The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-08-14
CHAPTER XIII.

Two days passed and no change came.
The sun lay warm and bright on the
lawn outside. The birds sang their
same sweet song. The breath Of flowers
perfumed the summer air, and the UNI
equal battle between life and death still
went ON in the darkened room.
BERTHE sometimes sat up to relieve
Wilson and the nurse, but Margaret
gave way TO none.
at is only the beginning she said.'
in answer TO Wilson's exppstulatlons.
Let me stay now. After awhile Will
sleep" And Wilson, yielding, she
spent three nights in weary vigil, put
when the fourth came nature would |
stand no more.
She could no longer endure the raw
ings OF a delirium which brought the
past SO sharply and wildly before her.
| she could not listen to the eloquent
headings for love in such weak ana
| broken sentences, nor hear her own re-
proach, so doubly cruz |, repeated by his
minimizing lips.
aOh, for the power to live it over
again" she cried in the anguish OF her
heat. "Oh, for one moment OF con-
seriousness in which he might under
stand"
/ The sleep induced by bodily WEAKNESS
was deep and long, and it was quite late
the next morning VIII Margaret reach
ed Brian's room.
Wilson met her with an encouraging
smile.
He has been very quiet" he said,
noting the question in her eyes.
managed to snatch several hours
Sleep"
, The hours passed slowly. The silence
, was unbroken except by the hummlIg Oh
, the bees outside the window, Tor even
, Brian's oompiainings were stilled Ior
the time Once he murmured Margaret
, name and she fe.t his eyes upon her
, fnce. but there was no intelligence II
{ them, only the dullness OF delirlum'
Z After little while he began once moro
o to give expressions W HIS ieFoioo LON
@ cieS.
: It was always Margaret and the shad-
= ow between them, Margaret reproachlng
d or repulsing him, or Margaret heiPiui
and encouraging.
, And Margaret could only sit ano
. listen: though when his sharp cry ranl
= through the silence of the room. Mar
paret, I can't see you; where are you
Nargaret?" shs placed her head beside
Q him. and answered in low, wretched &C
% cents:
- "Here. Brian; close beside you. Can
~ yo1 feel my hands? They are holding
" yours. H.,
!; Did her voice penetrate that dull
- brainp For one second she thought sc
4 But no. The heavy eyes turned iron
n her face.
r. Han. 8! Who said hands? Oh, yes;
,r remember now. You said it, Margaret
~ Don't YOU know you said 1t? Your han
II would be in mine. Do you-think Of
an the night? And 1 said-ah, I-said-
Id what did I-say?"
ht His voice sank away in an unlnte
Is iigib.e muttering. few SECONDS
hi silence and his mind wandered agar
He was fighting his old battles no
and calling upon Margaretfor sympath
v: and help.
i, And in an anguish that could find n
I'm other expression, she Durlel her lae
ed in the pillow beside him.
-. IT can't bear it, 1 can't bear it, 81
tic cried, passionately.
Bear It," repeated the weak voic
,e- "Bear It? All, no; l can't bear yo
,st contempt, You are-so hard; so hard
we mon me. No right to-reproach 20
as No ripht-at-aII." Her head sal
lower She could find no answer
he these bitter complainings.
tic Suddenly she felt hand upon d
nd shoulder. and raising her miserable Ia
mid she saw Wilson standing over her.
bia twill YOU come out in the air Tor
few moments?" he said, with quiet
cd thority. The weather is pleasa
,icb Thomas will take care OF Brlan.s
Ike with a sort of mechanical obedier
mid she followed him to the broad plaz
her where the pure air, warm sun ana o.
of sweet flowers seemed douoiy gra
said full after the close atmosphere OF
l to sick room.
Che He was silent for some seconds. E
telv IDENTIFY he found it difficult to put
Ran thoughts in suitable language.
ken She saw ana. unuefsVooo HID o''
ele- ton.
Of Il know what you would say.
broke in, covering her face with
mo hands. 4 know so well. You n
and heard Brian. You understand.
Won must realize now what hard,
,me Kind undutiful wife I've be
. am IN Hush" he interrupted, in stra
voice Il must not allow even your
,aka 70 saw such unkind words about "
$50 cat They are not deserved. You
too much stress upon what he 81
tho forgetting that it is only the ravini
had delir.um. brian iae I'a ;,,Soa
and fidant and 1 ieei 'has N oan sbo a1swe
nted You cannot SNOW an, ..4Sar
felt pressing her nanI SnSrsd little tn
but the motious, zap v w., cannot kno
nbtle meaning 50 niue" tn orc always
+ no them, put l su' n Sssv1tha verv
,al. fore me, ana Inc iasu I~ shall \
lying day spoAe uaA'r' saw that n
sV" Aim. / Intended 10 tell hin, ] was =
ss.ns ! bad 10 eAahcel They pFspsas