Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-05-17
Ess1uuS,e Blood Invites Disease.
she Mrested herself free.

"Listen!" she gasped. "The woman
is dying. Any commotion will kill her
at once. And l cannot-O!'
Once more the fingers, fierce in a
convolution born of rage, were at her
throat, and the masked face bent
lower.
"You must! You shall-or, by"
The fingers tangled in a chain-a
mere thread of gold. Something fell,
with a mellow clatter to the floor The
man stopped hastily. He picked up
the fallen bauble.
Don't take that" entreated the
nurse. She had fallen back once more.
at is of no value. That is of no in
trinsic value. 1t is mine-only mine.
Give it to mel"
She was white as death, and SILVER
ing, when she hold out piteous, en-
treating hands. She forgot fear in
desire.
But the man was staring stupidity
down upon the medallion in his palm
an ivory medallion upon which was
painted a girls face. How sweet that
face was-how near, reproachful, ten
der, familiar! A lifted young face,
full of love, loyalty, half-fedged cour-
age. And the shyness that was saint
liness-he knew all these.
"Give it to mel" the nurse entreat-
ed. "Give me my little girls picture.
Give it to me- ID is all I have of value
-Bessie's picture"
The man hesitated. He still looked
down on the trihe in his great hand
-motionless, entranced. From with
out sounded O crackle of curses.
81 will CO." the man said, 'ff you
will answer these questions: Where
is this child? Where is her father?
Why are you here"
She put out both hands and felt
blindly for the table behind her.
"She is at the Sacred Heart convent.
She as good. She is beautiful. Her
father left his home long ago in a mis-
taken-a jealous-rage." She paused.
Something in the pose of the great
bulk confronting her-in the echo OF
the voice that had interrogated-made
her nostrils rigid-her lips blue. Il
am here because | must support my
child and myself. That is all"
"Your child" he repeated He was
gazing down on the bright thing in
the hollow of his hand. That face!
The broad brow; the eyes. long-lidded
and long-lashed; the serious sweep OF
hair about the temples-these were
his own. And the mouth-those
square-cut, sensitive lips, with the be-
guiding diflidence that was half au'
dacity-those were hers.
Nora" he began. 1t was his OLD
name for her. Mora"
Cit to work." advised n husky voice
from the outer darkness. "Git tc
work, you bloomin' fool"
The "bloomin' fool" moved nearer tc
the nurse. He had cast aside his dis
guising hat and 'kerchief.
''Nora, you remember how we came
down here to cook post-opera supper
one spring night, after we had come
back from New Orleans? / did not
recognize you at first. Dress-timt
change-many things. All these have
caused natural alterations" 1t was
no longer the intruder who was speak
ing. It was the gentleman-the schol
ar. eve were so afraid of the cook
YOU recollect? And that cOnfoundet
omelette des herbes! We tried to make
il as it was served to us in dim, dark
dear New Orleans. What dinners W.
had in that little, gloomy restaurant
on the Rue Chartresl What prowline
in the French quarter! How you hated
the lazy old mules on Tchoupitoula'
street, Then there were mornings II
Jackson square! And the stroll'
through the French market, and"
There was no installing the fervol
of the curse which came through thu
opened window. But the man fingered
although he had handed back thu
bauble.
"Do you remember" he insisted
Gould I forget?" she counter
queried
The bell rang.
81 am needed" She lifted the pitch
er of whey. She opened the door
"Go!" she said.
He walked to the threshold-ther
paused.
"Will you tell Bessie"
"What?"
Nothing, Nora. Never mind. dear
"You have been gone a long time
nurse" objected the patient, frettuliy
81 am sorry, madam, but the dela'
was unavoidable. Drink this"
She slipped her strong arm unde
the pillow. She directed the waverint
head upon it, She held the cup Wit
firm fingers. But her gaze strayed t
a corner where a crib used to STAN
"A little rose-hung crib, where tn
original of the portrait on the medal
lion-Baby Bessie-had lain!-Chico
go Tribune.