Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-02
q Woman' S F ace
FLORENCE WARDEN

He disliked and feared Armathwaite,
but dOggedness surprising even his
own inspired him with respect, and
he had brought himself to a point
where his own will was absolutely
pOwerless, and he had to seek the as
s4stance of stronger one as helpless
ly as a child. He seemed to breathe
more freely as, retreating to the
furthest window, he stood watching
the movements of the other man with
fascinated eyes. Armathwaite. cool
and stolid as he looked, was at least
as much excited as Crosmont himself,
command of his healthy faculties, and
unhlnged by months of wearing pas
sion and anxiety, he was in complete
command Of his halthy faculties. and
full OF purpose so earnest, so devoted,
that he felt strung up to a pitch Of
force and energy he had never known
before as he looked down upon the
unconscious woman who had drawn
him to her rescue, and whose destiny
had been in this unexpected manner
thrown into his hands He had no
fear for the result, no fear but that
the loyal and chivalrous devotion he
felt for this helpless woman would be
a force strong enough to bring her
back to life and health and perhaps
happiness. No obstacle, not even the
mad passion for another woman of q
selfish and cruel husband. seemed, at
that moment, sufficiently serious to
stand in the way of his energy and his
hopes
1t was with look on his face which
would have become the priest as well
as the doctor that he took both the
llVid listless hands in his left. while
he passed his right palm several
times swiftly and firmly down her
arms from shoulder to wrist. She was
sensitive to the very first touch.
Wen, after a few moments. he asked
IN low voice: Are you awake p"
she opened her eyes and smiled feeblv
at MIN IN answer, keeping her gaze
hXed on his face with scarcely more
apparent recognition than a lost child
SHOWS TO a stranger who is kind to it.
Crosmont, who was watching the pro-
ceedlngs intently from the window
burst into a loud expression of relief
as he came forward But at the sound
OF his voice, of his noisy tread. Alma
sprang up into a sitting posture, with
the Old look of gloom and sadness in
her eyes.
L thought l was dead" she muir
INJURED, in weak and broken voice,
Then, with a shudder, she closed her
eyes and sank back again.
We'll, you're a ID ungrateful
woman" burst out Crosmont sullen-
~, and, with a half-angry, half-con-
temptuous nod to the doctor he
swung himself out of the room. bang
ing the door with a violence which
made the corridor echo and the win
dows rattle.
Inc noise seemed to rack his wife's
frame. She twisted her neck and
curved her limbs in acute pain, and
1t was not until after the last faint
sound of his heavy tread had dieu
away in the distance that the con,
tracted muscles of her face relaxed
and that, in silence and absolute still
ness, the sensation of suffering sub
sided and gradually gave place to
feellngs of curiosity and surprise.
still held her hands. and
tried to chafe some warmth into
them; but he said nothing, being
to let her collect her THOUGHTS
so that he might present
~ find out how much she remembered
OF the incidents of her long sleep.
The expression of her face grew
gradually puzzled and troubled. At
last she asked in the same weak
voice as before:
'Why are you here? Have 1 been
il?"
No, but you have been asleep so
long that your husband got anxious.'
She laughed, not bitterly, but with
the involuntary amusement produced
by incongruous ideas.
so he asked me TO come in and
see you"
He asked you to Gomez"
Eyes"
This fact seemed surprising enough
to require lengthy digestion.
"You didn't come of your own
accord, them"
No. L was coming out Of a house
"a few doors off when Mr.. Crosmont
met me and asked me to CALI
THAT is strange. In my dreams
you seemed to be with me, following
mech! long time. 1t made me
feel safe"
You had dreams?"
Eyes, a long, strange dream-that l
have had before, l think. Yes, l am
sure l have had it before, twice, l
think, or three times"
"Weu?"
81 seemed to be flying through
thick clouds-I had to cut my way
through them, and then l went up
up, and the clouds slipped away from
under my feet, ard it was dark and
cold. And then-oh, but it is silly to
try to remember dreams;" she cried,
breaking off suddenly, while there
passed over her face a flush so slight
that it scarcely stained for a moment
the waxen pallor of her cheeks.
But go on" said Armathwaite, stin
chatting her hands.
She was perfectly docile, and
though she spoke with lowered voice,
she continued at once:
Then | thought l kissed-some-
! one"
''Who was it,"