The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-04-28


feared, was there not some way In
which she might, before it was too
late, wipe out fhe false impression she
had made tonight She could not
bear the thought that he would think
bitterly of her-afterward. Surely 1t
would be some comfort to him to know
the truth then. Yes, he must be told.
She would write a letter and confess
all. If she lived, 1t must be destroyed;
If she died, it must be delivered.
Il nave seH you away from me"
she wrote, ''and am now breaking my
heart because l will never look into
your face again. David, tonight I
acted a part to you. l forced myself
to be cold and false. / made myself
fright to prevent you telling me of
your love. knew that II you did so
| would not have the strength to re-
sist you. l did not want you to guess
that cared. wanted you to think
me a heartless firt-to despise me-
anything, rather than you should re.
gret or nave neart-acne.
To-day my doctor told me that /
must go under the knife within the
next few days. He said that there
was a slight chance, but In my heart
l know that, II l do live, will be a
weak, sickly woman. But don't be.
lieve there is a chance, so want to
tell you how dear you are to me be-
fore 1t is too late. love you as only a
woman can hwve g man who represents
everything that is good and strong and
true to her. For nearly two years
have waited to hear you say what you
said tonight. Six months ago l pre-
vented you because was not quite
sure; thought 1t would be wiser for
you to wait until ysu returned. /
could not realize that the glory Of your
love should be shovered on me.
thought 1t fair for you to see other
women before you offered your life to
me.
David, l want you to understand
how desperately hard 1t was to refuse,
to listen to you tonight. 1t was the
greatest sacrifice l have ever made in
my life, and prayed for strength to
do It, Ny whole being rsvolted at the
part set myself to play, although l
felt 1t was best for you-now and af-
terward. Can yo1 forgive me, Da-
vidr
She then ranG for her maid, and, af-
ter explaining about what was to hap
pen to her, she gave her the letter and
said what she wished her to do with
II.
No surgeon cen ever be quite certain
to what length a disease has spread
until he starts to use the knife, and
oftentimss he finds it more or less Sc
rious than be anticipated.
50 1t was that when DIR. Sanders
commenced to operate on Elizabeth
Trent he vas aaYSsably surprised to
find that, instead OF her case being
most complicated, 1t vas merely an
ordinary one.
"She will be all right now, nurse"
the great surgeon aaid after the opera
tion. Fortunately, It has not been SO
serious ss we feared. 1t Is decidedly
interesting casa, and she will pull
through splendidly With careful nurs-
ing"
1t was two weaAs later when Eliza
beth ASKED her maid If she had de-
stFeyed the letter she had given to her
the eve Of the operation.
Destroy 1t, Miss Elizabethr the
woman answered. II though you said
to post 1t II you lived.
"Oh, Harmon! You surely have not
sent that letter.
"Yss, Mise Elisabeth, have. 1
thought you wanted me to destroy It
IL anything happened to you, and to
post 1T II ycu Got safely through the
operation. l veited until last night to
make sure that yea did not have q re-
lapss, then | thought II was time"
Before KliEabeth could answer, q
nurse came in with a HoriSt's box in
her hand ana q bright snss on her
face.
''TAis is fer yea, Miss Treat" che
aaid. "shall unfastsa it7"
EllEabstA eSiSd out In joyous sur
pYies at tAa wealth Of beautiful Aow-
ers with which the bon was Allied. But
her eyes went bRycAd them to letter
that lay partly hidden in their leaves.
1T 10 ffcm David" she whispered
softly, So she saxSd at the dear, IA
miller handwriting. As she opened It
With QWick, trembling fingers, the
nuras and Hagmoa quietly vent out
OF the recon.
"My DARLING" EliEabsth read, "I
have juss received your letter. Only
hsls an hcaf before, met Mansfield,
ana he teld nae Of your illness. l
thought he must b mistakes. but he
said his Nafs had bssa to ne you at
the hospital yesterday. Ny first i'm
pulse wss 10 90 and beg them 10 lei
me sSs yoR. but remembered that
you would net care to have me. Feel
ing deadly miserable, went back to
my roOnA ana there found yoar letter
waiting for HSe. Oh, Elizabeth! 1t
SCENE too wonderful 10 be true-that
you RhcaM love me like that. why,
my deAs, you we're never more lovable
in my Eyes than yea were that night.
You looked iii and tired, and longed
to have TIE FisAt 10 take care Of you
and shieA yea from all annoyances.
When / rerssnbsx the hard thiR&s l
said I feel that 1t will tahs all my
life to eadeavW to wipe them out.
Elizabeth, almoSt ss s@Sa as you read
this l will be vita yov. Ana then
my atonement will conneace." Black
and white.