Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-03-26

| Where is the man, woman, or child
who ever drew genuine sigh or tear
from that pretty piece of flesh and
blood? You think I'm heartless,
believe; measure me by her, and I'm
ali softness and tenderness. I'm"
He stopped short, and standing on
the stairs, with his hand moving
nervously up and down the hand-rail
| of the banisters. he seemed suddenly
to be overcome by a strong reVulsion
of feeling, and he shook from head to
foot as he went on, in a hoarse,
shame-faced voice: I'm out of sorts
today; hardly know what I'm say
ing. Come upstairs"
The young doctor followed him to
the south end of the corridor, and
they stopped before the door of AL
mas room. Crosmont turned in a
hesitating manner.
| She's in a kind of stupor," he said /;
and nothing will rouse her. I've
tried in every way, and | can't. The
servants tell me she's been like this
all day. When | came back from
| Liverpool four hours ago she was w.
! ing just as she is now. | 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. nad conceived the
idea that the darkness could but FAVOR
| the dangerous slumber, 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 on the bed, fully
dressed, except that she wore 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
pulse was weak and faint With one
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
moved since He dismissed the good
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 can be frank
with one another, for we meet no
longer as man to man, but as doctor
and patient, and secrets are sacred
between us
Crosmont started. and 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
ut isn't a secret, and it isn't
fact" burst out Crosmont. "She has
taken choral. or something of that
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 quack. Do something
to rouse her. Bring her back to life.
And for Gods sake make haste. How
can | 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 glaring 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
Yes, well did it. She was rest
less, and used to soothe her that
way and make her sleep. did it in
kindness, mind-in kindness | found
out l had that power over her-the
power of affection, pure affection, long
ago, and | used il for her good. you
Understandable her good" he re-
peated, with feverish emphasis. And
| could wake her when pleased until
today. She has never slept so long
before. | 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-