The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-10-21

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the assistant surgeons and nurses had
come, II feel It due to myself to ask
that you repeat before these gentle
men what you said in regard to your
understanding of the risk you run in
undergoing this operation"
II know that may die. but wish to
undergo the operation"
She spoke slowly, with quiet dignity.
There Is no one whom you wish to
zee. no one who should be consulted?"
mo one."
She drew from under her pillow the
letter she had written, and handed it to
DR.. Ellis. when the issue of the op-
Grafton is quite clear, wish you to
open and read this" she said.
She layquietly while they put the ether
mask over her white face, not strug-
Cling against 1t 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 l will bear anything"
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1t was half-past three when breath
less messenger, rushing into Mr.. Wins
lows downtown office, handed him q
note from DR.. Ellis:
Dear Sir: Your wife has lust under
! gone an operation. l have every reason
to hope 1t will be a successful one. The
inclosed note from Mrs. Winslow will ex-
plain to you why have but now made you
aware or what has been done. Very sin
cerely yours, j. HOWE ELLIS"
lHe other note read thus:
Dear DR.. Ellis: have not told YOU my
real name, for l did not wish my hus-
band to have the pain and anxiety of an
ticipatng this operation nor the suffering
OF seeing me suffer 1t: and / thought that
II You knew had husband you would be
likely TO object to taking so mugh respon-
sbility without having him to share it.
j all goes well you need only send him the
lnCIOScd note. Ii | should de-tcll him
gently. MARY WINSL LOW,"
"My Darling Husband: You have been
so good. so tender. SO true to me, and you
nave made me SO happy always, that |
naNc 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 20 serve,
a
great deal of pain
when you get this my love, my hearts
dear. dear love, ! shall be quite through
with very bad operation, which has
been hanging over me for months.
knew must undergo 1t or die, and yet 1t
was so sweet at home l could not come in
here before: but the doctor said / could
not wait any longer, so ! came in to-day
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 able,
At the side of the bed where Mary
lay, another doctor and another white
capped nurse stood watching for the
first signs of her returning conscious
ness. She lay heavily and with mus
cles relaxed, with closed eyes, breath
Ing laboriously, and white as tho linen
on her bed.
David pushed open the door with I'M
steady hand, and came across the room
to the bed. Without word he dropped
on his knees in a grief-stricken heap at
The bedside.
DR.. Ellis put his hand on his shoul-
der, and he looked up, with anguish
laden eyes, that pitifully pleaded for
word of hope.
"She will do WE'LL" said the doctor, in !
n CHEEKY whisper. "Thc operation was
u success far beyond our expectations. |
But it is important for her to come
out of the ether quietly. Don't you
think, Mr.. Winslow, it would be good .
plan for you to stand here at the foot
Of the bed, where she can see you when !
she first opens her eyes? Then she will .
forget entirely all the pain of her sep /
aration from you, and everything will !
he quite nice and comfortable"
David rose, dumbly obedicnt, and .
stood where the doctor directed, de-
,ouring with his eyes the pale, beauti-
full face lying amid the thick brown
brads.
Vow, Mrs. Winslow, is the pillow
* III ash'u III. I.IIlS, Trying 10 .
rouse her. won't you let me try to
raise you up little?"
1t seemed hours to David before
Mary, with a deep sigh, lifted her heavy
white lids. A moment her half-con- p
scious eyes rested on the doctor, who
was speaking to her, and then she
looked at David. She tried to make /
the nerveless lips move--failed once,
and then slowly, painfully, she said: ,
Darling, love you." I
"She's all right now" said DR.. Ellis. I!
IN a tone of relief.
In few moments all the doctors had ,
gone, leaving David and nurse to
watch Mary.
"She's doing splendidly now, sir"
said the nurse, moved by the trouble in
David's face to speak to him. "There
is not a bit more danger"
But David did not believe that. The
shadow of the terrible possibility of his
wife's dying had fallen across his heart,
and it would take more than words to !
lift it.
As the doctors went down the steps