The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-08-26


: T ( s.2g5y pronounced SEN
1cs The operation must
take place within a few days, Or"
cor what?"
at may be too late to operate at ALL"
"And-I will get through it safely?"
81 hope So"
"You are not sure. You think there
is a risk?"
There is always a risk in every op-
eration," he answered, evasively.
Tell mo the truth, doctor; l can
bear it."
The old man looked into the desper-
ate eyes and put his hand gently on
the womans shoulder.
you are a brave woman. l will tell
you the truth. This operation is a
very serious one. In fact, there is on
ly chance that you survive it. But
there is chance, and for the sake of
it you must not lose heart"
Couldn't | wait until next month
just for a few weeks longer? 1t sure
ly would not make any difference if it
was postponed till then"
"My child" the doctor answered, eff
we postponed it for a 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 a hanson with
the tears running down her white
cheeks and Ler heart rebelling at the
cruel hand of Fate that had so unspar-
ingly dealt her this blow. Was it be-
cause she, like fool, had thrust away
with laughing eyes the happiness that
had been held out to her, and the gods
had guessed it was only a freak and
were Furnishing her because she inso-
lently played with the best thing they
had to give? Six months ago. when
David Moore had started to tell her
how dear she was to him, she had
stopped him 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"
"Tll 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 telegram had
come telling her of his arrival in Eng
land, and to expect to see him to-
night.
h When she arrived at the house where
she lived in Kensington she turned
down the lamps under their red shades
and told the maid to put more coal Oh
the fire. %--
After she had some tea she went to
her room. The frock she had chosen
to wear was lying on the bed. it was
soft blue silk, and was very simply
made. Quickly she put it back into
the wardrobe and took down one that
was just sufficiently old-fashioned to
be dowdy.
"Molly said I look twenty in blue
ana Iulrty-nVe Ill DldcK, she Wills
pered as she laid it on the bed.
Then she unfastened her hair. She
remembered some one once saying
''To part the hair in the centre either
makes a woman look much older OF
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 hel(
out her hand to him and asked cody
how he had enjoyed his trip.
"Are you i'll, ELIZABETH" he sale
quickly, without answering her, an(
looking anxiously at the face that hat
changed almost beyond recognition
since he last saw it.
no, no. Why should be ill?"
''You look so white, and"
"Old," she finished. well, l an
six months older, you must remember
since you went away, and am 10
the type of woman who wears well.