The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-02-24
The Kiss
...OF LITE

| ava plutuctss SISTERS. Iatner, mother,
for these were all dead. Ny aunt stood
at the foot OF the bed. Ny Cousin
Eugenia. to whom was engaged TO be
married. sat weeping near window,
her face buried In her handkerchief
Laura. whom my mother had. left 10
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 home or
support. l had provided for her. but
had not been fully satisfied with the
new will I'm which had made the pro-
vision and had kept II locked where Il
would not be found. The old will left
everything to Eugenia.
The doctor came and put his hand on
my heart and after leaving 1t there a
few minutes said In softly modulated
voice:
ut Is all over"
Ny cousin Tom turned and with bow
ed head walked out of the room. slow.
~ at first, but more rapidly as he
neared the door, and could hear him
going downstairs with springy step.
Eugenia rose and cast a frightened
glance my way. expected to see In
her face indications of blighted life.
! was astonished to discover 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-
ra stood by a 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 1t in presence OF the others. but
now that they Were gone she gave full
vent to 1t. Coming to me, she knelt
by my bed. put her face down into her
hands and sobbed as II her heart
would break. But hearing step with.
out she rose, brushed away her tears
and began to busy herself about the
room, gliding nolselessly here and
there while the doctor, who had forgot
ten his satchel came in, put away his
medical paraphernalia and went away.
Was deadi
l didn't believe l was. had often
heard Of the comatose condition In
which person may linger for a long
while and concluded that mine was
such case. was certainly paralyzed
Had l not been propped up with pill
lows ] should not have seen what
did.
During the night heard faint
laugh in distant chamber. recog-
nized II at once, for had long loved
1t. 1t was Engenia's laugh. I heard
sob In the han, 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 a ilfe-like
tinge. At any rate, she touched my
cheek. She appeared to be disappoint-
ed and took her hand away, but not be-
fore It had stirred my dormant pulse.
Then she bent down and imprinted a
kiss upon my lips.
That kiss was Ike new fuel to
pickering fire. ! could feel my heart
begin to beat-slowly at first, but
quickening every moment Laura
must have noticed the change, for she
FASTENED out OF the room, and present
ly my aunt and my cousin Tom came
hurrying in and looked at me.
"Sonsensev' said Tom, but with a
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.
to my face. ! gave faint sigh. Quick
as fash she put her hand to my heart
and felt II beating. SEEKING my hand
she chafed II 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 reviving than its rays.
Laura had started life anew; the sun
gave II strength. The doctor declared
that / still lived. but after dellberation
decided not to give me any remedy,
though he ordered tank OF oxygen for
me to breathe The household again
gathered in the room, my fancee ap-
preaching me with a partly concealed
dread or disappointment in her face.
They crowded about my bed, and Lau-
"a, as before, was crowded out. Then.
when sure lived, they went away
again.
The time came when was perfect.
ly recovered. broke my engagement
with Eugenia and turned the rest OF
them out OF the house. When they
were all gone sent for Laura. She
came into my study wonderingly.
had two wills in my hand. gave her
one to read. II left all my possessions
to my late fiancee. When Laura had
read II, handed her the other, execut.
ed that morning. It left everything to
her.
what does this meanr' she asked.
color mounting to her cheek. why