Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-07

Even his shrunken nerves thrilled AZ
the wordl
He hunted everywhere for that face
two faees-for the girl with her sedatc
look and childish voice was always
with the old man In this thought. ale
described the village IN his vision.
with its pretty church. the bufying
ground. the cottage--over and ove~
again. to aequaintsaceS and strangers,
wherever he was, whomeVer he met.
this avs the one theme Of his coIyer-
satien.
lie visited the hospitals and police
courts. and made long journeys into
the country. If, by any means, he
heard OF any place which was likely 10
prove the one he sought. OF he posted
riding day and night until ho came 10
il, only to meet with failure. And yet
he did not despair. He read al the
books of travel he could lay his hands
on studied maps and directories, peered
into faces on the street, searching.
searching everywhere and always.
One day an Old man tainted ON the
streets, and a young girl, his companion.
took his head in her arms and ordered
everybody away, fought the officers
when they lifted him into the amhu-
lance and sat by his side continually in
the hospital where he was taken. trust
ing 90 no one but herself even TO mois-
ten his lips. He lay In one of the mar
row births of dimly lighted ward,
when Dir. Moulton came In. Over the
pillow ran his long grizzled locks. His
face was drawn and the fire of the
sunken eyes was In hiding under the
still lids. The girl, looking up at Dr.,
Moultons approach, seemed to recog'
nize him. Her small black eyes flashed
from his face to the face of her COM
panion and back again. There was a
command in the glance.
Into the heart of Doctor Moulton
came a hope that set his blood ON
fire. At last the man was found. Fate
had brought them together "Ah! kind
| fate, sweet fatel' he cried under his
breath, and set To work us his skill
| directed 70 keep in life that wasted
form. lie worked as he had never
worked before. There must be no mis-
take here. no delay. The action of ev-
cry drug upon the nerves must be noted
accurately Not a pulse iiuctuation
must escape him; not a change of tenn
peratare in this precious blood. And
so they sat there. one on either side OF
the bed, these two-a quiet girl with
q mature face. and learned man with
his nerves strained to their highest ten
sion the meagre form between them.
Hour after hour they watched. until
at last the pale lids lifted under the
| shaggy brows and the eyes that Moul-
| ton knew so we'll famed into his own.
| There was recognition In them. too.
/ The drawn lips moved convulsively-
! the secret-he was to have 1t at last
| Doctor Moulton laid his ear to the
mouth that held so much for him
| There was faint lisp, gurgle and
! then-silence. Doctor Moulton sprane
| to his feet, snatched down the curtain
from the window and gnzed keenly
into the face of his patient The eyes
| had closed again, the features had fall
Ell into peaceful lines, the face was
calm, immoyablee. He tore aside the
shirt and placed his ear over the heart
"a moment of hreathless stiffness, and
| then Doctor Moulton stood up TO HIS full
height, and threw his arms above his
head,
Tile man is dead" he shrleked, and
! fell senseless across the body.
III.
| In a small village in Western State
| livas to-day man prematurely old and
! quiet young girl with raven black
/ hair which she wears combed straight
| back from her forehead and tied in a
| knot at her neck. Their home is a lit
tie college on a hill just outside the
/ town. Ii Is in the midst Of grove OF
naples. behind quaint old fashioned
church with slender spire and painted
windows. The careless villagers take
little note of their existence. When the
weather is fine she leads him forth TO
the quiet churchyard. There In rustic
seat beside two well kept mounds, he
sits for hours. What are his thoughts
no one may know. When the shadows
lengthen she comes to lead him home
They go along the winding path their
dual steps have widened AS they reach
the edge of the grove, he fingers and
turns half round as IL loath to leave
the place. The setting sun falls on mis-
smooth hair, which shines like polished
ebony. 1t lights up, too---the furrowed
lace Of the man.
IF only he could have told" MFR
murs the trembling lips, "if only he
could have told!"