Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-12-07

stealing over her.
I'm very sorry. It's not visitiu9
time. you know: and ! got into trouble
last week for admitting a visitor like
this. ! really am sorry, Try tomor-
row."
Tomorrow! lie might be dead by
then. Now. now was the time. Hav-
Ing come SO far. she must attain her
end: perhaps tomorrow she would not
bo able to screw up her courage.
rs NO one admitted-not their near.
est reiations-when they are SO Ill?
II is very cruel" she said.
well. perhaps his mother might be.
or his wife"
Marguerite was past sticking At tri-
nes now.
u am his wife" she said.
Are your" returned the nurse. II
thought his wife was dead"
why should you think that?" asked
Marguerite.
'B,carse he's got a wedding ring
suspended from his neck by piece OF
ribbon"
"oh. ycs!" Marguerite s,ammered. 81
know-that Is all right. But indeed /
am bis wife! oh. let me in!'
The nurse was conquered, and re-
qucsted Marguerite to follow her.
Now that her point was gained Mar
kuerite was nlled with all sorts Of fears
and was sh!verins and trembling as
sha followed her suIde-now wishing
from the bottom Of her heart that she
had not come. now utterly carried
away by the thought OF seeing him
again. She dared not ask tho nurse
any questions as TO his coudition-she
could not trust her voice.
They reached the door OF the private
room he occupied.
Nov walt here a moment" said
the nurse. rs she passed inside.
Again the suspense was almost sick
cninE. II seemed to Marguerite hours
before the nurse returned.
Its all right. You can 10 in," she
said:
For the nrs, time Marguerite won.
dered what she should do.
rs he dclirlous?" she asked Of the
nurse.
"oh. no: he's perfectly sensIblc.'
Marguerite had expected deiirIum-
she had not realized the fact that Val.
dane would know her. and now fcl,
herself tremble until she called forth
all her strength. physical and moral,
and walked steadily and noIsclcssly
into the room.
There was slight movement n
Valdane sank back upon his pillows.
MY WIFE" he said. In a rather low.
but distinct vo!cc-"my wife. could
not believe 1t. But II Is you-really
YOU"
The flowers fell from her hands. She
made n step forward. and tried 10
speak. but could not, for the tears
which overran ner eyes and fell down
her face. He had held out his hand
and she took It, held It for a momeu,
between her own. and then impulsIye.
ly carried It TO her lips.
Take care" said vaidane. gently,
DO nothing you will regret asterward,
You think I am dying. and I hoped /
was: but they tell me now that am
to live and be sound again. so let u.
have nothing that you wish recalled. .'
"You will live-you Will? All. how
thankful I ami"
Thankful" he echoed.
"Yes. thankful-so thankful for ev-
crything! First, that you married
me. then that Bernard threw me over.
then that I happened to come to Lon
don yesterday. and last that l came
here. with you-with you'll"
And you said you were my wife
you told the nurse you were my wife. {"
he said slowly. his eyes fixed long
ingly upon her face. Marguerite, my
life. my love. did you mean that?'
There was a long silence. At last
she said:
"Yes, l meant It."
The bed was strewn with fragrant
flowers. A shaft Of spring sunlight
streaming through the tall window
rested on the two heads.
"Tal." Gbe whispered. "val." we
must never be parted any more"
(The End.)