The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-06

" refused 70 take IL. She had never
SEEMED 10 realize her dangerous condition
any more than her dead mother had sson.
years age. But now. with the gaye<t u
laughs and 3 mutinous toss OF the head.
she chose to make a novel declaration
/ don't really think that In, half as III
as papa and the doctors have probably
imagined" Her father and Oliver and
Isabel We're all present. and she sat shawl
Wrapped II their midst near A big blar-
ing wood-fire. .'r shouldn't BE- SURPRISED
II got perfectly well in month or two
more Anyway, I'm going TO Try. I'm
going to try very hard for all your sakess'
And she ended her words with the blith-
est Of silvery laughs
Somehow. in another moment. the eyes
Of Stafford and Oliver met For the first
time thriilsngly joyous doubt passed
through the mind of the young invafds
father. But simultaneously came TO him
sense OF being taxed, arraigned. even
accused by the man whose compassionate
masquerade he had designed and effected
Good Heavens, Stafford later found
himself rejecting What a complication
y my darling should indeed recover
By the end OF October Grace gave every
sign OF it. One afternoon Stafford held
par.ey with the regular attendant physi-
clan. And this. 10 his mingled delight and
CONSERVATION. was what DR.. Nnseland
said 10 him.:
Tuberculosis beyond all question had
begun certain inroads. But in the history
of this disease. as In the history of nearly
every other. marveis occasionally hap
pen"
Then you think. Doctor" gasped Stat
ford. that the dear girl win really get
weii?"
In weeks time I Will give that qaes-
ton a decisive answer"
Bat in a weeks time Stafford did not
require one. He saw quite too plainly for
himself. His modification was now as
great as his delight. one was indeed the
measure of the other. And yet he seemed,
10 be breathing an atmosphere OF the most
horrible fslsity and hypocrisy. He waited
for Cliver,s visits to begin falling OFF.
That they continued frequent as before
filled him with gratitude, while not at all
assuaSing his despair. There were mo-
E meHts when he felt like shouting with
ironic laughter There were moments
when he could have shed torrents of tears
OF course. Oliver would speak with him
privately in a little while. When he was
alone every knock at the door, every
vaguest sound pierced him with appre-
heHsioa. And If the young mans with-
drawal should mean a relapse for Grace.
What agony OF regret would follow such
an event. Ali, better then. If she had died
again by the blow of new and still fiercer
disappointment.
II can't write-Tm out of sorts-the
mood doesn't serve me any longer" he
said to Isabel one morning. at the hour
when their work had usually begun.
ITS too bad" she answered. Her reply
struck him as most hfelessIy unsympa-
thetic. We've got on so i'll. you know"
she added, for some time past
Yes" he murmured, and waited for her
to speak further. But she remained ST.
lent, glancing at some books of reference
from which he had asked her to take GER
tain notes. Her head was bowed and
presently he saw her begin to sharpen a
pencil. afterward posing IL over a sheet
of paper with side glances at one of the
open books near by. What odious change
has come over Isabel?' he neditated
wrerchedly. and rose. passing from the
library.
Latter November had now arrived but
with IL no snow. and that opaiine sort of
sunshine which cheers the roseless days
that precede wintry rigors. Stafford
strolled into grove of trees. but a stone
throw from the house, and stood there,
staring up at the dark lace-like intersec-
tons of their deuuded boughs against the
sleepy azure of the heavens. In all his
life ne had never felt more Respondent,