Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-10-01
The Doctors dilemma
BY Hesba Stretton
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
took care not to reach home before
the hour when Julia usually went to bed.
It was quite vain to think of sleep that
night. l had soon worked myself up into
that state of nervous, restless agitation
when one cannot remain quietly in
room. About one o'clock l opened my
door as softly as possible and stole 81
lently downstairs.
Madam was my favOrite mare, first
rate at a gallop when she was in good
temper, but apt to turn vicious now and
then. She was in good temper tonight
and pricked up her ears and whinnied
when l unlocked the stable door. In
few minutes we were going up the
Grange road at moderate pace till we
reached the open country.
1t was cool, quiet night in May. A
few of the larger fixed stars .twinkled
palely in the sky, but the smaller ones
were drowned in the full moonlight. l
turned off the road to get nearer the sea.
and rode along sandy lanes, with banks
were covered thickly with pale primroses.
shining with the same hue as the moon
above them.
NOW anu IQeu Cume III lull Sl6hI VI
the sea, glittering in the silyery light. l
i. crossed the head Of a gorge, and stopped
for q while to gaze down it, till my flesh
crept. 1t was not more than few yards
In breadth, but it was of unknown depth,
and the rocks stood above it with thick,
heavy blackness. The tide was rushing
into It's narrow channel with thunder
which throbbed like a pulse; yet in the
intervals fits pulsation l could catch
the thin, prattling tinkle Of brook run
ming merrily down the gorge to plunge
1 headlong into the sea.
As the sun rose, Sark looked very near,
and the sea, plain of silvery blue, SEEM
ed solid and firm enough to afford me a
i road across to it. A white mist lay like
q huge snowdrift in hazy, broad curves
over the Havre Gosselin, with sharp
peaks Of cliffs piercing through. Olivia
was sleeping yonder behind that veil of
shining mist; and dear as Guernsey was
to me, she was hundred-fold 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 perplexing
strait had ever been in. How was l to
break it to Julia? and when? 1t was
quite plain to me that the sooner it was
over the better it would be for myself,
and perhaps the better for her. How
was l to 60 through my mornings calls
resolved to have it over as soon as
breakfast was finished. Yet when break.
fast came / was listening intently fol
some summons which would give me ar
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
was, for what time had to spare-a va
riable quantity always with me.
Now was the dreaded moment. Bu
how was to begin? Julia was so calm
and unsuspecting. In what words coulc
/ convey my fatal meaning most gently
to herr My head throbbed, and coult
> not raise my eyes to her face. Yet i
must be done.
dear Julia" / said, in as firm voic,
as I could command.
Eyes, Martin"
knocked emphatieally at the door, ant
after due pause entered with smiling
significant face, yet with an apologeti,
courtesy.
"If you please, DR.. Martin" she said
"I'm very sorry, but Mrs. Lihou's bab!
Is taken with conyulsion fits; and the.
want you to go as fast as ever you can
please, sir" --------
Was / sorry or glad? l could not tell
Mwas areprieve; but then knew posi-
lively it was nothing more than a re
: .prieves The. sentence must be executed
Julia came to me, bent her cheek toward
me, and 1 kissed it. That was our usua
!, ;salutation when our mornings interview
was ended.
81 am going down to the new house,
s~-sfes said.~a-sI'adost- good deal of tim
yesterday, and l must make up for
to-day. Shall you be passing by at an
time, Martini Ia. :
SO Yes mol cannot tell exactly"
stammered. -
IF you are passing, come in: for a fey
minutes" she answered; II have a thou
sand things to speak to you about"
/ was not overworked that morning
e The commissions Of Mrs Lihou's bab
were not at all serious So had plent
OF time to call upon Julia at the ne,
house; but could not summon sufhcien
courage. The morning slipped ava
= = whilst was lettering about Fort George
and chatting carelessly with the officer
Quartered there.
went down reluctantly at length t
:. the new house: but it was at almost tn
Il, last hour. Doggedly, but sick at heal
IA
down to meet my doom.
Julia. was sitting alone in the drawin
room, which overlooked the harbor an
the group Of islands across the channe
There was no fear of interruption.
was an understood thing that at preser
only Julia's most intimate friends ha
been admitted into our new house, an
then by special invitation alore.
There was a very happy, very placi
expression on her face. Every harsh liz
seemed softened, and pleased smi
played about her lips. Her dress We
one Of those simple, fresh, clean musli
gowns, with knots of ribbon about
which make plain woman almost prett
and a pretty woman bewitching.
81 am very glad you are come, my def
Martin" she said softly.
1 dared not daily another moment.
must take my plunge at once into Il
icy-cold waters.
81 have something of Importance to So
to you, dear cousin" began.
l sat down on the broad window 81
instead Of on the chair close to hers. 81
looked up at that, and fixed her eyes u
on me keenly. / had often quailed b