The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-03-20

lope0eo tne letter and read:k
Dear Charlie-Won't you come and
see met Don't be afraid; I'm dying;
At least, the doctor says so. and my
illness has made me hidcous, and
would like TO see You once again. ]
shall be at home at four o'clock to-
morrow. Al least, am always at
home now, and could see you then"
She did see him then--that Is, al
four o'clock the next day-and when
he saw her he was borrifed. The
pretty color had gone from hel
cheeks, great black patches lay
under her eyes. and strange lines
marked the lately beautiful face. The
eyes were bright, the lips still pink
and the hair in picturesque disorder
had lost none of its beauty.
Charlie was allowed to stay only q
few minutes, and when he left the
room he stumbled into the arms Of q
woman In white cap and apron, and
recognized Polly's old dresser. She
was very surly, and, when he pressed
her as to the condition of her mis-.
tress. bluntly said that the nature OF
her illness was her affair and not his
When he called the next day the
duke found Polly little better, and
there was quite flash Of her old
self in her manner. So the duke spent
pleasant quarter Of IN hour ere
Ilollit, the ex-dresser, turned him out
in a surly fashion, alleging that he
would fatigue her mistress.
AS he was passing through the
room the bell rang.
The doctor!" exclaimed Rollit to
the young duke. Come int"
A minute later. an elderly man, with
q very grave, dignihsd manner. en-.
tered. Rollit left the two men togeth.
er whilst she went into the sick room
The young duke timidly said some.
thing obviously truthful about the
weather-the other agreed-then
anxiously he asked. "Is she very ill
What Is really the matterf"
II presume you are q friend Of the
family?"
20. yes, oertsinly!"
"She is very i'll. We have had two
consultations, and" He merely
shrugged his shoulders again.
"But what is the illness?"
''Technically"-Charlie could not
catch the long Latin tsrm-"actually
suppose, tho public would call II
broken heart Some young fellow, q
duke or someone OF family--I know
little Of such social matters-jilted
her. She made o great effort to Aeht
against her feelings and so overtaxed
her strength; a heavy reaction set IN
Then, when she was In Q most vul.
nerable state, of course, she oaughi
chill, which attacked her lungs. and
now It is mere question Of days?"
Rollit appeared. "Please come at
once. doctor!"
Three days later. when Charles ar.
rived, Rollit refused to let him see
Polly. "She's too bad. my lord, and
besides she's changed; she don't like
to be seen. And what do you want
to SEQ her forP Go away. Let hel
die in peace, and not think Of ysu and
her sorrow"
The young man gasped. II DON,
think you put 1t fairly" he said
stammering.
II am sure you did not act fairly
she replied.
II would do anything on earth "a
give her pleasure" said tho duke.
The old woman laughed nercely. "Oi
course you would, You would dc
anything on earth she does not want
Il know al that"
"What does she want?.
Nothing from you-merely 70 die
In peace, for die she will before the
next week 10 out; and that I should
know even II the doctor had not said
SO. Poor babel" A long pause.
II suppose II would be no pleasure
to her now-that it would not make
her any the happier"
"What?"
"If were to marry her"
"Too late: and yet--but here's the
doctor"
The duke of Rushminster had a
short talk with the doctor, who
pledged his reputation as medical
man that Polly could not live more
than o few days, and then. despite
the shrugs OF Rollit's elderly shoul-
ders, Charlie went into Polly's room,
and was shocked by her appearance,
since. for the first time, her lips had
lost their pretty pink and she looked
ghastly in the darkened room with q
green-shaded lamp.
A few days later. with the author
ity Of a special license, Polly became
duchess Of Rushminster, the two wit
nesses to tho marriage being Rollit
and the doctor.
When the ceremony was over the
young man impulsively bent down
and kissed the dull lips of his pallid
bride, although she made efforts to
turn away her head. A moment later
Rollit and the doctor were busy get
ting him out OF the house, assuring
him that the excitement was too
,puch f,,r xha rx;rl