Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-08-27

Wen IltcG TO perform. for she was
blessed with keen eye for color ef-
fects. and her travels had made her a
trustworthy source of information re-
garding the details of the picture II
was proposed u present. There were
no suggestions of invalidism in her as
she hustled about on her eoneenial
tasks; the buster she was. the greater
her content. The fete was TO her a
mental and physical tonic. more bene-
fetal than any possible combination of
chemicals. This ! realized, but with
the perverse pessiInism brought about
BY my season of unrest, feared that it
would result in opening her eyes TO
the truth that she needed no physician.
And when that discovery was made,
how long would she and her niece tarrY
in that quiet nc;ghborhood?
The weather about this time took a
turn for the worse: for 4S hours a
dense fng hung over the coast. II
thlnned somewhat by the third morn
ing. The banks of mist were drifting
seward when | plodded across the
Plain to he house on the knoll Lamar,
who wasawaiting me in the living-room.
idleness, for there were no books on the
table at which he sat. and he seemed
to be unusually willing to engage in des-
ultory chat. After a little. he told
me that he had been feeling far from
well FOR some weeks, and that the de-
pressing weather had aggravated his
trouble.
To stranger he would have looked
a sick man. but perhaps association
had blunted my perceptions in his case.
and his words surprised me. Assured
ly he was no weaker than on the night
when he first came to me. If there
had been any change. it had been an
improvement. The old air of the fu-
gitise had in great part disappeared,
though he still gave one the impression
of continual vigilance
He described his symptoms with his
habitual deliberateness. closing the ac-
count with a statement that he believed
his heart 10 be affected seriously, and
that he desired me to examine him at
once.
Il am AFRAID that you are correct in
your diagnosis" said |, when the task |
had been accomplished. There is car
diac troable. 1t is far advanced"
Its character?"
"Valvular. should like a consulta-
ton at once"
"Of what advantage?" he asked, as
coolly as if he were not discussing his
OWE death sentence. The disease is |
moral. Treatment cannot cure it,
"But it may prolong life" urged.
BESIDES. it is only fairness to yourself
to have an experts opinion. Take my
advice
Pardon. but must decline to do so.
l am content with your skin unaided.
1t is confirmation of my own suspicion.
The end is not so much; | have the
warning-it is all / DESIRE
He was silent for little, this strange
being. his expression unchanged, his
self-control absolute. When at last he
spoke there was no hint of emotion in
his voice as he asked the question /
dreaded to hear.
How long may l. in reason. count
upon?"
Il cannot tell you definitely" an
swered. 1T may be a year. two years.
three years; it may be tomorrow. A
shock. "a
Il comprehend. But, undisturbed.
what time do the odds favor?"
six months. But it is no moTe than
the widest guesswork"
Again there was pause. Presently
he asked:
you spoke of a shock. Would it be
of necessity fatal?"
NO. But it would be the one chance
in ten if it were not" ! knew my man
well enough to understand that he de-
sired no evasions.
You speak from the book" he
said, quietly; but in that | think you
wrong. | rate the chance greater"
May you be in the right of it," |
said: but he made no comment upon
the hope thus expressed. Soon after,
having given few directions for his
care of himself, and having promised to
have prescription for him made up
at once. | left him TO his thoughts
What they were could hardly imagine.
but hoped that among them was some
shadow of remorse at the remem brance
OF the poor devil whom he had sui
fered to lie helpless for hours almost at
his doc. 1t was fate's irony that of
these two men the one who then was
close 10 death should now be far on
the road to health. with the prospect of
many years before him. while the
other. who had rejoiced in his mis-
fortune. should find himself under a
sentence which knew 10 chance of re-
prieve.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.