Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-10-01

i INItDHHOHu DOlH lIGuDlllB anu as
tated, to grasp his hands, and fight
hard against the desire to throw
themselves sobbng upon his breast
The nurse remained not from curl
Oslty, but to watch over her patient,
whom she had literally dragged from
the grasp OF death, while, after the
first loving words, Mark Heath gazed
at Richmond in troubled way, and
proceeded to tell of his adventures
But did you really bring back a bas
of diamonds, Marb, or Is it"
Fancy" he said bitterly. "No; 1t
Is no fancy. | have been delirious,
Jenny; but | am sane enough now. /
had the bag OF diamonds, and over a
hundred pounds in gold IN belt about
my waist, Rich darling, was silent
during these past two years; for !
vowed that | would not write again
till | could come back to you and say
! have fulfilled my promise, and now :.
have come to you a beggar."
Yes" said Richmond, laying her
hand In his, as an lnelfably sweet look
OF content beamed from her eyes in
his. and there was tender yearnng
love In every tone Of her sweet deep
voice; but you have come back alive
after we had long mourned you as
dead"
Better that ! had been" he said
bitterly. Better that that dark night S
work had been completed than |
| abA I,,
Janet and Richmond exchanged
| glances, which with sick man s
suspicion he noted, and his brow con
| tracted
"Thcy doubt me, he thought
But you have come back, Mark. We
are young. and there Is our life before
US. do not complain" said Richmond
gently. 1--WE must wait"
Wait" he said bitterly; and he ut,
tered n low groan, which made the
nurse approach.
mo, no" he said 81 will be quito
calm"
The nurse drew back
Tel me, Mark" said Janet, with
her pretty little earnest face puckercd
| up. why did You not come straight
to me? How stupid! OF course you
did not know where as you did not get
my last letter"
I mo, ! have had no letters for a
year How could |, out in that
desert?"
But, Mark you recolect being pur-
1 sued by those men!
Yes, yes"
You are sure II was not a dream
He looked at her almost fiercely
Dream? Could man dream a
thing like that"
Don't be cross with me, dear
Mark, she said laying her cheek
against his ut seems SO strange, and
You have been very, very ILL., My own
darling brothcr!"
It was not jealousy, but something
very near akin, that troubled Rich as
she stood there, with an intense long
ing to take her friends place after the
| long parting. But there was the
recollection that their parting had not
been the warm passionate embracing
Of lovers. only calm and full of the
hope of what might be.
Janet continued;
And you went late at night through
n dreadful fog, and took refuge with a
tricnd?"
Yes" he said, with his features
contracting, and shudder passing
through him, as he gazcd furtively Mt
Rich.
And what can you recolect be.
sides? Are you sure you had what
you say diamonds and money!"
Yes, am certain"
II never wore diamonds" said
janet, with her pretty white forehead
growing more puckored, and | don't
want any but after being SO poor,
and with ono's dearest friends so
poor, and when II would make every
ono SO happy, | should like you to find
them again"
Mark uttered low groau.
but tell mo, Mark, what else can
You rcColloct?"
Very little" he said 1t all seems
ilNlNtN hhN lNlhllNNN NllhhlHH Stlllt-
thing"
brandy, Mark
Yes; and afterwards medicine
that was to calm me. for was halt
mad with excitement"
E Yes; go on
Then everything is confused: |
seemed to fall asleep-a long restrul
sleep, that was broken by my taking
q long journey
Yes. but that was dreaming dear
Maybe, he said, and then | was
swimming swimming for lite-and
! then toiling on and on, long weary
journey under hot sun to get my
diamonds,
: Yes, dear, fever" said Janet, with
> tears streaming down her cheeks
oh, Mark what YOU have suffered,
+. rich love, do YOU hear?"
"iea-yes, cried Rich. who seemed
: to be reused from strange dream. II
which she was lighting to recall an
n other of which she had n misty