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

q fancy
Il tell you it was no fancy" he said
angrly and then, as the nurse held
up a warning hand, "All right" he
added, 9TH be calm"
Say something to him, Rich" said
Janet piteously.
Rich started, and then took Mark s
hand. You say that you went to the
house Of friend?" she whispered.
"Ye-es, he replied hesitatingly
And that you partook OF some
medicine that was to make you
Sleep"
He bowed his head slowly.
| And that your next clear reeollec-
ton Is OF lying mere, where you were
brought after being found ielirious by
the police?"
Yes, yes" he said impatientIy.
Robbed ?'
Stripped of everything" he sail
bitterly.
1T could not have been a friend,
then, with whom you took refuge, A."
said Rich.
| Mark was silent.
Must II not have been dream? ?"
said Janet in whisper to her com
panion.
| NO, said Rich aloud. 81 think
that all Marks rccollections before he
took this medicine must be true. and
that this frelnd must have drugged
him"
Mark drew long, catching breath
between his teeth
| And robbed him while he silent
| Marks breast rose and fell as If he
were suffering some great emotion,
and he stared at Rich wildly, his hand
twitching and his lip quvering as he
waited for her next speech. which
seemed to crush him. as she asked in
a clear firm voice
Who was the friend to whose
house you VENT"
lie looked at her wildly. with the
thoughts of the consequences of tell.
ing her that which he believed to he
the truth-that Dr.. Chartley-her
fathcr-the father OF the woman he
passlonatoly loyed-had drugged him
taken the treasure for which he had
fought SO hard, and then cast him
forth feyerish and deirious into the
river to die For he realized 1t now.
he had been swimming; he could
even recall the very plunge he had
been Cast into the river to drown, and
somehow he must have struggled out
who was the friend Mark" she
said again, in her calm firm way.
Yes. VINO was it?" cried Janet
with her little lips compressed. "You
are right, Rich. Some one did do this
dreadful thing, Who was it. Mark?"
The sick man turned from her with
shudder while she, all excitement
now, pressed his hard hand.
Tell us, Mark, dear, that he may
be punished and made to restore
what he has stolen"
mo, no! he SAID excitedly: Il can
not tell you II do not know.
TRY and recolleCt, Mark, said
Rich gently; and she looked in his
Face with an appealing smile
No, no." he gasped, as he shud-
dered again; it is impossible. II
do not know And Heaven forgive me
Tor my lie! he muttcred as he
sharply withdrew his hands. sank
back upon his pillow. and covered his
face.
He must be left now" said the
nurse firmly. "He is very weak. and
your visit is proving painful. Say
goodnight to him. You can come to.
morrow He will be stronger after a
nights rest"
'But-therc is no danger?"
whispered Rich, as she caught the
sisters hand.
No; the danger is past but he
must be kept quiet. Say good night b"
Janet bent down and kissed her
brother lovingly and as she drew
back from his pallid drawn face, Rich
took her pace and held ont her hand.
Mark caught ii in both is. and there
was an agonized look in his eyes.
Rich he whispered passionatey.
III have come back to you a beggar,
after lighting SO hard. Heaven knows
how hard and what am suffering or
your sake. | cannot tell YOU more.
only say, believe in me and trust in
me Kiss me, my love-my love"
Richmond Chartleys pale face
deepened, but she did not hesitate.
There were patients here and there
who lay witnessing the scene, and
there were others present: but at that
moment the world seemed very small
and they two the only living creatures
It contained, as she bent down. passed
her arm beneath his neck. and for the
first time her lips met his,
ELECTROMAGNETIC does It matter
Mark2" she whispered, with her warm
breath seeming to caress his cheek
You have come back to me, as Il
were, from the dead"
She drew down her veil as she rose
from the parting, and the nurses
quick experienced eyes noted the
resttul happy look that had como over
her patients face
Goodbye, She said to the two
visitors. MAY 10"