The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-31

on ner dressing gown, ana lay uoWn
on the narrow white bed in the cor
ner of the room.
She had never thought of dying
alone. In the fleeting thought she
had had of death, David had always
been there to hold her hand. But
now she was liable, even likely, to
die alone. Poor Mary! "Alone"
meant to her "without David"
Mrs. Robinson" said DR.. Ellis,
when the assistant surgeons and
nurses had come, 81 feel it due to
myself to ask that you repeat before
these gentlemen what you said in re-
gard to your understanding of the
risk you run in undergoing this oper-
ation."
Il know that l may die, but l wish
to undergo the operation"
She spoke slowly, with quiet
dignity.
There is no one whom you wish
to see, no one who should be con-
sulted7"
mo one"
She drew from under her pillow
the letter she had written, and hand
ed it to DR.. Ellis. "When the issue
of the operation is quite clear, wish
you to open and read this" she
said.
She lay quietly while they put the
ether mask over her white face, not
struggling against it as some people
do. Only once she sat up suddenly
and looked about her with wide open
eyes, stretching out her arms and
saying:
"Oh, if you will only let me lie in
my husbands arms will bear any
thing" And then she lost conscious
ness.
1t was half past three when
breathless messenger, rushing into
Mr.. Winslow's down town office
handed him note from DIR. Ellis
Dear SIR: Your wife has just
undergone an operation. have
every reason to hope it will be sue
cessful one. The enclosed note from
Mrs Winslow will explain to you why
I have but now made you aware of
what has been done.
Very sincerely yours,
j. HOWE ELLIS.
The other note read thus:
Dear Doctor Ellis: / have not
told you my real name, for did not
wish my husband to have the pain
and anxiety of anticipating this op-
Grafton, nor the suffering of seeing
me suffer it; and I thought that if
you knew had husband you would
be likely to object to taking SO much
responsibility without having him to
share it. If all goes we'll you need
only send him the enclosed note. If
should die-tell him gently.
MARY W1NsLow.
My Darling Husband: You have
been 50 good, SO tender, so true to
me, and you have made me 80 happy
always, that | have wanted some way
to show you how grateful am. There
has never been any way before, but
now there is way. Thank the dear
Father you have taught me to love
and have helped me to try to serve,
have been strong enough to save you
great deal of pain.
When you get this, my love, my
hearts dear, dear love, I shall be
quite through with very bad opera
ton, which has been hanging over
me for months. I knew l must un
dergo it or die, and yet it was so sweet
at home l could not come in here be-
fore: but the doctor said I could not
wait any longer, so l came in
today.
Jane is good nurse; she will take
care of the children while | am away.
Aren't they beautiful
God bless you, my husband, my
love. MARY.
The three doctors stood wiping
their cleaning instruments, talking
in half-whispers of the operation. A
white-capped nurse was unpinning
the sheets and padding from the
operating-table.
At the side of the bed where Mary
lay, another doctor and another white
capped nurse stood watching for the
first sign of her returning conscious
ness. She lay heavily and with
muscles relaxed, with closed eyes,
breathing laboriously, and white as
the linen on her bed.
David pushed open the door with
unsteady hand, and came across the
room to the bed Without word he
dropped on his knees in grief
stricken heap at the bedside.
DR.. Ellis put his hand on his