Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-15
CHAPTER XVIII.

what it was that was amiss with
Hettie and then-Wel he thought
il would be far easier TO meet death
in any shape than to meet Leah after
she knew his secret. He could not
witness Hettie's suffering, nor could
he bear to think of Leah's despair.
He could not understand the diff
fculties by which he was encom-
passed; he was like one cropping in the
dark. He determined that he would
rest his brain and his thoughts, and
then decide.
1t was easier to plan than to do.
! No rest, no sleep came to him that
night. The sisters seemed to stand on
either side of his pillow-Hettie
whom he worshiped, Leah who loved
him. He told himself that, if this
lasted much longer, he should go mad.
The morning brought him sad in
telligence-a note from Leah saying
that Hettie was i'll, and that the
doctor, for whom they had sent in all
haste pronounced it a dangerous case
of brain fever.
Come over as soon as you can and
comfort me, Basil. i cannot endure
to think that / have found my sister
only TO lose her."
eff she dies, have murdered her"
he said TO himself bitterly.
He went over at once and found
the whole household in despair. The
general met him with outstretched
hand and grave face.
"Brain-fever!" he said, Basil, what
can have caused brain-fever! can
not understand it. And she is in dan
ger-really in danger? Poor pretty
Hetty! What is to be done"
There was no need for Sir Basil to
express his sympathy. If anything
could have comforted Sir Arthur in
this hour of his distress, it would have
been the hearty, honest, evident grief
of his young companion.
Il have seen and known very little
of Illness" continued the general. Il
can tell a case of jungle-fever, and
understand ague; but brain-fever-it
is positively awful, Basil! l thought
train-fever was the result of trouble,
worry, sorrow, or some great mental
anxiety"
so have always understood" said
Sir Basil; but then you tell me she
has had a troubled life"
so she has, poor child; l am sure
of that. This is one of the evils of
life that we must bear with patience.
1--WE have done all that is possible. |
have telegraphed to London for two ex-
'perienced nurses-I cannot have Leah
always in the sick room-and now we
must await the result"
Does the doctor think there is
Idanger?" asked Sir Basil, with white
lips.
eyes the fever runs high, and she is
very weak. / hope for Leah's sake,
you will spend as much time here as
possible. The days will be dreadfully
depressing for her, poor child"
"You may rely upon me" said Sir
Basil. Indeed, the difficulty would
be for me to keep away. My world is
here"
1t was indeed a melancholy time.
For many days the shadow of death
lay over the household. There were
hushed voices, silent footsteps, and
ifervent prayers for the beautiful
young girl who lay quite unconscious
of all that passed. Everything that
skill and love could suggest was done,
but for many days the issue was
doubtful. 1t was Leah's first ex-
perience of illness or physical suffer
ing and it impressed her greatly.
The house was put under a discipline.
No visitors came; there was no sound
heard. Piano, harp, singing-all were
tabooed. Leah would have shut out
if she could the soughing of the wind
and the creaking of the great bare
boughs. 1t was the strange death-like
silence that made the place seem so
unearthly. Not even the barking of
dog was allowed near the mansion.
The poor tortured brain could not en-
dure the least sound. 1t was a piteous
sight to see the fair head tossing rest
llessly TO and fro on the white pillow;
it was never still-from one side TO
| the other it turned with unwearied
motion: and the muttering-which is
lDGIudDS the uIOSb
ment of brain-fever-never ceased.
None of the sufferers words were in
telligible; her utterance was only an
linarticulate murmur vague and ter
rifle. Once or twice, when Leah was
with her, she though she overheard
the word Glen" but she concluded 1t
must have been fancy. Ii brought no
meaning to her, althou u it was the
name of her lovers home.
During those long weeks of weary
suffering no man could have been
more miserable than Sir Basil. He
wandered round the house like
shadow. He could not bear to leave
1t, nor could he bear to be left alone.
He seemed to spend the greater part.
of the day in asking but one question
from different people: How is she
now?" He grew thin, pale and bag
GARD wears seemed To have fallen on