, understood what had been left
unsaid.
Il know, Austin, I know. But what
is to be done? The friendship that you
nave felt for her-that she believes she
has felt for you-has been the one bright
spot in her life. Seventeen years old
and seventeen years of perpetual martyr
DOM. Do o know how long | give her
to live?"
Il suppose that when she's p -
Austin began, but the doctor cut him
short.
IF she lives to see the spring" he
said. g~ravely, 81 shall be surprised
The Young man was startled, even
shocked. There vas silence between
them for a few moments. Then the doc
tor said, with hesitation:
Austin, i suppose you would not
think of putting off your visit to the
Harrisons? / know Marian expects you,
but | think if she knew the pleasure
you would be giving that poor child
whose days are numbered she would be
the first to bid o stay. In a case like
this there can be no question of dis
loyalty to her. And, Austin-if you can
for heavens sake let her still believe
that she has found the affection she has
crayed all her life. The deception
won't be for long, and it will comfort
her more in her last struggles than L
or the entire College of Physicians
could hope to do with all the science
that the world has ever known"
& * y =
Five weeks later, in Ida's bedroom, a
thin ribbon of spring sunshine had strug-
gled through a crevice of the window
blind and lay a bright streak across the
floor. Outside the garden was cheerful
with the song of birds and the ~rustling
OF leaves. Inside sat the little cripple,
propped up with pillows, her pitiful vital
ity burning itself slowly away.
She knew she was dying, but the
knowledge brought her no fear. Per
haps she believed that if eternity held
for her worse torture thar she had yet
endured she had served on earth an APP
premiership to pain long enough to fit
her for it. Perhaps Austin Marshall's
eompanionship and sympathy during the
last few weeks were making the end
comparatively easy. At any rate, when
the door was opened quietly and he
looked in, yiolins in hand, she greeted
him with Il grateful smile.
"Like to have some music?" he asked
che~erfully, though he was panied to
mark each day how her hold on life was
weakening. what shall 1 play?"