Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-16
The Doctors Dilemma
BY Hssba Stretton
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You are talking nonsense, dear Mar
TIM she gasped; you ought mott am
not very strong. Tell me it is a joke"
II cannot" | replied, painfully and
sorrowfully; sit is the truth, though l
would almost rather face death than own
it. l love you dearly, Julia; but love
another woman better"
There was dead silence in the room af-
ter those words. l could not hear julia
breathe or move, and / could not look at
her. My eyes were turned towards the
window and the islands across the sea,
purple and hazy in the distance.
Leave mew she said, after very
long stiffness; Ego away, Martin
Il cannot leave you alone" l exclalm-
ed; mo, l will not, Julia. Let me tell
you more; let me explain 1t all. You
ought to know everything now"
Go awayw she repeated, in mechan-
ical way.
1 hesitated still, seeing her white and
trembling, with her eyes CLASSY and fixed.
But she motioned me from her towards
the door, and her pale lips parted again
TO reitelate her command
How | crossed that room / do not
know; but the moment after had closed
the door heard the key turn in the lock.
l dared not quit the house and leave her
alone in such a state; and l longed ar
IDENTIFY to hear the clocks chime five, and
the sound Of Johannas coach wheels on
the roughly paved street.
That was one of the longest half hours
in my life. l stood at the street door
watching and waiting, and nodding to
people who passed by, and who shipper
ed at me in the most inane fashion.
The fools! called them to myself. At
length Johanna turned the corner, and
her pony carriage came rafting cheer
fully over the large round stones. l ran
to meet her.
For heavens sake go to Julia6' 1
cried 81 have told her.
"And what does she say?" asked Jo-
hanna.
Not a word, not a SYLLABLE replied,
Except to bid me go away. She has
locked herself into the drawing ROOM
"Then you had better go away alto
gether," she said, ''and leave me to deal
with her. Don't come in, and then can
say you are not here"
A friend of mine lived in the opposite
house, and though knew he was not at
home, l knocked at his door and asked
permission to rest for while.
The windows looked into the street
and there l sat watching the door of our
new house, for Johanna and Julia to
come out. At length Julia appeared, her
face completely hidden behind veil. Jo-
hanna helped her into the low carriage,
as if she had been an invalid. Then they
drove off, and were soon out of my sight.
By this lime our dinner hour was near,
and knew my mother would be looking
out for us both. l was thankful to find
at the table visitor, one of my fathers
patients, a widow, with a high color, a
loud voice and boisterous spirits, who
kept up a rattle of conversation with
DR.. Dobree. My mother glanced anx-
iously at me, but she could say little
Where is Julia?" she had inquired, as
we sat down to dinner without her.
"Julia?' / said absently; ''oh! she is
gone to the Vale, with Johanna Carey"
"Will she come back tonight" asked
my mother.
Not tonight" said aloud; but to my
self l added, nor for many nights to
come; never, most probably, whilst am
under this roof. We have been building
our house upon the sand, and the floods
have come and the winds have blown.
and the house has fallen; but my mother
knows nothing of the catastrophe yet"
She read trouble in my face, as clearly
as one sees a thunder cloud in the sky,
and she could not rest till she had faith
omed it. l went up into my own room,
where l should be alone to think over
things. l heard her tapping lightly at
the door. She was not in the habit of
leaving her guests, and l was surprised
and perplexed at seeing her.
Your father and Mrs. Murray are
having a game of chess" she said. I'VE
can be alone together half an hour. And
now tell me what is the matter? There
is something going wrong with you"
She sank down weariedly into a chair,
and / knelt down beside her. 1t was
almost harder to tell her than to tell
Julia; but it was worse than useless to
put off the evil moment.
Mother, | am not going to marry my
cousin, for l love somebody else. and
told Julia so this afternoon. 1t is broken
off for good now"
She gave me no answer, and l looked
up into her dear face in alarm. 1t had
grown rigid, and a peculiar blue tinge of
pallor was spreading over it. Her head
had fallen back against the chair. 1t
was several minutes before she breathed
freely and naturally. Then she did not
look at me, but lifted up her eyes to the
pale evening sky, and her lips quivered
with agitation.
Martin, it will be the death of me-
she said: and a few tears stole down her
cheeks, which / wiped away.
1t shall not be the death of YOU"
exclaimed. If Julia is willing to marry
| me, knowing the whole truth, | am ready
to marry her for your sake, mother.
would do anything for your sake. But
| Johanna said she ought to be told, and |
think it was right myself"
who is it, who can it be that you
| love?'
Mother" 1 said, 81 wish 1 had told
you before, but l did not know that
loved the girl as do till l saw her yes
terday in Sark."
THAT girlr' she cried. zone of the
Olliviers! oh, Martin, you must marry
in your own class"
THAT was a mistake" 1 answered.
Her Christian name is Olivia; do not
know what her surname is"
Not know even her namen' she ex-
claimed.
Listen, mother" l said; and then l
told her all | knew about Olivia.
''Oh, Martin, Martini walled my poor
mother. breaking down again suddenly.
Il did so long 10 see you in a home of
your own! And Julia was so generous.
never looking as If all the money was
hers, and you without a penny What is
TO become of you now, my boy? / wish
had been dead and in my grave before
this had happenedr'
Hush, mother!" | said. kneeling down
again beside her and kissing her tender
| "; lit is still In JElia's hands. IL she
viii marry me, shall marry her"
But then you will not be happy" she
said. with fresh sobs-
1t was impo- Sible for me TO contradict
that. / felt that no misery would be
equal 10 that of losing Olivia. But did
my best TO comfort my mother. by prom
Using TO see Julia the next day and re-
new my engagement. If possible.
Pray, may / be informed as to what is