Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-07-23
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THE CONSEQUENCE
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A. SHORT STORY.
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BY ALICE MACK.
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take pace within few days, Or"
"Or what"
at may be too late 10 operate at ALL"
"And-l will get through 1t safely"
81 hope So"
"You are not sure. You think there
il q .ltst Is Always risk in every op-
eration," he answered, evasively.
"Tcll mo the truth. doctor; / can
bear It,"
The old man looked into the desper.
ate eyes and put his hand gently on
the woman's shoulder.
"You are brave woman. I will tell
| you the truth. This operation Is q
very serious one. In fact, there is on
| ly a chance that you survive Ii. But
there Is chance, and for the sake Of
it you must not lose heart"
Couldn't I wait until next month
just for few weeks longer? 1t sure
ly would not make any difference If it
was postponed till then"
my child" the doctor answered, IF
we postponed it for q few weeks, for
even one week, you will lose your one
| chance Of recovery. Let me advise
you, and make up your mind to go
through it Immediately"
Immediately?
"Within the next few days. You
must go into the hospital tomorrow
to be prepared for It,"
She drove home in q hanson with
the tears running down her white
checks and Ler heart rebelling at the
cruel hand Of Fate that had SO unspar-
| fngly dealt her this blow. Was 1t be-
cause she, like fool had thrust away
with laughing eyes the happiness that
| had been held out to Ter, and the gods
| had guessed 1t was only a freak and
were Furnishing her because she inso-
lently played with the best thing they
had to give? Six mt nths ago, when
| David Moore had started to tell her
how dear she was to him, she had
stopped Linn with laugh and had
warned him that it would be wiser to
wait till he returned from abroad be-
fore he decided that she was the "only
woman in the world"
| III be back in six months, Eliza.
beth" he sale. 'I'll come straight to
YOU"
And now the six months were at an
END, for that morning a telegram had
come telling nor Of his arrival in Eng
land. and to expect to see him to-
night.
When she arrived at the house where
in CHI
down the lamps under their red shades
and told the maid to put more coal OH
| the fire.
After sha had some tea she went to
her room. The frock she had chosen
to wear was lying on the bed. 1t was
q soft blue silk. and was very simply
made. Quickly she put it back into
the wardrobe and took down one that
was just efficiently old-fashioned to
| be dowdy.
molly sale look twenty in blue
and thirty-tve in black" she wills.
percd as she laid 1t on the bed.
Then she unfastencd her hair. She
remembered some one once saying,
ITO part the hair in the centre either
makes woman look much older or
much younger than she actually is"
Then she put on the dowdy black
frock. Having finished her strange
toilet, she went down to her sitting
room and waited. Fifteen minutes
later her visitor came.
Elizabeth saw him and noticed the
surprised look in his eyes as she held
out her hand to him and asked cody
how he had enjoyed his trip.
"Are you Ill, Elizabeth" he said
quickly, without answering her, and
looking anylously at the face that had
changed almost beyond recognition
Since he last saw It,
mo, no! Why should be ill!"
| "You look SO white. and
"Old." she finished. "Well, am
six months older, you must remember,
since You went away, and l am not
the type Of woman who wears WE'LL"
us anything the matter? Are you
in trouble?"
"What should there be TO, trouble
me? l never do anything hut have a
good time. l love excitement and all
that sort Of thing"
The man looked as II he were not
sure that lie had heard Alright.
"No," Elizabeth continued, II am
not really different. hut you have per.
haps been accustomed to fresh young
faces lately, and so poor mine seems
old and withered In comparison. Tell
me how you enjoyed your ylsit?'
Fairly, but was 70 anxious to
get back to London TO see you again
that did not think much about 1t.
Y0n know why wished TO be here by
the fifteenth, Elizabeth"
She looked as though she were try
ing to remember.
Darling" he went on, coming close
to her, you bave not forgotten that
you said you would listen to me when
l returned. You know, without any
words, that you are the dearest wo.
man in the world to me and that
wish you for my wife"
Your rife" she echoed with q
snecring laugh. "Thank you, no.
must decline the honor"
Elizabeth" and his face turned
white as he held her hands tightly
"what do you mean?"
'Just that" she said. II decline the
honor"
"Then," and he dropped her hands
and turned away. II had better go
l was n conceited fool. Forgive me
My love for you has carried mo toe
far Goodbye, Elizabeth"
Her acting haI been a success, toe
much of success, for not only had he
gone away with the idea that she was
indifferent to him. but she had forced