Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-06-02

| IL began WIN "a severe Colu WHICH
turned to low fever Proper medicine
was prescribed for that, yet the fever
grew no less, and the boys strength
failed him day after day until those
who nursed him and cared for him
most feared the hour would come when
there would be no more strength, and
the wasting fever would have its own
way.
Lord Selwyn had sent to London for
professional nurse; Mrs. Rivers
was with him night and day: Lady
Beatrice was untring In her attend.
anco; every servant In the house con.
sidered 1t a privilege to wait upon the
young heir Everything that human
/ skill could suggest was done; neither
trouble nor expense was spared, yet
: the boy grew no better. The wander
ings became more frequent, the sane
intervals more rare. The worst
feature Of the case was his sleepless
ness The doctors agreed that some
hours Of sound sleep might In all prob
ability restore him to health but that
slnmber never fell upon him. DR..
| Danvers prepared nightly an opiate
that was as strong as he dared to
! make It. He gave strict or.
ders that the nurse or Mrs. Rivers
should administer 1t when the whole
household had retired. and there was
nothing to mar It's effect-no chance OF
any noise to arouse him.
Night after night the opiate was ad-
ministered always with the same eff
feet, until II seemed that there was lit
tie hope left for the heir Of Selwyn.
Lord Selwyn was constant In his
visits to the slcls-room 1t was pitlful
To see the strong, handsome man bend
ing over the fragile boy. with such sor-
row in his eyes and unspoken prayers
on his lips how he spoke to him with
tender WOrds--hOw he besought him
to taste the dainty food and wine from
which the poor child recoiled In shud-
dering dread-how, when the boy slept,
he lnelt by his side, praying, with
weeping eyes that this one great treas.
lure, VIolante's son, might be spared
| to him. He seemed to forget the pres
ence Of nurses, of servants, all and
everything except the boy whose life
was so slowly ebbng away.
The day came at last when Lord
Selwyn looked into the Doctors face
with despairing eyes, and asked:
Can nothing more lie done for him ?"
for him." and the doctor with grave
words. answered that unless the boy
could sleep, he must die. Sleep! The
whltefaced woman In the Widows
cap, who never left him, wearied
Heaven with her prayers for sleep.
She knelt for long hours together.
begging for sleep. The kind de-
voted father who would have given his
lie for this boy, prayed as men sell
dom pray, for sleep, Yet the burning
eyolIds never dropped, the tired eyes
never closed In peaceful slumber.
So The shadow deopened, and Lord
Sewyn wandered despairfu''y round
his magnificent home. whole
heart was conferred on Rupost, and the
great love was because he was Vic.
lantes son He had lost the mother,
now the shadow Of death lay upon her
child, He could not rest; he went
several times during the night to see
how the hoy Jared. He would have
sat up with him. night after night.
only that gentle Mrs Rivers said his
presence would be more likely to dis
turb the sufferer than to couduce to
sleep
He could not sleep In vain Lady
Beatrice implored and pressed him,
His heart was sick and sore within
him. his conscience net quite ut rest.
II seemed to him that his sons illness
was in punishment of his wlfe's unhap-
pinCsS that as he had not taken suf,
dcient care Of the mother. he was not
allowed 10 retain the child lie vexed
himself with these thoughts ms the
danger Of HIS son increased; his mel
anChcly and even despair, deeponcd,
There were many who believed the
Same sword which smote the fair
young son would destroy the father
Little Lance mourned for his play
fellow and Lady BcatriCc-well u0 one
know what my lady thought. Out.
wardly she observed every deCorum;
she was kind 10 the child gentle and
sympathizmg to Lord Selwyn mildly
plaIntiye to all strangers; but her true
THOUGHTS No one knew, aud Il was rs
well they should not
Tho boy who lay there gaspiug for
breath murmuriug sentences that had
no connection and no sense. was the
only barrier between her beautiful
boy and the splendid inheritance.
When Lady Beatrice sat alone, there
was little sorrow In her face nothing
hut a gloam Of triumph in her dark
eyes and great guilty Joy throbhins
at her heart
Mrs Rivers had become Invaluable.
Even Lord Solwyn IN the midst of his
sorrows paused 70 watch the gentle
soothing hands The anlv rest poor
Runnrt oyer foun3 wac whom Ia law IN