Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-07-10
His First Love.
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tient in my life" he said II have just
been telling Mrs. Helstone that should
like some one else TO see her. She has
got into the most unaccountably de-
pressed state. / can't understand it. for
my own part; but unless she can be got
out of it again, tell you plainly she will
go off into a decline, and if she does that
she won't live through the winter"
They were standing at the hall door as
they talked together. A minute after
ward the doctor went out TO his carriage,
and, without any cause, Godfrey turned
round and went again upstairs. The man
who walks to the lannon's mouth will
sometimes perform that act with less
emotion than he has felt over some Of the
trivial incidents of life; and so, in like
manner, poor Godfrey Helstone went TO
his lannon's mouth at last simply and
quietly, with hardly quickening in the
beating of his pulse. He was conscious
that the end had come. but for the mo-
ment it scarcely moved him. He was
thinking almost wholly of Margaret
hardly of himself at all-hardly, at first,
even of jeanne.
He went into Mrs Helstone's morning
room. where his cousin was lying, and
sat down beside her, and exerted himself
to talk to her. As be talked she bright
ened. Presently, looking into Ger face,
he told her that she was grieving them
all.
I'VE want you to get well, and you
don't get WE'LL he said. what is there
more that we can do for your" And
then he paused for moment or two, Just
long enough to see the quiver that came
to her lips, and after that pause he
added, ''Sball help to nurse you again -
''Oh. | couldn't ask YOU" she said.
timidly 1T would be too much trouble y
1T would be no trouble" he answered,
''if you would care for it. Nothing
could be a trouble that would make you
we'll" And then, without saying any
thing more, he remained with her.
1t was curious TO watch the change
that eve ma few days of happiness made
in Margaret
''Heydey, this is something newt DR..
Carson exclaimed, with almost a chuekle
of glee, when, twenty-four hours after
he had left her looking as if her life were
ebbing away, he came back to see the
white face meet him with a smile of WEI
come. He felt her pulse; he nodded his
head with satisfaction; he sat by her side
and scrutinized her.
You are better" he said; mot a doubt
about it. Why, you are wonderfully bet
ter. Come, come, this is as good as can
be-" And he spoke presently to Mrs
Helstone, and congratulated her heartily.
"She is another creature this morning"
he said. What have you managed to do
to herr"
Il think something happened yester-
day" Mrs. Helstone answered, with just
the suspicion of a smile upon her lips;
and then DIR. Carson laughed, and rubbed
his hands
"Ah, the very thing | thoughti' he ex-
claimed Didn't l tell you it was men
tai depression? What she wanted was
something to give her flip. Let her be
happy: only make her happy, and keep
her so, and you needn't have a fear for
her"
SO when the doctor was gone, Mrs.
Helstone told her son that his sole pre-
scription for his patient was that she
should be kept happy; and Godfrey took
his burden on his back, and did the work
he had made up his mind to do.
After week she had rallied enough
for them to begin to talk again about try
ing a change of air for her; but at first,
when they spoke of this in her hearing.
she looked as if the thought of it did not
make her glad.
Need | go anywhere?" she said visit
fully.
why should you object to go?' God
frey asked her. do you not like the
sea?"
"Oh, yes" she said; "but-" and then
she hesitated and broke off; but her eyes
had timidly asked question that he I'M
derstood, though at the moment he made
no answer to it.
Later in the day, when they were alone
together, he said to her again: why is
il that you are unwilling to go away? 1t
would be good for yon; you ought to 60
you know. l viii go with you, if that
will make. you care more for it.
"Oh, will you:" She exclaimed, quick
ly, and he saw how in a moment her face
frightened. Il did not know that you
meant to come, she said shyly
And now that you do know, does that
make a differenceg" he asked. Il will
take you, of course" he said after mo-
ment or two; aud then, with half-laugh:
Have | not undertaken to get you well?
You are doing me some credit so far, l
think"
Il ought to do you credit, if can, for
you have been so good to me, she an
swered gratefully.
Il have not been very good TO you,' he
I l.
and better"
She did not understand the tone in
which he spoke, but it was not the first
time that his manner or his words had
puzzled her. She only said quickly: mo
one was ever so kind" with a CULVER in
her voice.
He looked at her for moment, but he
did not so on looking at her With a
pain like stab the sudden thought flash
ed over him of the other woman to whom
ne had hoped to say what his cruel for
tune was forcing from his lips now to
Margaret, and the anguish of it almost
broke him down. For a second or two
the words hung on his tongue, and he
could not utter them. And she, poor girl,
in her agitated happiness, thought that
his hesitation was only the natural hest
tstion OF a lover. half afraid to ask for
what he wishes most TO have.
Il think we ought TO know what we are
to be TO enc another presently. Are we
to come nearer together. dear? 1t is for
you 10 decide" he said.
She looked up at him with a flush com
ing into her fave. She seemed uncon-
seiouS OF his coldneSs.
''oh, am so content already" she
said softly. with a CULVER of happiness in
her voice, buff you wish it.
How could she have any suspicion that
he did not wish it. or that these moments.
which were so sweet to her. had proved
To be TO him the hardest moments OF his
life?
CHAPTER Nj
Margaret improved SO rapidly. through
her newly gained happineSS. that in