The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-29

form fitted before me and around me.
making no noise. no disturbance, but
ever near. having an influence on my
comfort.
l felt rather than knew that | was
i'll. and that woman was tendeTly min
istering to my weIl-being saw with
] eyes that could not appreciate facts.
( but exaggerated them, did my i'm
agination.
had just enough reason to think of
woman instead of angel Yet either
would nave been correct.
/ seemed to be rising slowly from some
great depth. How I had gone down so
low. and whether had been deep below
| the surface of the earth, or what. where,
/ when, did not know or even care.
! Ny brain was struggling through
cloudy thickness that enthralled 1t. AS 1
! continued to rise. I felt great light
ness of body. 1 seemed to float on the
air. The gentle being at my side could
have held me in her hand
I tried to speak. What words 7 ut
| tered know not. But I do know that
whatever they were. they broke the
spell
There was little ery-perhaps of
alarm. perhaps of gladness, perhaps
merely surprise There was swish
fitted from the room.
But It was not to neglect me or leave
me alone In that moment when 1 so
much needed the attention OF some one
who knew me, and to whom l could
look with confidence. I was alone just
about two minutes.
But. of course. these two minutes
| seemed an indefinite space of time to
me. continued TO rise lightly. and at
last came to rest-upon a comfortable
bed.
AS my eyes gained by the growing
strength Of my brain. I seemed to feel
that this room, or something in II, was
SuIz15 IiIls sBM eIIqm puV -IBIIIuBJ
blanlxly at the paper on the wall. the
lace curtains in the windows. the oak
dresser, a heavy tread sounded. and the
door opened.
who entered. l knew is was my cousin
James. But whether he had come TO
waken me after n long sleep. or had
come to see me after long Illness, 1
could not determine
Ny mind worked slowly-in fact. Il
could almost be said that even up to
that moment It did not work at all. =
There was a peculiar look on the face
OF James-a look / now know was
mingled was gladness and anxiety
He came softly to the side of the bed.
looked down into my face. and touched
my hand.
DO you know me. Arnold?'' he asked
softly.
Yes, James," whispered
Thank GodT' he breathed. and I
fancied great sigh escaped him.
What has happened? Have 1 been
ill?" I asked weakly. II think I have.
I thought a woman was here
A look Of deep anxiety again crossed
my cousins face.
I'D rather not talk TO you now. Ar
nold.'' he said. You have been III
quite Ill. AS for the woman. II was
En-. But rest now. You must be per-
feetly cool. take things easy. and leave
everything else to US. Milford will be
, in to see you soon; and Thornton"
Thornton
1t was so strange to thing Of Thorn
toms coming to see me.
had never known him to go so far
away from New York. And he was by
no means a young man. I must have
been very i'll.
Like every other sick man. no sooner
/ had I discovered that l had a tongue
than I wanted to use it constantly But
James gently chided me, and told me
that in a short time I would be strong
enough TO talk. and then he would sat
isfy all my longings for information.
was compelled 20 rest content with
I that. and James. after giving me some
\ to sleep, stepped noiselessly from the
room.
Try to sleepl I might as well have
/ tried to fly.
began studying all the events could
remember that had happened since I
had come 70 Utica-since 1 had seen
! Thornton last
Il dawned upon me that he had sent
me away for my health. and from that
I reasoned that my health must have
gone back on me. and Thornton, like
the faithful old friend he was. had
come TO get me back on my feet again.
While 1 was thinking this over. and
wondering why my head throbbed and
ached so. and why 1 was so Internally
weak. heard a bell 1t was the tele-
phone bell.
I knew / was in James house But
why was EN- his wife. there, too? Was
Il already September? Had the sum-
mer fitted while 1 lay sick? 1t was too
much of problem. and 1 gave 1t up.
] ] think / did fan into doze and
was awakened from il by voices. 1
] looked up. and good old Dr. Thornton
stood bending over me. BY his side
was Dr. FulfOrd.
! 1 had not known Fulford until I saw
him at Parson Lees. Seeing him again
brought back TO me confused memory
| OF something tragedy-trouble-I could
not tell.
/ Behind the two doctors were James
and his pretty wife. managed to get
up strength enough TO take Thornton's
! hand and smiled at En-.
We'll" said Thornton. In his usual
tone. you are as good as any Of us
yet WeHr"
Thornton. ] knew. was not a man 20
make mystery in a sick room with whis-
pers and exaggerated efforts to do
things by stealth. which usually has the
effect Of frightening a patient.
I'm glad 10 see you" 1 said. Then,
turning TO James wife. when did you
come home. Em?"
"A few days ago, Arnold" she said.
This was all pleasant. and their con-
versation was natural and cheerful. Yet
/ . -. L. ..