The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-09-27
The l)octor'S Dilemma
BY s1esba stretton
-
CHAPTER TX.


toek care not to reach home before
the hour when Julia usually went to bed.
1t was quite vain to think Of sleep that
night. ! had s1oh worked myself up into
that state Of nervous, restless agitation
when one danAot remain quietly In a
room. About one o'clock opened my
door as softly a. possible and stole 81
lShtly downstairs.
Madam wsS ny favorite mare. hrst.
rate at q gallep when she was IN ecoo
temper, but apt to turn vicious now and
then. She wks In coed temper topight
and pylcksa UP het ears AND whinnisd
when ! dplocksd the stable door. In q
few mtnhtsp We we're going up tho
Grange road ct moderate pace till we
reached the open country.
1t was 1 cpel, quiet night In May. A
few Of the larger Axsd stars twinkled
Daiely In the sky, but the smaller ones
were drowned In the full moonlight, !
turned of the road to get nearer the sea.
and rode along sandy lanes, with banks
Of turf instead Of hedge rows, which
were covered thlckly with pale primroses,
shining with the same hue as the moon
above them.
Now and then came in full sight Of
the sea. glittsrias In the silvery light. !
crossed the head Of gorge and stopped
for while to gaze down II, till my hosh
crept. II was not more than few yards
In breadth, but II was Of unknown depth,
and the rocks stood above It with thick,
heavy blacknesS. The tide was rushing
into lta narrow channel with thunder
which throbbed like a pulseI yet In the
intervals Of lite pulsation ] could catch
the thin, prattling tinkle Of brock run
ming merrily down the gorge to plunge
hsadIong into the sea.
!. As the sun rose, Sark looked very near,
and the sea, plain Of silvery blue, seem
ed solid and Arm enough to afford me a
road across to It. A white mist lay Ike
a huge snowdrift In haEy, broad curves
over the Havre Gosselin, with sharp
peaks Of cliffs piercing through. Olivia
Yves sleeping yonder behind that veil Of
shining misti and dear AZ Guernsey was
to me, she was o hundyed-told dearer.
But my nights ride had not made my
days task any easier for me. No new
light had dawned upon my difficulty.
There was no loophole for me to escape
from the most painful and parplexing
strait had ever been In. How was to
break 1t to Julia7 and when? 1t was
quite plain to me that the sooner 1t was
over the better II would be for myself,
and perhaps the better for her, How
was l to go through my mornings calls?
resolved to have II over a. soon as
breakfast was finished. Yet when break.
fast came ! was listening intently for
some summons which would give me an
hours grace from fulfilling my own de-
termination. prolonged my meal, keep
Ing my mother In her place at the table;
for she had never given up her Office OF
pouring out my tea and coffee.
finished at last, and still no urgent
message had come for me. My mother
left us together alone, as her custom
W.. for what time had TO spare-a va
r. Ac quantity always with me.
~ was the dreaded moment But
ho,, was l to begin? Julia was SO calm
and unsuspecting. In what words could
convey my fatal meaning most gently
to herr My head throbbed, and | could
not raise my eyes to her face. Yet 1t
must be done.
"Dear Julia" | said, In as firm voice
as could command.
Yes, Martin
But just then Grace, the housemaid,
knocked emphatically at the door, and
after a due pause entered with a smiling,
significant face, yet with an apologetic
courtesy.
IF you please, DR.. Martini" she said,
"I'm very sorry, but Mrs, Lihou's baby
Is taken with convulsion FITS; and they
want you to go as fast as ever you can,
please. sir"
Was sorry or glad? | could not tell.
1t was reprieYs; but then / knew posi-
lively 1t was nothing more than a re-
prieve. The sentence must be executed.
Julia came to me. bent her cheek towards
me, and ] kissed it. That was our usual
salutation when our mornings interview
was ended.
II am going down to the new house."
she said. II lost a good deal Of time
yesterday, and must make up for 1t
to-day. Shall you be passing by at any
time, Martini"
"Yes-no-I cannot tell exactly" l
stammered.
IF you are passing, come In for a few
minutes" she answered. II have a thou
sand things to speak to you about"
was not overworked that morning.
The convulsions Of Mrs. Lihou's baby
were not at all serious. So had plenty
Of time to call upon Julia at the new
house; but | could not summon suficient
courage. The morning slipped away
whilst was lettering about Fort George,
and chatting carelessly with the officers
quartered there.
| went down reluctantly at length to
the new house; but It was at almost the
last hour. Doggedly, but sick at heart
with myself and all the world, | went
down to meet my doom.
B Julia was sitting alone In the drawing |
room, which overlooked the harbor and |
the group OF Islands across the channel |
There was no fear Of Interruption. 1t |
was an understood thing that at present
only Julia's most Intimate friends had
been admitted into our new house. and
then by special invitation alone.
There was a very happy, very placid !
expression on her face. Every harsh line |
eefheu eoAtSueus ana Pleased smile /
played about her lips. Her dress was
one Al those simple, fresh, clean muslin
gowns, with knots Of ribbon about 1t, |
which make plain woman almost pretty, |
and a pretty woman bewitchlng.
II am very glad you are come, my dear
Martin" she said softly.
l dared not daily another moment. 1 !
must take my plunge at once into the |
icy-cold waters.
II have something OF Importance to say
to you, dear cousin" began.
! sat down on the broad window sill |
instead Of on the chair close to hers. She |
looked up at that, and fixed her eyes up
on me keenly. had often quaIled be-
fore Julia's gaze as a boy, but never as !
did now.
We'll! what is ltT' she asked curtly. |
The ineisiveness Of her tone brought life
into me. as a probe sometimes brings a
patient out OF stupor.
Julia" I said. 'are yeu quite sure you \
1--we ma nnouCh - H. ha,uw .-ftk /