Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-05-13
And II hor operation was 70 20 "A

wipe ont The false impression she had
made tonight? She could not bear
the thought that he would think Bit
tcrly of hcr-afterward. Surely it
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 would be de-
stroyed; if she died, it must be dcliv-
cred.
81 have sent you away from me" she
wrote, "and am now breaking my
heart because | will never look into
your face again. David, tonight I
acted a part to you. | forced myself
to be cold and false. | made myself
a fright to prevent you telling me OF
your love. | knew that if you did 50
] would not have the strength to resist
you. | did not want you to guess hat
| cared. I wanted you to think me a
heartlrss fiirt-to despise me-any-
thing, rather than you should regret
or have a heartache.
To-day my doctor told me- that |
must 20 under The knife within the
next few days. He said that there was
a slight chance, but in my heart | know
that. if | do live, | will be a weak, sick
ly oma But | don't believe there Is
a chance, so | want to tell you how deaf
you are to me before it Is too late. I
love you as only a woman can love
the man who represents everything
that is good and strong and true to her.
Fol nearly two years | have waited to
hear you say what you said tonight.
Six months ago [ prevented YOU be-
cause | was not quite sure; ! Thought
it would be wiser for you 20 wait until
You returned. | could not realize tina
the glory of your love should be show
cred on me. | thought 1t fair for You
to see other women before YOU offered
our life To me.
David | want you to understand how
desperately hard it was to refuse ia
listen to you tonight. II was thu
greatest sacrifice | have over made in
my life, and | prayed for strength to
do it. My whole being rovOltCd at the
part | set myself to play, although |
felt II was best for you-now and after
ward. Can you forgive mo, Davido"
She then rang for her maid. and,
after explaining about what was to
happen 20 her, she gave her the letter
and said what She wished her to do
with it.
No surgeon ran ever be quite certain
to what length a disease has spread
until he starts to use the knife, and
Oftentimes he finds it more or less seri-
Gus than he anticipated.
SO it was that when Or. Sanders
commenced to operate on Elizabeth
Trent he was agroeably surprised to
find that, instead of her case being
most complicated, i, was merely an
ordinary one.
"She will be all right now, nurse"
the great surgeon said after the oper-
alton. 'Fortunatcly. il has not been
50 serious as we feared. 1t is "A de-
cidedly interesting case, and sh" will
pull through GplenGidly with careful
nursing"
1t was two weeks later when Eliza
beth asked her maid if She had de-
stroyed III" letter sh" had given to Ter
on the eve of the operation.
! "Drstroy it, Miss Elizabeth" the
l woman answered. Il thought You said
- post it if you lived"
con Harmon. You surely haze not
l sent that letter."
Eyes. Miss Eli2abotA, | have. |
thought you wanted me to destroy it
II anything happened to you and to
post it If you got safely through -
operation. | waited until last night 10
make sure that You did not have a re-
lapse, then | thought il was time"
Before Elizabeth could answer a
, rt.rse came in with IA florists box in
her hand and a bright smile on her
face.
, This is for you, Miss Trent" She
. said. Shall unfasten ito"
Elizabeth cried out in Joyous srr-
. prise al the wealth of beautiful flowers
= with which the hox vas filled. Bat
Z her eyes went beyond them to a letter
that lay partly hidden in their leaves.
. at Is from David" she whispered
i softly, as she gazed at the dear, fa-
| miliar handwriting, AS she opened II
U with quick, trembling fingers, the nurse
: and Harmon quietly went out Of the
! room.
My darling" Elizabeth read, "a
: have just received your letter. Only
y half an hour bcior". ! met Mansfield
and he told me of your illness.
: thought he must be mistaken, but hs
said his wife had been to see you al
the hospital YESTERDAY. My first i'm.
-t ,- -. 4 h..