Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-24

You know perfectly WELL" she sait
in low voice, that l shall be the
mother of a child of yours in some
months
Yes" he said gently.
But you do not know" she went
on, ''you do not know that this is
such a shame to me, such a deathly
burning shame, that l hate the light
l hate the eyes Of any human creature
on me, l would like to fly in the might
to some desert place, and hide my
self"
Are you mad, GWen?"
mo, | am sane, as sane as on the
day | sold myself to you for an ex-
pertinent Can you not see, Humphrey
that 1 am as shameful, L your wife,
as any one of those women you told
me of, not one of whom you loved
loved?" she added, with an inyolun-
tary arising of her head.
Il am no nearer to you now" she
went on, ''than | was that day, not a
| jot nearer, and yet / am going to be
the mother of your child! Are you
dense, Humphrey, or is it because you
are a man and are grown used to
chattels, that you cannot see the depth
of my shame and humiliation, and the
reason for it?''
She faltered and sWayed slightly.
''Sit down, Gwen, sit down at once -
Yes, yes" was yelled from twenty
thrOats," and here he is
He was a sufficiently foolish young
man, and seemed fiOOred.
Live far from here?' he asked.
I'm Ebury Square, said Strange,
sis there any danger in taking her SO
far?"
None, if conveyed on boards in a
four-wheeler''
Strange saw at once that the dog
man was the only one who had his
senses about him; Bell though abso-
lutely unhurt, was altogether useless,
and the man had been left at the inn.
You know the horses and cabs here
about? said Strange. Get the
smoOthest cab and some boards, and
here, you'll want help, don't spare
tips"
The man went, and was back before
the doctor had made UP his mind what
to say to cover his ignorance.
A fat woman, who had lent the
mattress to cover the boards, and who
had been lowering over his wife tor
some time, here called Strange aside.
You had better have your own
doctor at once.'' she said, chat there
young man is soft. She wants skill,
and. SIR she added, with a soft
twiddle of her thumb, Il have my sus-
piciOnS."
Strange looked inquiringly at her,
and a cold Shiyer ran down to his
toes
For hours after she was brought
home Gwen lay insensible. The doctor
did nothing
Her physique alone will help her."
he said, when Strange seemed to de-
mand action of some sort.
'She will regain her consciousness
all right he said. There is another
complication, l believe" he added,
looking keenly at Strange, 'but the
treatment of that must come later"
Again the horrid GOODNESS paralyzed
Humphreys very marrow.
I'm view of this" the doctor went
on, what about her mother being sum-
moned?''
Strange thought for a moment. Her
mother was, of course, quite out of
the question, and he remembered that
Mrs. Fellowes was ill.
us this necessary at Once?' he asked.
mo, will tell you when the need
arises-that is, if any should. Her
physique would tide over almost any
thing"
AS the clock began to strike mid
night, Strange saw the doctor stoop
suddenly. and lay his head on Ovens
heart, then open her eyes and touch
her eyeballs.
When he raised himself his face had
altered.
''Now we shall soon see change"
he said, perhaps you had better stand
back, even the shock of JOY might hurt
her"
Strange gave a CHASTITY grin in the
shadow of the curtain.
BY a Superhuman effort in all those
hours of anguished waiting, even when
the doctor and the nurse in their con-
sideration, had left him alone for the
purpose, Strange had never once kissed
or carresSed his wife, or even so much
as touched her except in matters Of
service.
| Gwen stirred almost imperceptibly,
the doctor looked round the curtain at
! Strange.
Touch her, and speak to her very
! gently" he said. He bent gently over
! her.
Gwen, wake up, dear, wake up,
| sweetheartr'
He wondered the next second 'why
the devil he said it.
Perhaps the absurdity of the words
| struck Ovens grim sense OF humor:
she certainly stirred uneasily and
made feeble, pathetic little try to
throw up the limp hand that lay on
the quilt.
! Strange moved back under cover OF
his curtain.
"Goodr' said the doctor. TRY again.
He was Watching Strange's face with
some interest.
He has aged ten years in eight
! hours, poor devilr' he thought, then
! he took a long survey of his patient
Il wonder if she is worth it all. she
~