Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1905-03-03
THE KISS
...OF LIFE:
tOriginal.l

for these were all dead. My aunt stood
at the foot of the bed My Cousin
Eugenia, TO whom was engaged to be
married, sat weeping near q window,
her face buried in her handkerchief.
Laura, whom my mother had left to
my care when little girl Of but ten
years Old and for whom had provided
ever since. stood in the background,
crowded away from the bed by the
others, and / could not see her face.
Laura was now twenty and by my
death would be left without Il home or
support. l had provided for her, but
had not been fully satisfied with the
new will in which l had made the pro-
vision and had kept it locked where it
would not be found. The old will left
everything to Eugenia.
The doctor came and put his hand on
my heart and after leaving it there
few minutes said in softly modulated
voice:
1T is all over
My cousin Tom turned and with bow
ed head walked out of the room. slow
ly at first. but more rapidly as he
neared the door. and l could hear him
going downstairs with springy step.
Eugenia rose and cast n frightened
glance my way. | expected to see in
her face indications of 4 blighted life
was astonished 10 discover 4 look Of
relief Aunt Winifred Went TO her, put
her arm around her, Eugenia's head
full on her mothers shoulder, and they
passed out Of the chamber.
One by one those who had been with
me in my last moments left me. Lau-
IA stood by window with her back
TO me She waited till the last person
had departed, then turned. On her
face was genuine grief. She had con-
cealed il In presence Of the others. but
now that they were gone she gave full
vent to ii. Coming to me, she knelt
by my bed. put her face down into her
hands and sobbed as if her heart
would break. But hearing a step with
out she rose, brushed away her tears
and began to busy herself about the
room, gliding noiselessly here and
there while the doctor, who had forgot
ten his satchel, came in, put away his
medical paraphernalia and went away.
Was | dead?
/ didn't believe | was. ! had often
heard OF the comatose condition III
which n person may linger for a long
while and concluded that mine was
such case. was certainly paralyzed.
Had | not been propped up with pill
lows l should not have seen what ! /
did.
During the night l heard a faint |
laugh in q distant chamber. l recog- !
nized it at once, for l had long loved |
it. 1t was Engenia's laugh. l heard a
sob in the hall, and in few moments /
Laura came in. Softly approaching the
bed. she stood looking down at me.
Presently she seemed to notice some /
thing in my face-probably q life-lilIe /
tlnCe At any rate, she touched my /
cheek. She appeared to be disappoint-
ed and took her hand away, but not be-
fore il had stirred my dormant pulse.
Then she bent down and imprinted q
kiss upon my lips.
That kiss was like new fuel to
Pickering fire. / could feel my heart
begin TO beat-slowly M first, but
quickening every moment. Laura
must have noticed the change, for she
FASTENED out Of the room, and present
~ my aunt and my cousin Tom came
huTying in and looked at me.
"Nonsenser' said Tom. but with n
look full Of fear that / might live.
IT'S that stupid Laura's fancy" said
my aunt.
! hoped TO hear more, but after a
hasty glance they left the room. Laura
came back and stood peering down in
10 my face. ! gave faint sigh. Quick
as fash she put her hand to my heart
and felt it beating. Selling my hand
she chafed il spasmodically. then ran to
the door and called over the banister.
Get the doctor, quick
When the doctor came the sun was
shining in AT my window. and there
is nothing more reyiving than its rays.
Laura had started life anew: the sun '
gave il strength. The doctor declared
that ] still lived, but after deliberation
decided not 10 give me any remedy. ,
though he ordered tank of oxygen for
me - breathe. The household again
gathered in the room my fiancee APP
me with n partly concealed
dread or disappointment in her face.
They crowded about my bed and Lau-
IA. as before, was crowded out. Then, I
when sure / lived, they went away {