The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-09-11

We thought 1t best, air." came tho
glib reply, that you should be kept
apart while you're both 90 ILL.,"
Then he lie alive?"
"Oh, yes, SIR"
thank God! And has he sufYered?"
Suffered? Oh, no, cir: not at all.
heard myself heave a ST. ong, CRATE
ful sigh just as sank into a sleep
which those few sentences made one OF
exhaustion.
But little later rallied most appre-
ciably. Still to weak too leave my bed,
] could yet hold converse with two or
three doctors who visited me. The alb
sence OF Aveling became o source OF
surprise, and soon inquired for him.
He has been called away" said one
Of the doctors.
-Yes-to Paris, I believe" struck in
another; and then saw them exchange
a quick, peculiar smile-a smile which I
was destined presently to understand.
Where is my dear old friend, Oscar
Schreiner?" I next questioned. Why
does he not come to me-he OF all
others?"
I'VE thought you were not strong
enough yet, was answered.
Not strong enough2" returned, al
most mockingly; why, that is really
absurd. Let him come at once"
But they refused, and three good
days had passed before Oscar appeared
at my bed side. He was very grave OF
deme anor, and looked somewhat bag
gard. After q little while, during which
he held my hand and stroked 1t with
fondness, he broke TO me the tidings
that Conrad had died wholly without
pain and still unconscious) on the even
Ing Of the operation.
Dead! Conrad dead!" I cried, and
swooned completely away.
More days passed before I learned
news equally narrowing, in a way even
far more 30. Desiring most earnestly
to see Linda, was told that I could
not, for the reason that she had become
Mrs. Olaf Aveling, and was on her we'd
ding tour with her new-marrled hus-
band.
Then the whole hateful truth burst
upon me. Trembling with passionate
revolt and disgust, rose from the great
armchair In which was seated, and
shook my .enched hand at Oscar.
OlafAveling wanted to perform that
operation" cried, because he be-
lieved 1t would kill me Also"
"Victor!" exclaimed Oscar Schreiner,
shocked and Mortified, how can you
denounce as murderer the man who
has given you your libertyl"
"Liberty!" I echoed, with a scornful
sneer. what is my liberty worth, now
that Linda Ia lost TO melinda whom
loved with my whole soul?"
Oscar visibly shuddered and raised
one repelling hand.
Il had no dream that you cared for
her like this, he began, until Aveling
himself told me-"
And then, shouted, you forced her
to marry that treacherous DEVIL"
Il persuaded her"
"You forced her." struck In. 'Yes,
you must have forced her, for she loved
me, she loved me. had seen 1t; had
felt 1t through every fiber Of my life!'
But, Victor, listen. 1t seemed such
sacrilege for her to marry you, after
Conrad's death. Forgive me II thought
this, but"
you consented, however, that sho
should marry the assassin OF my
brother.
"Oh, Victor! Think II he had wished
to kill you, might he not have done SOP"
broke into laugh Of bitter irony.
"No. He was watched by those other
doctors. And you yourself have told
me that was only saved by miracle. I"
Victor, Victor" sighed my listener.
Remember that you are not yet we'll
that excitement like this may reopen
your wound!
"Ill reopen 1t myself" now rang
from my lips. And with reckless hands
tore from my side the bandages which
chung to it. A great flow Of blood fol-
lowed, and for days was oncc more
Frustrated. WANTED to die, and even
prayed for death. But health asserted
Itself in obstinate refusal Of my prayer
Within another month had completely
recovered, and as soon as regained
strength permitted departed from Os.
car Schreiner's house.
Almost Immediately l went back to
my native town among the Tyroless
mountains, and have lived there In soil.
tuds and retirement ever since. / am
an old man now, and the story OF the
severed bond OF flesh has become half
forgotten. 1t gave Olaf Aveling a great
surgical reputation, however, and he
has grown rich In consequence.
Hundreds Of times, in my regret and
repentance at the death OF poor Colrad.
/ have felt like taking my own life. But
that lie all past now; am In q measure
quite ut peace. Past. too, are the wildly
vengeful impulses to seek out Olaf
Aveling and end his life by q retrlbu-
tive blow OF hate. comprehend the
utter failure OF my new existence, yet
strive to convince myself that 1t is o
penance justly inflicted for having pre-
sumed to tamper with the DEGREES OF an
inscrutable destiny.
Often do I bless the mighty hills
which engird me, and often 1t seems to
me that they have somehow taught me
noble and wholesome lessons. watch