Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-03-26

ing just as she is now. I don't know
what to do. Perhaps you can do
something"
He opened the door, and they
entered together. The room was full
Of light; for the faithful Nanny, who
now hung over the bed where her
mistress lay calling to her in loud
but kindly accents, mad conceived the
idea that the darkness could but Iavor
the dangerous sIumber, and had
placed lamps and candles of all sorts
and sizes in every corner. Even at
this moment she was passing a candle
rapidly to and fro before her mis-
tress's closed eyes.
Alma was lying or the bed, fully
dressed, except that she wor a dress
ing gown, the upper part Of which
Nanny had thrown open to dash
water upon her face and neck. She
was very pale, and her limbs were
cold; she breather naturally as if in
sleep, though rather heavily; and her
poloO Oo NNoh LIZ 1C1hb' L OAO
scrutiniZing glance Armathwaite took
in the fact that the edges of her
skirts, just visible under the dressing
| gown, were bedraggled with mud and
clay, and he under stood that the I'M
fortunate lady had, thrown herself at
once on the bed on her return from
her midnight walk, and had not
ronun1 cinan un dicroiccn6 tho nNnd-
hearted maid on some errand, and
glanced from his patient to the guilty
husband, who stood at a little dis
lance with his head turned away, tap
ping the floor impatiently with his
foot.
you have called me in to attend
| your wife, therefore We a be frank
with one another, for we meet no
longer as man to man, but as doctor
and patient, and secrets are sacred
between u.s.
Crosmont started, n flushed a
savage look across at him, while the
flush on his face grew deeper.
"Secrets!" he began. What the"
Your wife, Mr.. CrosmOnt,' con-
tinued Armathwaite, looking at him
steadily, lis not in a natural sleep,
but in a trance, brought on by long
and persistent subsection to mesmeric
influences. 1t is for you to decide
whether this indisputable fact is or
is not a secret
1T isn't a secret, and it isn't a
fact" burst out Crosmont. "She has
taken choral, or something of thar
sort, to send her to sleep, and if you
can't wake her, you're not wanted
here to make up miserable stories"
Armathwaite took up his hat, and
the excited man Gained down and
moved nearer to the doctor.
No, no." he said irritably; you
can't leave her like that-unless, in
deed, you're a quack. Do something
to her. Bring her back to life.
And for Gods sake make haste, How
a l rest with her lying there like
that, not knowing whether she will
ever wake again?" cried he, pointing
to the postrate figure on the bed with
a shaking finger. Never mind what
I've done. If we were always wise
there'd be no work for you DOCTORS
He leaned against the door, pant
ing, and with glazing eyes. Then
suddenly, with an abrupt change of
manner, he rushed across the room,
and Selling the doctor by the arm, be-
gan to whisper in his ear with hot
breath and a thick and shaking voice.
Eyes, we'll l did it. She was rest
less, and [ used to soothe her that
way and make her sleep. I did it in
kindness, mind-in kindness. [ found
out [ had that power over her-the
power of affection, pure affection, long
ago, and [ used it for her good, you
understand-fOr her good" he re
peated, with feverish emphasis. And
l could wake her when | pleased until
today. She has nev slept so long
before. I don't know why. don't
know what has happened. But | have
lost the poWer-lost it; it has gone
from me, do you see? Quite gone"
He stared into the doctors eyes IN
deadly earnest, the moisture standing
in beads on his forehead, his hands
tightly clenched as if he were strug-
Cling to call up the lost power. Anna
thWaite laid a calm hand on his
shoulder, and returned his gaze stead
lily Inc gravely. He knew he must
get this mans confidence before he
could hope to be allowed perfect free
dom in dealing with the illness of his
wife.
To be continued.