The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-08-07

ne said. DO you mind gc..irg il fos
me? Ny Wills in there, too. 1 made
u as soon as struck my frat luck. in
case. on. what | wanted 10
ask you, doctor, il | don't pull
round. will you have my bag and
! everything sent her? You'.. lind her
addrcss-"
Yes, yes. But not now" Walden
interrupted harshly. You've talked
too much already. Come
along. Barrow" he hailed the advent
Of the steward with ineffable relief.
call me il he is worse in the night"
lie was dazed and stupefied by the
knowledge that had come upon him
so unexpectedly. and yearned 10 get
away and be alone where he might
think Of it,
Yet he could not think Of Il even
when he was alone, for every thought
as IL touched his brain famed into
madness and became an incohcrent
flicker that dazzled and battle him.
One thought only burned 10 clear
and fiercely steady blaze sinister.
hellish thought that he dared not
face and could not distinguish.
My Cod" he muttered. pacing his
cramped room like Gagged animal.
Its more than l can bear"
He lost all count of time. as a man
does when he sleeps. but when the
steward summoned him hurriedlv an
hour after midnight he had evident
~ not been in bed: light was burn
ing in his cabin, he was still dressed.
and his face was wan and his eyes
heavy as If he were in pain.
MIR. Ashton's worse. sir. Edwards
in with him, and called me 10 fetch
you. He can't sleep. Keeps sitting
up. Edwards says. staring as IL he
could see people. an talking very
singular. Delirious. | expect. sir
I'VE must try sleeping draught.~
said Walden duly. III be there di.
rectly."
Barrow being gone. he busted him.
self in the medicine cupboard. and
FASTENED after him. carrying some
thing in a glass.
Drawing near TO No. 10 he could
hear the sick man babbling monoton-
ously, and the very sound of his voice
stung him and qnickened that fire Of
hell 10 fiercer flame within him:
till suddenly he caught word II
what the man was saying merely a
name. but the utterance Of IL checked
him instantly, as IL hand had
piucked at his sleeve.
He stood trembling. and in that
same instant saw. shaping white in
the darkness before him. a sweet. sad
face, grown pale with weary years
If longing the pure. wistful eyes
looked into his. and their caimness
Gained him. and their sadness made
him ashamed.
He was sane again. he could not
go on. but yielded to gentler impulses
as readily as IL the utterance of her
name had conjnred her there in scrv
reality 10 turn him back. and he had
regained his better self in her pres
ence.
With something breaking like a
sob in his throat, he swiftly retraccd
his steps. pausing in the unlighted
saloon to open one Of the portfolios
and fling the glass he carried far ont
into the dark.
Thereafter. he sat till well into
the day watching and tending the
man she loved and had loved so Gong.
He shrank from trusting himself
alone with his own thoughts again
yet: and. because she loved him and
her happiness was bound up in his
life. all that unhappy night he fought
with death for the man he hated.
Going on deck in the morning he
leaned over the side TO tear mp the
letter he had written and scatter its
fragments into the sea.
IL was the burial Of great hope
that had died in the night.
As he walked away. the captain,
coming from breakfast. met him and
fingered 10 make inquiries.
Morning. doctor: how's the pa
tient? You're not going TO make a
funeral Of il. I hope?"
Not quite Walden laughed care
lessly. He has taken n turn for the
and White.