Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-11-01
Administering the medicine. Helen
seated herself in low chair by his

4 Administering the medicine, Hele,
seated herself in a low chair by hf'
side.
. Mr.. Reynolds was better. Andrew
told her. The physicians said there
was no present danger. IL he were KEEP,
quite free from excitement Of any kind
The news of Mr.. Harry's illness had
been carefully concealed from him
during the day. The physicians had
pretended that they could allow him
to see no one.
She listened silently to the news the
old servant brought.
Ordering dinner served in her OWL
room. she forced herself, when it was
brought, to swallow a few mouthfuls
of food and take glass of wine.
1t was past eight o'clock when the
service was cleared away, and the doc
tor had not yet returned. 1t would not
do to be absent at the time of his Wis
it: land vet, at nine o'clock she must
again confront the living spectre of her
past. .ar
She started She had forgotten that
she must have ready for him the sum
he had required of her.
She went to her purse. It contained
but twenty dollars. She examined her
| husbands clothes. The pockets held
forty more. She, still lacked forty of
the needed sum.
| Well. this must satisfy him for to-
night. Tomorrow she would send him
what she now lacked. Tomorrow!
Oh. if tomorrow were to-day! If this
terrible temptation which assailed her
in ali the might of it's silence and it's
horror were dispeiled by the light of
another day!
| Another half-hour passed.
| Would the doctor never come? Yes!
| A knock sounded on the door.
| She rose and admitted him for whom
| she had so anxiously waited. He en-
| tered with many apologies for his en-
forced delay.
He found his patient improving, he
said. Doubtless by tomorrow his
youth and splendid strength would
| have reasserted themselves. Already
his eyes showed that his brain was re-
| covering it's normal condition.
! But his examination was close and
| long.
| Helen almost shrielSed to him to go
| and leave her to herself as the hands
of the clock moved toward nine.
If she did not meet Tom Window at
the appointed time and place. what
action might he not take?
| Later she might defy him, but just
| now each minute was more precious
| than gold.
| The hour struck when at last DR..
Hope turned toward her. His keen,
| professional eye noted her pallor, and
the excitement visible in every fea
ture. i
He bent and let his fingers meet at
her wrist. Her pulse was beating high.
"Take care, Mrs. Reynolds" said.
warningly, "or yous will be my next
patient. You must not let anxiety for
your, husband take this phase. He is
doing better than I dared hope. A lit
tie care and nursing, and he will be
himself again. Cannot some one take
your place tonight? You are too
nervous and overstrung."
| I would trust no one else" she an
| swered.
II will call early in the morning,
! then. Good-nightH'
Good night" she answered, me-
| chanically.
| The door opened and closed. He was
gone. She listened to the sound Of his
l
ed to those of Grace. She waited un-
til all was still.
| The hands of the clock showed ten
more minutes gone. Catching up a
cloak, she threw it about her and hast
ened down the stairs.
Grace met her in the lower hall.
"Helen!" she cried. "Is Harry
worse?"
"No. But must have air." she an
swered. II am going into the garden"
And with the last words mingled the
sound of the closing of the front door.
Once more, with hurrying feet, she
went to meet the man whose word was
her only law. Rebel as she would, her
rebellion was as hopeless as that of
the slave to his master.
He but fastened tighter her chains,
and she dragged them more hopelessly
and more heavily than before. But
strike off the letters he had forged.
Had not Harry said:
eff you were but free!"
She reached the place appointed. All
was still and deserted.
She softly called his name. No an
swer came. Pacing to and fro, she
waited. s
Five. ten fifteen minutes passed;
but no football broke the stiffness, no
sound announced her waiting at an
end.
Had he come? Had he gone?
Vain the questions, save to offer
fresh torture to her mind.
A half-hour went by, and she knew
that she need wait no longer. What
ever his failure to meet her betokened,
he would not come now.
Retracing her steps, she FASTENED
homeward. AS she reached the door
she paused.
Better, perhaps, to turn and flee into
the darkness than to enter that house
tonight.
Her brain seemed on fire; every
pulse was surging and throbbing. Her
hands and feet We're cold as ice.
But her hesitation lasted only for
the moment. She turned her key in
the lock and entered, closing the door
noiselessly behind her, and quietly
stealing her way up the stairs.