The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-07
tcopyrIght, 1901. by Frank A. Munssy y,
CHAPTER xxIu.-AwAKENING

quite still and listened. NO sound came to me, but l knew in the sleepy way l had acquired of late that there was bright light there, and that l was warm and so comfortable as I had not been these two months. But strange that l could not move! My side was as stiff as a board. so stiff that I softly and care fully raised my arm and felt-not the sofa but straw.
 And then came a sickening conscious ness that I was back in the prison house. I picked up a bit of straw but 1t felt soft and would not yield to my pulling. and looking down had like to have cried out when I saw in my hand white and spotless counterpane.
 Perfectly quiet lay my mind working so fast that 1t pained me sorey. Over my head I saw roof, and then. quick and fast, came the knowledge that lay on a great bed with four posts support ing a roof hung with silken curtains. I tried to move, and found though I had no pain, that the wound was too stiff to allow me to turn, and, putting my hand to my side, it met tight cloth bandages that ran around me from groin to arm pits. and then up over either shoulder and around my neck.
 There I lay with eyes shut, and thought and thought. What could it be? Was l. could 1t be-could I be losing my mind. and should I begin to ask if some one would cut my daughters throat? Then I bade myself be quiet and held myself tense to see-to think-to realize the real ity. But 1t would not do. could not bear it. and cried out: Where am I?'
 That instant the curtain was pulled back and I saw a face looking at me. Then on the moment twas gone. And fancied I heard the soft rustic of a gown as the figure flew out through the room. Was it Atherton? l strained my weak head to think, to decide. I could not tell. It must be, and yet and yet it did not seem to be so, and the face that it re- sembled-aye! my mind was gone stark mad Twas the face 1t could never be! So lay, turning bit to one side that I might see the door as 1t stood open into a hall with the sunlight playing across the floor and dancing upon the polished furniture. Gradually was straining my self out of mist of thoughts, when there came rustic, and two little faces peeded in at me, and not moving, they came on through the door-two' little faces hung about with fair curls ,one of golden brown and one of black, and carried on little shoulders and bodies dressed in white gowns.
 There could be no doubt of it-angels they might be, but they were two little girls of some four or five summers. waved my hand weakly to them and asked them to come and talk to me. My voice had a strange and pitifully jaded sound, and the smile that ran over my face seemed to crack the skin by the un- accustomed wrinkles 1t created. Come here, children" mumbled I, land tell me who was here but now"
 They sidled up, holding tight to one an- others hands, the chubby little fairy 1 hanging back, both looking at me with great startled eyes through the fringes of curls-startled. but filled with curiosity, too.
 "Who was here but now, little ones? ?'' I asked again.
 '"Tante. She sits here all day and ev- cry night always" said the older. open. ing her eyes wide.
 And the Lieber Gott," said the chubby one.
 And who?"
 "The Lieber Gott Tante says He Is here with you all the time. too.''
 'Yeth. all the time" said the chubby one. But we can't catch him."
 We've tried every day." said the other as they began to grow confidential.
 ''Yeth." said Chubby, we've twied evwy day"
 we thought we had found him once Ii
 'fYeth. we thought we'd found hin once" repeated the little Echo. ''bui twas a wat scratchin', Tante said" lay back thanking God for knew not l what.
 And who is Tante?" I asked, softly.
 They looked at one another and took a new grip on their hands.
 She's just Tante,' said the older, standing on the other white-socked foot. l +i eth, juth Tante," said Echo.
 And who are you?'
 Were mudder's dears," said the older, simply, as she came to my bedside God knows you are!" cried I, weakly, and the tears rolled out of my eyes be- cause had no power to stop them. had to walt a moment, and then:
 twill you lean over and give me a lxiss?' and she did but Chubby could not reach and had to forego.
 ''Is He here?" she asked, confidentially.
 'The Leiber Gott. Tante save He will cure you"
 'I think He must be. hope" But could not go on. Weakness-absurd weak ness without pain, simply lack of power stopped me, and just then, closing my eyes, l heard the rustic of a dress and an anxious, nay, terrified whisper. say ing
 Children. children, what have you done? Haven't I told you never to come in here? Where is Tante?' "Thhe wan away and the Lieber Gott | did, too," said Chubby. "So we came in," said the older.
 "Shr' said the whisper again. Run | away at once" and as they trotted off, the curtains drew aside and I opened my eyes. still with the tears in then, and smiled straight into the beautiful face of the Baroness Riedesel. Where am I?" I asked weakly. She put her fingers to her mouth and raised her eyebrows.
 Do you know me?" she asked. Don't speak. Just nod" T nodded.
 Are you perfectly conscious?'
 I nodded
 She moved away, and I cried out and asked her where I was.
 You must not talk or move till get the doctor. You are in our house in New York"
 How long" I could not finish, but made gesture towards the bed.
 Nearly six weeks ago you were brought here" and she was gone, still with her finger on her lips.
 lay back in wonder. and though weak felt strong, though i'll, felt well. I can not tell how 1t was, but I settled al the musces of my body down upon the soft bed and took as ong breath as my band .lfA