The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-07-21

she hal never harmed living creature
snr world gladly free them of her pres
e"ce, ana more canting talk like this
which did nothing 10 heal Rebecca's
sore heart.
As a matter Of fact, the old lacy held
onto life with tenacious grasp and
llVed hNe more years of helpless in.
yalidism, selfish 10 the last.
When al last Rebecca was free she
hesitaied about recalling Dick. whom
she still fondly loved. What if he had
married since he had left her; men
were inconstant by nature, she argued.
let the remembrance OF Dicks face
and his words as he badr her guod-by
forced her 10 believe ia his constancy.
Another doubt assaulted her She had
changed during five years attendance
IN the sickroom. and had lost much o.
her girlish charm; perhaps he would
not care for her.
Finally her love conquered. and she
wrote him letter which would have
brought him, happy, eager lover. to
her side. But ia some unaccounfable
way the letter was lost ia transit. Dick
never received the message calling him
back 10 Hebecca. and she supposed, as
he did not return, that he spurned the
love she offered. Naturally she was al
most hcartbroken, lost her faith in man
and never wrote again. lie. on his part
receiving no word after the death OF
Mrs. Stoner, supposed Rcbecca's love
had cooled. and rallied al the incon.
stancy Of woman. But he never wrote
even to upbraid her. Years passed and
he finally returned 10 live in his old
home, but, though he and Rebecca
passed each other daily, there was never
speech between them. They were now
middle-aged and each lived alone.
One night Rebecca in restless
mood started out for walk She had
gone as far as Dick Waldron's cottage
when she thought She heard groan
She stopped then, with fast-beating
heart, ran up 10 the door and listened
The groan was repeated, and. hesitat.
ing no longer, She pushed open the door
and entered. Almost on She threshold
she stumbled over his PROSTATE form
In moment she was on her knees and
lifted his head upon her breast
Dick. my darling. are you hurt?"
she whispered. passionately kissing his
closed eyes and rubbing his cold hands.
Aroused by her words. he struggled 10
rise, but fell back. But he knew her
Nh. Rebecca, Nou have been cruel 10
me-" he murmured. Then, almost I'M
der his breath. he said:
when pain and anguish wiring the
brow, ministering angel thou"
II fell and broke my leg and crawlcd
to the door for help" he began 10 eN
plain. but tainted away.
When Richard Waldron recovered
consciousness he found The doctor be
side him instead Of Rebecca. Miss
Stoner saved your life, ! firmly believe
the doctor said.
Il know she did echoed Dick. But
he meant something the doctor could
not understand.
The next day Rebecca received an
urgent note from her old lover begging
her 10 come TO him. She could not re
be dying. When she saw him. pale and
suffering. but smiling gladly because
she had come. the sharp eyes sofiened
and the hard lines about her mouth
seemed To disappear. and her heart
beat with a Wild hope that after all
neNy day Of happiness was about 10
dawn for her
All that had seemed 50 incompre-
hensible TO them was now cleared up.
the missing letter was never
traced. and the village people were
shocked the next day 10 learn that Re
becca had married Dick Naldron when
he was sick in bed. Took advantage of
his helpless situation" some openly de-
clared. Others dcrided. but some SYM
pathizcd.
Rebecca heard this statement. but she
did not care Dick had begged her TO
marry him at once. and She fel, She
owed it 10 him--as well as To herself
70 comply. and 20 she nursed him back
70 life and the happiness they came 50
near missing. and il was siili sweet. al
though it came SO late. Chicago Times
Herald.