Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-17


other band stand In the square" But
he looked at Stuart rs ne lay there.
deaf to all those words of love from
the woman whose heart was now his,
and the Doctors look was very stern
and grave.
CHAPTER x.
THE CONFERENCE.
1t was two weeks after the fire and
the accident to Stuart. Eric was sit
ting by the bed, for Stuart was still
in Eric's cottage. His accident had
been SO serious that there had been
no thought of his removal. During
the anxious days and nights Eric had
hardly left Stuart's side. Andrew had
begged to be allowed to watch, but
Eric had insisted upon his prior right
and had refused to give way to any
one else.
There was another watcher who
more than Andrew regarded Eric jeal-
o,lsly. and that was woman who stole
into the cottage often with the doctors
coming and remained, dry eyed and
pale. with the hearts hunger of love
staring out CT great eyes that burned
over Stuart as If by very force of COM
pelling affection they would rouse him
into knowledge and life again. Rhena
did not try to hide the feeling she now
| had. The doctor came in quietly that
day while Eric was sitting asleep at
the side of Stuart. exhausted by his
great vigil. and found Rhena on her
knees praying. The intensity of her
desire for Stuart's life broke out into
M audible petition.
40 Lord. my God. save him! What
has lie done to die? oh, how can l
say. THY will be donc?' never loved
him before. Spare him, God of all
| goodness! He is so needed in thy
world! Surely there are others WHO
would be less God, what nm say
ing: But he is my lover! And he does
not know that love him"
BEG pardon" interrupted the doctor,
"but you're mistaken about that. He
Knows 1t perfectly WELL Just tell him
four or five times more II you think It
is necessary"
Rhena turned her head toward Stu
art. Hc lay there with his eyes open
for the first time in days, really con-
scious and with a smile on his face
which was heaven to her. She simply
turned on her knees and bowed her
head over Stuart's hand and put her
lips to 1t, and then, to the DOCTORS sur
| prise. she fell over and tainted.
ut beats all creation what these wo-
men can spring in the way of sur
prises on MANI said the doctor us he
picked Rhena up and carried her over
to couch at the other end of the
room.
Eric had started out of his doze, and
Stuart had shut his eyes again, lapsinf
into his former stupor, but still with Q
smile on his lips. But If my lass ha.
right to faint this one has. Are yor
going to tumble off again, ma'am?" hs
asked as Rhena began to come to
"You can IL you want to. Do you wan
to cry? Come, that's a good girl! Cry
a little. It'll do us all good. Want {
handkerchief? Here's NINE"
Rhena sat up suddenly and seizet
Saxon's hand. "Oh. doctor, he win &c
well. won't he? He is better? Their
is hope? He knew me for moment
You do believe my prayer will be an
swered"
Rhena was crying softly. She wa
broken and nervous with the grea
strain of the last two weeks.
Il I've heard worse prayers get at
tended to- replied The doctor shortly.
But do you think oh, doctor, 1t 1
death to ME to think of-tell me, wha
do you fear? Is he-will lie live?'
The doctor shut his lips tight. Rhen,
watched him. with her hands clinche,
hard over his She did not know II
but her slim fingers hurt even the doc
tors rugged. knotty fists. Finally h
answered her. II think. yes, an
quite sure. now that he knows tina
you care for him a little, there is
fighting chance"
Scare for lin n littlew replied Rhe
ma. With smile that melted the doc
tor completely. Doctor, were 70,
ever In lovc?'
no" replied the doctor, ''but II
Maa III have to put up still anothe
band stand lii the square. One apiece
wouldn't he too much for three sucl
fools as you and Stuart and me-"
WHAT'S that nonsense he's talking?
asi.tsl Eric, coming over to the end o
tic room where they were.
ut was not nonsense" said Rhenn
with more color in her face than 1
had secn eincc the day Stuart had frs
spoken to her. She went over to tn
side of Stuart and sat down ther
watching Lin. She had u great hop
nov. The doctor also told the truth
And indeed, he afterward said, nothin,
but love brought Stuart out alive.
"I've heard that people who were Ii
love could live on nothing" the docto
said, but Go believe If Stuart hadn'
come to Himself long enough that da,
to hear that little prayer I'd have hal
two funerals en- my hands pretty quick
Well, l never understood these VIC
men. There she was one minute n
limp us a dead fish, and the next Sill
was us lively as Salvation Arm
tambourine. If could get this articl
lthey call love fixed up In prescription
and deal 1t out in severe cases, be
}tn4e 1t would do more good than al
y 6smicrobe killers on GARTH"
Those were wonderful days whel
II Etunrt was declared out Of danger
IANArew celebrated Ey bringing owe
4. 3lis chpieG Blossoms. lie ranged tw'
II H0tss6 az on IL table where Stuar
you'd tilp;.. and laid beautiful
lsWhlte ttntion on the bed within
French of 9fH;srt's fingers.
It's tiaoliy one I've been able t,
get this aiiter. Stuart. Isn't 1t beau
ty? It'sa new variety. Do you know
| what I've cailcl 1t? ! took the libert.
10 call II the 'llena Dwight"
When Rhcna came in q few minute,