The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-11-19
me- do YOU know to whom or to what

Il do.
'Then, in heavens name, tell me.
She must be reused from her leth-
argy if she is to live. What did she
mean :"
doctor, I cannot tell you"
''But you must. | insist upon it.
Is that life of no consequence to
you? Can you see her die and keep
back what might save her life?"
eyes"
"Then you are committing MUIR
der"
The nurses eyes were fixed on the
fire. She seemed to be seeking guild
ance from the flames. At last her
courage failed her, and in distress
she cried:
ooh, heaven. What shall 1 do?
I dare not"
The doctor moved up to her.
Nurse" said he, zone thing you
must do. You must tell me what
you know. If you do not, your life
will be made hideous and unbearable
by the memory of tonight. Cannot
you trust me? You know she looks
upon me as friend. The secret, if
secret there be, is as safe with me as
with you. You must tell me. What
did she mean by Linley? Is it
mans name?"
eyes"
The doctor glanced involuntarily
at the bed. No, she could not hear;
he need not have lowered his voice.
'Her lover"
eyes"
The clock struck, and the woman
on the bed was one step nearer the
unknown.
cts this an old affair? l mean is
it in the past?"
"No."
The doctor sighed. He had
brought the woman into the world,
and he loved her as his own child.
"What are we to do, sir"
what indeed, nurse!
He rose and paced the room in his
perplexity.
Linley! Who was he? Pshaw.
What did it matter? The woman
would most surely die unless she
could be reused from her lethargy.
This Linley might do it, for he was
in her mind. He must be sent for if
her life was to be saved. Her life!
What would it be worth after that?
Better death than dishonor. Let her
60 down to the grave leaving a spot
less name, let her mother sorrow for
her, let her child treasure the mem
DRY of a good mother, let her hus-
band mourn the loss of his faithful
wife. Aye, let her die. Yet dare he
take this responsibility upon him
self? He could save her. Of this
he was confident. What had he to
do with others? Saving life was his
business. She must be saved. This
Linley, whoever he was, must be
sent 1Or, ana at once.
"Nurse, we must send for him."
But the nurse only shook her head.
"Or she will die"
"Better so, sir"
And the doctor wavered.
"Better SO; aye, better so indeed
The price is too great to pay, even
for life, life of agony and dishonor.
To be held in scorn by those who
admired her before. To be scoffed
at by those whose attentions she had
not deigned to accept. To lose her
mother, husband and child at one
blow, and gain-what? No, thou
sand times, no. Let her die"
The doctor wiped great drops of
agony from his brow as he signed
her death warrant.
'1ou are right, nurse. 1t is best
she should die"
He threw himself into a chair, and
the nurse took his place at the bed
side.
Doctor" she called out at length.
He stood beside her and noted the
change.
"Call them, nurse. She will not
live the hour out"
Again they stood by the side of the
woman, speechless with grief. How
beautiful she looked! How utterly
lovely! Oh, the pity of it she must
die, so young and SO loved! Oh, the
irony that love which should have
chained her to life had been her
doom.
The clock struck once again. The
visitor was come, and the woman
breathed her last in her husbands
arms.
'Iinley! Linleyp' muttered the
doctor on his way home 81 wonder
who he is. I should like to let him