The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-09-06
CHAPTER V.

we are amazed-petrihed! However did
you get herei When did you comer
quite easily" / replied. IL came on
Sunday, aud Tardif fetched me in MS
own boat. II the weather had permitted
/ should have paid you a call; but you
know what 1t has been"
"To be sure" answered Emma; 'and
how Is dear Julia? She will be very anA-
ious about you"
"She was on the verge OF nervous at
tack when ! left her." | said; that VIII
tend to increase her anxiety"
Poor, dear grill" she replied sympa-
thetlcally. But, Martin Is this young
woman here 30 very i'll? We have heard
from the Renoufs she had had danger
GUS fall. To think of you being In Sark
ever since Sunday, and we never heard
a word of .tg'
"Is that the young womau's hairY
YES" | replied; ''it was necessary to
cut 1t off, She Is dangerously Ill with
fever"
Both Of them shrank a little towards
the door. A sudden temptation assailed
me, and took mo so much by surprise
that | had yielded before | knew ! was
attacked. II was their shrinking move
ment that did 1t. My answer was almost
as automatic and involuntary as their
retreat.
"You see 1t would not be wise for any
OF us to 20 about" | said. "A fever
breaking out In the island, especially now
you have no resident doctor, would be
very serious"
Thus l secured isolation for myself and
my patient. But why had been eager
10 do s07 could not answer that ques'
ton to myself, and did not ponder over
Il many minutes. | was impatient, yet
strangely reluctant, to look at the sick
girl again, after the loss of her beautiful
hair. The change In her appearance
struck me as singular, Her face before
had look Of suffering and trouble, max
ing II almost old, charming as 1t was;
now she had the aspect of quite young
girl, scarcely touching upon womanhood
We sat up again together that night,
TardIf and l. He would not smoke, lest
the scent Of the tobacco should get IN
through the crevlces Of the door, and les
sen the girls chance Of sleep; but he held
his pipe between his teeth, taking an im-
aginary puff now and then, that he might
keep himself wide awake. We talked TO
one another In whispers.
Tell me all you know about MANI
Eelle," said. He had been chary Of his
knowledge before, but his heart seemed
open at this moment Most hearts are
more open at midnight than at any other
hour.
There's not much to tell DOCTOR" he
answered. Her name Is Olivier, as |
said to you; but she does not think she
ls any kin to the Olliviers Of Guernsey.
She Is poor, though she does not look as
If she had been born poor, does she2"
mot in the least degree" said. "If
she Is not lady by birth, she Is one of
the first specimens Of Natures gentle
folks have ever come across Has she
written to any one since she came hereY'
mot to a SOUL" he answered eagerly.
"She told me she had no friends nearer
than Australia. That Is great way
off"
"And she has had no lettersr | asked.
"Not one," he replied. "She has neith-
sr written nor received a single letter"
"But how did you come across herr"
inquired. "She did not fall from the
skies, | suppose. How was 1t she came
to live In this ut-oftheworld place with
your
"I'l tell you all about It, Doctor Mar
tln." he said, and he related how he had
met the young lady in London.
"Tardif," | said, when he had con
eluded the recital, II did not know what
3 good fellow you were, though ought
30 have learned ii by this time"
mo" he answered, ''it is not in me;
It's something In her. You feel some
thing Of it yourself, doctor, or how could
you stay In a poor little house like this,
thinking Of nothing but her, and not car
ing about the weather keeping you away
from home? There was curious thing
she had not any luggage with her, not
q box nor bag Of any kind. She never
fancied that knew, for that would have
troubled her 1t Is my belief that she
has run away
But who can she have run away from,
TardifY' 1 asked.
Heaven knows" he answered, "bui
the girl has suffered; you can see that
by her face. Whoever or whatever she
has run away from, her cheeks are white
from 1t, and her heart sorrowful.
know nothing Of her secret; but this !
do know; she is as good, and true, and
sweet little soul as my poor little wife
was. II she should die, it will he a great
grief of heart to me- II could offer my
life to God In place of hers, Id do II
willingly"
mo. she will not die. Look there. Tar
diff l said pointing to the door sill OF
the inner room. white card had beer
slipped under the door nolseessly-a sig
nal agreed upon between mother Renou,
and me, to inform me that my patien
had at last fallen into a profound slum
ber, which seemed likely to continu,
some hours.
The morning was more than half gont
before mother Renouf opened the doc
and came out to us, her old face lookin,
more haggard than ever, but her littl
eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
"All goes WELL" she said. Your lit
tie nam zele does not think of dyinj
yet"
| did not stay to watch how Tardif re
eeived this news, for / was impatien
myself to see how she was going on
Thank heaven, the fever was gone, tn
delirium at an end The dark gray eyes
opening languidly as my fingers touche,
her wrist, were calm and intelligent
She was as weak as kitten, but tha
did not trouble me much. | was sure he
natural health was good, and she woul
soon recover her lost strength. had t
ktoOp down to hear what she was saying
Have l kept quite still, doctor2" sh
asked family.
must own that my eyes smarted. an
my voice was not to be trusted. | ha
never felt so overjoyed in my life rs a
that moment But what a singular wis
to be obedient possessed this girl! WIS
wonderful power of submissive self-coS
troll
Il should like to see Tsrdif." mui
INJURED the girl to me that night, after sh
had awakened from a second long an
peaceful sleep.
called him and he came in bsrefoo
his broad burly frame seeming to FL u
al the little room. She could not rails