News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-05-20

resources. Neverrneiess ne nau nung
all caution aside night after night, even
when he felt growing on him the wea-
riness that, like 'leaden weight, hung
on heart and brain. The collapse came
inevitably. and his condition was crit
ical. 1t was the old story of driving
the machine beyond its powers and
without sufficient care for the delicate
mechanism Of nerves and heart and
tissues.
"John," said Luella as she kneeled
there, and he felt tear fall on the
hand she held you do not doubt my
love for you, do you? Why did you not
send for me yourself?'
"You are here, Luella. That is all
want"
He spoke with great effort He was
conscious Of a weakness that made him
cling to any strong nature like drown
ing man. His whole interview with
Lucia must be interpreted in the light
of that weakness. His mind was feel.
ing vaguely for relief from q dark,
hopeless falling down into some IN
GeachabIe place where Lucia could not
come. He had not strength even to re-
turn the clasp of her cold fingers and
she was terrified as she saw his help
lessness and thought he might pass
away even during the brief time she
felt she otlght to be there with him.
Promise me, LueIla, that you will
WILDE my wife. Let us give ourselves
to the cause of childhood suffering-in
these-these-awful places
"Oh, promise; yes, yes, John! Dear,
I will come here and live anywhere.
anywhere-if you will not die
She chung to his hand. and he smiled,
"Will you live with me here, Luela-
here in Hope House
Yes! Yes. For | do love you; | do
love you, John!' she cried. sobbng,
and he lay 50 still, so exhausted with
his effort, that she rose at once and, 60
ing to the door, called for Miss An
drews and Ford to come, thinking he
had fallen into the sleep that knows
no waking. But when they came they
saw a smile on his face and a look Of
peace there that was more hopeful,
Ford said, than anything yet recorded.
Even as they all three stood by him
he opened his eyes and whispered:
"Will you kiss me, Lucia? l am
happy
She leaned over and kissed his lips,
nd Goa
which neither Miss Andrews nor Ford
understood until after events made it
clear.
She went back into the library and
sat there for some time, dreading to
have news brought her that he had
sunk into death. But Ford came in
after awhile and said he was asleep,
and, while at the furthest degree of
mental and heart exhaustion, there was
a fighting chance.
So Luella went home and the next
few weeks she passed in a suspense of
feeling that left with her an expert
ence impossible to describe. Every day
she either went to Hope House or heard
from there. When she went herself, she
did not ask to see him. The delirium of
brain fever was on him, and he knew
no one not even Ford Luella shrank
from going into the room. Once she
looked in through the open door. Then
she passed along back into the library,
and tears ran down her face as she
went and sat down near the large win
dow overlooking the scene of the fire.
Miss Andrews came in and found her
looking out at the place. Most of the
rubbish had been removed, and half a
dozen saloons had gone up on as many
corners. Tommy Randall's double
decker was unfinished, and it's incom-
plete condition added to the general
dreary hideousness of the prospect.
Lucia shuddered at it all.
us there any prospect of getting this
property for your proposed park?" she
asked as Miss Andrews came over by
the window.
Owe do not know yet. You have
heard the news of Randall's conviction
in the court Of special pleas? Mr.,
Chambers succeeded in furnishing
proof of conspiracy, and it looks very
much as if Randall's day was over
The election next week viii decide his
fate. 1t looks now as if the present adj
ninistration would be defeated. and the
Reform party elect a full ticket. In
that case the boss will have to so. He
has already disposed OF several lots
around the double decker, and it looks
very much as if he was getting ready
to leave the city if the election goes
against him. 1t all turns on that is
sue"
Lucia looked YEARLY out of the win