The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-06-04
NUMBER %,

will not trust my life in the hands OF
my heir and my rival in love-
L started back as if ne had struck me
a blow. Before heaven. | could swear
that my possible heirship had never
crossed my mind, and l had never
thought To try To win Leonie. once
knew her love was given elsewhe |
could not speak, but l 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 went to my uncle. and.
though he had clunS To me in those bit
ter days of mourning, | asked for the
first time TO 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
ii rested. | entered the room alone, and
stood intently looking down upon the
still. cold face of my rival
Dead, His words came back 10 me- as
l looked at him. | was my uncle's heir.
l might Yet hope in the future TO win
Lsonie.
Suddenly the blood rushed to nv
heart, almost suffocating me: nv hands
grew cold, my legs shook under me Nv
eyes, fixed upon Sidney Gres hams face.
grew dim, and l should have fallen had
not grasPed the bed for support
For, with my professional instincts
ever on the alert, | saw that nv cousin
was not dead. 1t was a case of SUSPEND
a
One moment the memory of the DIV
ing mans hatred and suspicion tugg.-i
at my heart; one moment a fierce
temptation seemed tearing me in two.
and then. Heaven be thanked. | was
myself again.
Gently l 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 d con
sciousness of his surroundings. but
though | staggered under his weight. I
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 1 knew had not
been deceived. Alone, unaide,i. ap-
piled sure remedies, till pulSation re-
turned To the numbesl heart. color To the.
Pallid lips, breath TO the paralvzed
lungs
Then, when the wondering ewes
opened, i gave a powerful opiate
watched till il took effect, and, leav-
ing my patient in a profound slumber
went downstairs. | found nv uncle in
the pathetic apathy grief had made
habitual in those three dreadful DAYS
and / said. gently:
Uncle, you have doubted nv 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 viii come hack
t. me. I have wroneed you. but You
will not desert me now"
you have wronged me-" answered.
land | have come to prove To you my
love and my gratitude have come 10
restore To you"
The aged face was lifted quickly.
while a Pallor like death. breathleSs
eagerness, warned me to speak quickly
Come" | said. And | led him gen
tly. Yet quickly, 10 the bed where his
son lay, sleeping. l checked the cry
upon has lips by Whispering:
DO not waken him. This sleep i his
very life"
Not dead" he whispered. shaking
like one in an sgue-'not dead? Sid
ney. my som"
Not dead" l answered, nor diving.
He Viii recover, unclei''
And you have given him his Iife.
You, whom he almost accused of wish
ing to murder h!m,''
He was mistaken" l said. quietly
Now, viii you watch him while l send
DR. FarneH here?''
"Hes-yes, And YOU viii have
those things taken away?" and he
pointed to the room where the csfiin lay
Il viii do all,"
Nobody quite understood but the old
doctor. He did. and gave me one hand
grasp that seems ever To linger in my
palm when | think of that day Of cN-
Citement.
Sidney Gresham had the grace to drop
his active animosity towards me-to
let my unc!e keep his affection for me.
and, when he died. remember me in his
will. But he never cordially liked me
physician at Gresham Place. and nv
life of sorrowful loneliness took the
added pang of knowing Leonie's pre-
cious gift of love never met full return
She has never complained. bearing
patiently the sorrows of a neglected
wife, the hours of loneliness even her
children cannot fill " hen her husband Is
seeking pleasure for weeks ,ogethe in
the city. But she = pale and sad now
the woman l loved and would have
guarded from sorrow with my hearts
blood.
We have been good friends. and l
think when the iscurable enemy | have
carried IN secret for years wringS out
Hiy life in little time now. that Leonie
Will drop a tear upon my dead face
though no love. no duty. can snatch me
back from the grave to which [ am
hastening.-N. Y. Ledger
Court Proceedings.
\ judges little daughter who had at
tended her fathers court for the first
time was very much interested in the
proceedings. After her return home
she told her mother: Papa made =
speech and several other men made
speeches to - men who sat all together,
and then these II men were put I'm a
dark chamber To be developed Pitts
burgh Chronicle
Not Feasible.
isn't this delightful?" said she
1T is said he, from the rear of the
tandem. why should We not go
through life this way2"