Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-08-26

she said, quickly, as she saw his face
and movement. HAS the doctor found
you worse?''
No" Erfest0n turned back and flung
himself into his easy-chair again. Clare
| came to his side and knelt down, stir
red and anxious Could he possibly
have had some bad news from Digby?
NO" repeated Wilfred slowly, still
struggling for complete self-control
He says that In about a Month shall
be able. as he puts it, to do without
YOU"
A blow falls none the less heavily
because it is, to some extent. expected,
and the woman's very heart sank like
lead, even while she forced herself in
| the sheer terror of self-betrayal to an
swer brightly:
"Oh, but that is good news indeed
It means that you have gained beyond
all expectation, and of course. you will
not need-you do not want nurse"
That broke down the mans last
shred of control. He lifted himself
and caught her hands, keeping her
| where she knelt, startled, breathless.
NO, but / want vou," he said, pas
sionately 81 want you for always
for life! my darling. my love. Don't
leave me alone, Clare!"
'Wilfred!'
there was a dazzling mist before
her, and she was quivering from head
to foot as the one name, half-breath-
less. fell from her lips, and then in
stantly she was wrapped to her lovers
heart, and his lips were on hers, taking
their fill of exquisite rapture. There
was neither time nor space, nor other
world, but just themselves who loved
Presently Glare stirred and Erleston
loosed his clasp little.
Sweetheart, you will have to forgive
me, you know he said. tenderly. Il
mad no right to speak yet whilst you
were here, but-well / suppose / am
not yet strong enough to be quite mas
ter of myself, and LIE doctors words
rather threw me off my guard. Will
you forgiven"
If there be anything to forgive, yes,
a thousand times" Clare said. half
archly. But her eyes dropped under
her lovers gaze and her soft cheek
flushed He smiled wickedly.
MY beautiful Clare. How could /
help loving you from the first, though
l scarcely knew or recognized it till
little later. And then-the agony OF
it all, believing what l did. o Clare"
He covered his eyes, shivering.
Hush, dearest!" The soft hand stole
to his, drew it into hers caressingly.
half the tender nurse, wholly the wo-
man who loved him. You must not
recall all that miserable past. Only
think-live in the present and the fu-
ture Promise your Clare to try
Seal the promise, then, sweetheart
wife"
He bent down to her smiling. She
kissed his lips.
But Dr. Faber chose to call the next
morning before luncheon time, and
found patient and nurse walking up
and down the wide, long terrace. One
keen, interrogatory look at Erlston as
he came up and the young mans an
swering smile were enough for the doc
tor.
"Ah, my children" said he, shaking
hands even more warmly than usual,
Just as | thought, see; and | suppose.
Mr.. Will, you expect the old doctor is
to congratulate your"
I'm afraid / do, doctor, please; l
don't know about Clare-Tm rather a
bad bargain" glancing quizzically
down on the face that would have
witched far less impressionable man
than himself. I'm a handful, Ell,
sweetheart"
Clare laughed, and shook her head.
Not to me, Mr.. Audacity; you will
be meek as Moses; won't he, DR.. Fa-
ber?"
"Of course, my dear; woman can
twist most of us men round her fingers
especially woman like Clare Sa-
vile"
She swept him superb obeisance.
Erlston laughed outright
''Oh. no, doctor. l shall be jealous
Of such compliments and pretty speech
es. Clare, you are wicked firt, I'm
afraid I'm shocked"
Does your brother know YETI" ask
ed Faber, patting Clare's shoulder as
if she were a pet child-so she was to
him.
Il have told him this morning" said
Wilfred. "He says it is exactly what
he and Flo wished for, dear old fellow.
left him to tell Flora everything now,
except that Glare discovered the flaw"
he added, with a change OF manner.
Her discretion-Flo's, You know-can-
not be trusted"