Evening journal., 1897-04-28


that he had hoped my love would win
Leonie's heart.
While August was burning up the
vegetation with a long drought, we had
several cases of malignant fever in the
village, and one morning ] was shocked
at receiving a note from my uncle, say
ing Sidney had the symptoms.
l hurried to the house, and my uncle
led me directly to the sick room. But as
/ approached the bed Sidney cried;
What brings you here? Where is DR..
Farnell2"
"Dr. Farnell does not practice" re-
piled.
HE will come to mel lie mustl /
will not trust my life in the hands of
my heir and my rival in Lowell"
i started back as If he had struck me
a blow. Before heaven. could swear
that my possible heirship had never
crossed my mind, and had never
thought to try TO win Leonie, once l
knew her love was given elsewhere. I
could not speak, but sent DR.. Farnell
to my cousin.
In one short week the village church
bell tolled for Peter Gresham's son.
Two hours before the time set for the
funeral 1 went to my uncle, and,
though he had clung to me in those BIT
ter days of mourning, l asked for the
first time 10 see my cousin.
l have often questioned the fatality
that led me TO make that request, but
can only write here what ! have often
told my own heart. had to see him.
Already he was in his costly coffin.
with flowers about the bed upon which
it rested. entered the room alone, and
stood intently looking down upon the
still, cold face of my rival.
Deadl His words came back to me as
] looked at him. ] was my uncle's heir.
I might yet hope in the future to win
Leonie.
Suddenly the blood rushed to my
heart, almost suffocating me; my hands
grew cold, my legs shookunder me. My
eyes. fixed upon Sidney Greshams face,
grew dim. and should have fallen had
not grasped the bed for support.
For, with my professional instincts
ever on the alert, saw that my cousin
was not dead. 1t was a case of suspend.
cd animation, calling for instant care.
One moment the memory of the dy-
ing mans hatred and suspicion tugged
at my heart; one moment a fierce
temptation seemed tearing me in two.
and then, Heaven be thanked. I was
myself again.
Gently / lifted my cousin from his
ghastly resting place, and replaced his
shroud by his night dress. would not
risk the shock of his waking TO a con-
sciousness of his surroundings. but
though I staggered under his weight
took him to my uncle's room, next the
one where he had lain.
Then opened a vein in his arm. Slug
gishly, drop by drop, the life blood fol-
lowed my lancet and I knew had not
been deceived. Alone, unaided, ap-
piled sure remedies, till pulsation re-
turned to the nmbed heart, color to the
pallid lips, breath to the paralyzed
lungs.
Then. when the wondering eyes
opened. ! gave q powerful opiate,
watched till it took effect, and, leav-
ing my patient in profound slumber,
went downstairs. found my uncle in
the pathetic apathy grief had made
habitual in those three dreadful days,
and I said, gently:
"Uncle, you have doubted my love
and my gratitude in these last few
months. You have thought the man
who owed you every good of his life
for years had counted on your death to
inherit your wealth"
'But I will not doubt you again" he
said. piteously, "if you win come back
to me. I have wronged you, but you
will not desert me nowl"
"You have wronged me-" I answered
''and I have come to prove to you ms
love and my gratitude. I have come &c
restore to you"
The aged face was lifted quickly
while a pallor like death, breathless
eagerness, warned me to speak quickly
Come" I said. And led him gen
tly, yet quickly, TO the bed where his
son lay. sleeping. I checked the cry
upon his lips by whispering:
! "Do not Nyaken him! This sleep is his
very hfel"
Not deadl" he whispered, shaking
! like one in an ague-"not dead? Sid
ney, my sonl"
Not dead" answered, "nor dying
. He viii recover, unclel"
"And you have given him his life
You, whom he almost accused Of wish
ing to murder himl"
"He was mistaken" I said, quietly
"Now. win you watch HIM while sent
DR.. Farnell here?"
: "Yes-yesl And you will have
those things taken away?" and h
pointed to the room where the coffin lay
"I wiR do ALI"
-, Nobody quite understood but the ol,
doctor. He did, and gave me one hand
grasp that seems ever to hnger in m,
I palm when think of that day of ex
element.
Sidney Gresham had the grace to drol
. his active animosity towards met,