Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-10-05
Jenny, do you want to drive me


face flush. Il only want to make you
see things rightly, and not fret about
a fancy"
Il tell you it was no fancy" he said
angrily; and then, as the nurse held
up a warning hand, "All right" he
added, "IIl be calm"
Say something to him, Rich" said
Janet piteouSly.
Rich started, and then took Marks
hand. You say that you went to the
house of a friend?" she whispered.
Yes" he replied hesitatingly.
"And mat you partook of some
medicine that was TO make you
sleeD?"
He bowed his head slowly.
And that your next clear recolIec-
ton is of lying mere, where you were
brought after being found jelirious by
the police?"
Yes, yes" he said impatiently.
Robbed"
stripped of everything" he sail
bitterly.
1T could not have been a friend,
then, with whom you took refuge %
said Rich.
Mark was silent.
Must it not have been a dream %
said Janet in a whisper to her com
panion.
NO" said Rich aloud. Il think
that all Marks recollections before he
took this medicine must be true. and
that this friend must have drugged
him"
Mark drew a long, catching breath
between his teeth.
And robbed him while he SILENT
Marks breast rose and fell as If he
were suffering some great emotion.
and he stared at Rich wildly, his hand
twitching and his lip quivering as he
waited for her next speech, which
seemed to crush him, as she asked in
a clear firm voice.
who was the friend to whose
house you went?"
He looked at her wildly, with the
thoughts of the consequences of tell.
ing her that which he believed to be
the truth-that DR.. Chartley-her
father-the father of the woman he
passionately loved-had drugged him
taken the treasure for which he had
fought SO hard, and then cast him
forth feverish and delirious into the
river TO die. For he realized it now:
he had been swimming; he could
even recall the very plunge; he had
been cast into the river to drown, and
somehow he must have struggled out
who was the friend, Mark?" she
said again, in her calm firm way.
yes, VINO was it?" cried Janet
with her little lips compressed. "You
are right, Rich. Some one did do this
dreadful thing. Who was it, Marll?"
The sick man turned from her with
shudder, while she, all excitement
now. pressed his hard hand.
Tell us, Mark, dear, that he may
be punished, and made to restore
what he has stolen"
mo, no! he said excitedly; 81 can.
not tell you. II do not know"
Try and recollect, Mark" said
Rich gently; ana she looked in his
race with an appealing smile.
No, no." he gasped, as he shuJ
dered again; 1T is impossible. Il
do not know. And Heaven forgive me
for my lie." ne muttered. as he
sharply withdrew his hands. sank
back upon his pillow, and covered his
face.
He must be left now" said the
nurse firmly. He is very weak, and
your visit is proving painful. Say
goodnight 10 him. You can come to
morrow. He will be stronger after q
nights rest"
'But-there is no dancer -
whispered Rich, as she caught the
sisters hand.
No; the danger is past, but he
must be kept quiet. Say goodnight
Janet bent down and kissed her
brother lovingly; and as she drew
back from his pallid drawn face. Rich
took her place and held out her hand
Mark caught it in both is, and there
was an agonizej look in his eyes.
Rich" he whispered passionately,
4 have come back to you a beggar
after fighting so hard. Heaven knows
how hard, and what l am suffering or
your sake. | cannot tell you more
| only say, believe in me and trust in
me Kiss me, my love-my love"
Richmond Chartley's pale face
deepened, but she did not hesitate
There were patients here and there
who lay witnessing the scene. and
there were others present; but at that
moment the world seemed very small.
and they two the only living creatures
II contained, as she bent down. passed
her arm beneath his neck, and for the
first time her lips met his.
"Rich-poor-wha does il matter.
Mark she whispered, with her warm
breath seeming to caress his cheek.
You have come back to me. as il
were, from the dead"
She drew down her veil as she rose
from the parting, and the nurses