The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-31
Our Daily Short Stories
THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW
BY WILLIAM M'LEoD RAINE.
copyright. 1901. Authors. Syndicate,

in the best of health. having Just re-
covered from typhoid, and / think IL
very probable that / shall not be able
10 stand the shock of the operation. !"
Inc nurse shot one swift glance at
nim. his voice was quite steady and
ms race 1mpassive. He might have
neen writing about the probability of
the shamrock lifting the Americas
cup, SO far as his manner indicated -
GU are not to worry about me any
more than you can help" he continued.
i am getting the best of care. and If 7
DO not pull through 1t will be because
II is so decreed. Above all, / do not
want you to reproach yourself that
you nave not been able to care for me
IN the same way that ] have for YOU"
he hesitated perceptible instant.
looking doubtfully at the amanuensis.
put tnat young woman kept her eyes
impersonally on the paper. He had
the Anglo Saxon horror OF making any
account OF his emotions, but If he were
going to die he meant to speak out this
once.
My love for you has been the best
thing in my life" he went on evenly,
almost monotonously. ut has made a,
man of me, has kept me cleaner and
stronger than I otherwise would have
been, and has been altogether the best
thing that could have happened to me,
You remember that lover in Brown
ing's Last Ride Like his.
My whole heart rises up to bless
Your name in pride and thankfulness!'
1t is so / have thought of you. Win or
lose, there has never been a moment
that wanted to stop caring for you.
1t has been the sweetest pain of my
life. Got that, nurse?"
She nodded
Perhaps there are some of us for
whom too much happiness is not good
In my best moments 1 have hardly
dared believe that / could win That
were greater joy than l expected. It
is great deal to have made you hest
| tate, that for time at least you have
doubted.
MY brother will no doubt come on
| to see me. If you will write a letter
and send it by him should value it
very much. 1t may be the last thing I
ever ask of you"
The mans voice trembled a little
here, despite the curb he put upon it;
but presently he continued. steadily:
Erase that last, nurse please-about
its being the last time. l guess l won't
say that"
He>was thinking that IT sounded
STACEY, and he did not want to play
to the grand stand, but rather speak
| out only what was in his heart.
TT is a great thing to have loved
you all these years, and have priced
| your. liking for me more - than can
say. Good-by. Nan, Tiff it goes
against me.-Hal Bennett"
Three days later Bennett rested in
the Valley of the Shadow. The opera
ton had been very successful, but IL
remained to be seen whether he had
strength enough to rally. From long
sleep he Weakened with the scales dip.
ping In HIS favor.
There are some people TO see you.
Shall show them in? The doctor said
you might see them a moment IT. you
didn't talk said his nurse.
Eyes, please"
His face lighted when he saw his
brother.
Hello, old man. 1t is good to see
you" he made out to say.
But when Nan Williams showed
round the corner of his bed he had no
words with which to give expression
to his joy. In his eyes were the hap
py involuntary tears he was too weak
TO repress. The girl thought it was
worth coming a thousand miles to see
his dumb delight. Before she left she
whispered three words to him that did
more for him than anything the doc
tors could suggest. From that moment
he was out of danger.
Three months later came the orange
blossoms and "The Voice That Breath
ed Ger Eden"