Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1903-03-20

IN NalluhN loslion lndN WA6 quite !
new to hihi, and innocent Clara !
blushed With pleasure and never
wondered whether the other lips
were sometimes resuisitioncd TO re-
mind him OF her kisses also.
Meanwhile Clara's heaNh WAS
rapidly giving way. Her cough grew
more troublesome than ever, and ex-
asperated lack, who was q light
sleeper. 80 much that he had his bed
made in the spare room on the floor
above. Clara said nothing TO this ar
rangement as she always studied her
husbands comfort, but she often
wept silently to herself during the
lonely. wakeful nights.
She now saw very little Of Jack,
as he was not only away during busi-
ness hours, but spent most of his
spare time at Oxfords'. 1t interested
him he said, To watch che develop
ment Of a nature that should by all
physiological Appearances be akin to
her own. and he persuaded her that
the growing intimacy between Mabel
(he now called Miss oxford by her
Christisn usine) ana himself was a
ldnd OF beautiful refection-sn strict
ly platenic lines-uf their own love.
And the poor little woman swallow
e6 II all. and even felt a sense OF
gratitude for this double manifesto
tion Of her husbands devotion.
One day the doctor broke the news
to Mrs. Aston that tlse condition Of
her health gave cause for great anx-
ia D.
specialist on diseases OF the lungs
without delay Jack. on talking it
over aftervsrd, said that all physi-
clans were fools, and the biggest
fool charged the biggest price so
make up for other deficiencies. How
ever, although he Was inclined to
| pooh-psoh the whole affair, he con-
sented 20 his wife seeing a special
list, and consultation was accord
ingly arranged.
Clara, who wus nervous sd terri
bly, afraid Of stethoscoPes and tap
ping, would have liked Jack TO ac-
company her TO the eminent physi-
ian'g house. But on the morHing of
the appointment he came downstairs
with resdy-pscked travelling bag
and aanounced that if a certain letter
we're waiting for him at the Office he
would be obliged to undertake
| journey on business and would not
return hsfers the following day
If It had not been on account Of
urgent busiaess, Clara would have
thought her husbands absence at
this critical iuneture very unkind.
For the specialist would pronounce
on her that afterhoon. nentence Of
life or death. But the journey, If
! undertaken, was clearly unavoidable
and she could only reproach fate for
having chosen that day Of all others
to separate then.
Still. it would have been kinder,
Clara thought, # Jack had asked her
to telegraph the result Of her in
terview to him. but he went of in a
hurry after the briefest Of farewells,
and she was obliged to console her
self with the reflection that pressure
Of time had furried Kim into forget
fulness.
"He will think Of It ss ssoa a. he
has n moments leisure" she repeat
| Fn 10 HkINFlA OAEE anu ONEI dEAl1s
"and then he win feel miserable
about II, poor fellow, and send me a
telegram asking to have she verdict
wired 10 his Office"
The physician shook his head a. he
examined her chest, tapped each rib,
and listened to the labored breath
ing. II was not his custom 10 con
ceal The truth from his patients, but
he regarded Clara's pale, anxious face
and frail form with intense pity
when it was all over.
The poor creature read her fate in
the glance Of sympathy.
MY case il hopeless, is It Aotf'
she asked IN low tremulous voice.
"I fear So" replied the Doctor
gently.
"Shall live iongi"
She awaited his answer n psfnful
suspense.
"One lung is gone" ssid the great
man laying = kindly hand on her
arm, and the other is-going. The
end OF the disease will depend much
upon climatic conditions. fear
unless you car manage TO 60 south
At once"
"That I may not last through this
cold weather" put In Clara, to helE
him out.
He nodded with a serious afr, and
a few minutes later the unhsppy pa
tient, her doom ringing in her ears
was speeding home.
A letter in Jacks handwriting lay
upon the hall table. II had been de.
livered by special messenger, the ser.
wants Hsid, shortly after her de
parture.
'Dear old Jacirl" she cried. forget
ting the terrible blow that had just
been dealt her IN the joy Of the mo
ment. 81 knew he would remember
me AID send some messaRel"
Shs tore open the envelope and TAX
ing ont the letter kissed It raptur.
susly. Then she hurried into the
drawing-room 20 read it there alone
and undisturbsd.
Dear Clara" 1t ran. ny the time
this reaches you 1 shall be on my way tC
Europe. Mabel is going with me. Ny
object ln writing Is to wish you goodbye
forever, and to assure you that on my
return some arrangement shall be made
with regard TO your future welfare. You
can. II you Ike, get a separaiion-pos-
sibly even a divorce Cthe latter would
enable me 10 marry Mabel; but although
the world invariably says nasty things
Of people Ia our predcament. 4 am. IN
yielding to the irresistible fascination OF
a woman whose charm lies IN the fact
that she Is your counterpart paying you
the highest compliment Yours.
Jack fhton."
-Pittsburg Dispatch