Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-06-27

CrdVeleQ Ddck 10 the tnTee Ian
young girls at home, and he muir
INJURED words to himself which might
have been a prayer.
There" he cried, when the blue
wondering eyes opened-"that is bet
ter; that is right"
He thought Violet, as she sat up
the loveliest girl ne had ever seen
The golden hair had fallen over her
shoulders, and on her beautiful ia re
was the pathetic wonder Of child.
Have I been dead and come back
to life?" she asked, in strangely
startled voice.
NO" replied the doctor; 'it has
not been quite SO bad as that"
Where have | been?" she said. ct
seems to me as though l fell and
died"
There is no coming back from
death" answered DR.. Weald, solemn
ly. you have had very long and
very exhausting fainting fit. You
must be very quiet, and try to regain
your strength.
A fainting-ft! It must have been y
curious one. A soft languor seemed
to overcome her, and she sank back
again upon the pillows.
You will soon be WE'LL" he added,
cheerfully
But the expression of his face was
at variance with his words He
| seemed i'll at ease He bent over his
| beautiful young patient, and then,
! after a few words walked away
hurriedly. He stood for a few
minutes looking from the window,
then returned to her.
He wandered away again. He, the
/ man of wide experience, Of great and
varied knowledge, a man who hal
never made mistake, stood now con-
fused and embarrassed, not knowing
what to say to this girl whose eyes
sought his face so anxiously.
Doctor" she said, in low, weak
voice, lam I going to die?"
81 see no reason for thinking so,'' he
replied.
For a long time now," said Violet,
Il have felt that l was going to lie.
Arc you QulCe sure
Quite sure, humanely speaking"
he replied.
Then I must be very i'll. 1t is long
since I have felt well or strong.
Why do you look at me SOP"
With an impatient hand she pushed
aside the thick waves of golden hair
The soft eyes looked piteously into
his.
Bidding the housekeeper go to pre-
pare something that he ordered, he
drew nearer to his patient, but did not
speak until the woman had disap-
peared and closed the door; then he
bent over her.
"Are you quite yourself?" he asked.
Can you hear and follow my ques-
tons? Can you answer them?"
EYES," she replied. .'
Poor child" he said to himself:
and once more he thought of his fair
young daughters at home.
Why, even when seated by her side
did he pause and hesitate, why in his
heart beg from Heaven that he might
make no mistake, that his skill might
not fail nor his wisdom err?
He seemed strangely reluctant, but
at last raised her white hand and
looked at it earnestly-the left hand
Laying it down again gently, he said
slowly:
You wear no wedding-ring
Her startled face betrayed her, and
told him that she understood. At
his next words she shrunk back with
a faint despairing cry. When he
spoke again, she covered her face with
her hands, and he heard her moan,
What shall I do? What can 1 do?"
eff you will trust me-" he said, Il
will help you"
Il cannot" she gasped. There is
nothing left for me but to die"
'You will not de- said the doctor.
Take heart. There is nothing so
dreadful but that time and patience
will help and overcome it,"
"Is it really true?" she asked. "It
cannot be. l am going to die, and you
tell me this to bewilder me. 1t can
not be true!"
TT is most undoubtedly true" said
the doctor
How blind and mad and foolish
have been!" she cried
Il am right" said the doctor. look
ing at her with penetrating eyes.
mo one could be deceived in a face
like yours. I am right in my
thoughts. You have worn a wedding
ring, and in a fit of either anger or
jealousy you have removed it,
She looked at the white thin hand
have annulled my own marriage"
on which no wedding-ring shone.
You are right" she replied Z
He looked down on her with a
kindly smile.
MY poor child" he said pityingly.
what vain words! You say you have
annulled it, while Heaven has con-
ffrmed it more strongly than ever.
Can you trust me?"
NO." she replied-"not here in this
house, where | begin to believe the
hand of Heaven has brought me. Of
, all places in the world, my lips are
most tightly sealed here"
Still you are sure of the fact that
you are legally formally, and validity
married." he asked
Il am the more sure of it." she an.
swered, because my-my husbands
mother hated me, and tried to set my
marriage aside. When I knew that
: l said to myself that I would annu
} my own marriage; and I have done
: so''