Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-11-07
The Doctors Dilemma
BY Hesba Stretton
Observation-Disclosures
CHAPTER XVI.-(Coutinued.)

CHAPTER XVI.-(ContinuedD
"You are looking rather low" she said
iumphantly-"rather blue, / might say.
Is there anything the matter with you
Your face is as long as fiddle. Perhaps
It is the sea that makes you melancholy.
mot Mt ALL" l answered. trying to
speak briskly; II am an old sailor. Fer
haps you will feel melancholy by-and'
BY"
Luckily for me. my prophecy was fui-
filed shortly after, for the day was rougn
enough to produce uncomfortable sensa-
tons in those who were not old sailors
like myself. My tormentor was pros
trate to the last moment.
When we anchored ut the entrance OF
the Creux, and the small boats came out
to carry US ashore, l managed easily to
secure a place in the first, and to lose
sight of her in the hustle Of landing. AS
soon a. NV feet touched the shore start
ed off at my swiftest pace for the Havre
GOsselin.
But had not far to 60, for at Vaudin's
Inn, which stands at the top OF the steep
lane running from the Creux Harbor'
saw Tardif at the door. He came to me
instantly, and we sat down ON a low
stone wall on the roadside, but Wen OUT
of hearing of any ears but each other 8:
'Tardif," l said, has mam'zelle told
you her secret!" ,,
Eyes, yes" he answered; poor little
soul! and she is hundredfold dearer to
ME now than before. But mann zeAe ID
not here. She is gomez!
"Gone" l CALCULATED. l could not Ut
ter another word; but l stared at him
as IL my eyes could tear further informa-
ton from him.
"Yes," he said; "that lady came last
week with Miss Dobree, your cousin.
Then mann zelle told me all. and we took
counsel together. 1t was not safe for
her to stay any longer, though l would
have died for her gladly. But what could
he done? We knew she must go else
where, and the next morning rowed
her over to Peter-pOrt in time for the
steamer to England. Poor little thing!
poor little hunted soul!'
.'Tardif," said, did she leave no
message for me?"
"She wrote letter for you," he said,
"'the very last thing. She did not 60 to
bed that night, neither did l. l was 60
Ing to lose her, doctor, and she had
been like the light Of the sun to me.
But what could I do? She was terrified
to death at the thought Of her husband
claiming her. / promised to give the
letter into your own hands. Here it Is:
1t had been lying In his breast pocket,
and the edges were worn already. He
gave it to me lingeringly, as If 10th to
part with it. The tourists were coming
up in greater numbers, and l made
retreat hastily towards a quiet and re-
mote part of the cliffs seldom visited III
Little Sark.
There, with the sea, which had carried
her away from me, playing buoyantly
amongst the rocks, l read her farewell
letter. 1t ran thus:
"My Dear Friend-I am glad can
call you my friend, though nothing can
ever come of our friendship-nothng, for
we may not see one another as other
friends do. | am compelled to flee away
again from this quiet. peaceful home,
where you and Tardif have been so good
to me. l began to feel perfectly sa1e
here, and all at once the refuge fails
me. 1t breaks my heart. but l must co.
and my only gladness is that 1t Will be
good for you. BY and by you will forget
me, and return to your cousin Julia, and
be happy just as you once thought you
should be--as you would have been but
for me. You must think of ME as one
dead. am quite dcad-lost to you.
"Good-by, my dear friend good-by,
good-by! OLIVIA.
The last line was written in shaken,
irregular hand, and her name was half
blotted out, as if a tear had fallen upon
it. l remained there alone on the wild
and solitary cliffs until it was time to
return to the steamer.
Tardif was waiting for me at the en-
trance Of the little tunnel through which
the road passes down to the harbor. lie
did not speak at first. but he drew out
of his pocket an old leather pouch filed
with yellow papers. Amongst them lay
a long curling tress Of shining hair. He
touched it gently as il it had feeling and
consciousness.
"You would like to have it, doctor?" he
said.
"Ay," l answered, and that only.
could not venture upon another word.