Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-06
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE KISS OF LIFE.
IOriginal.l

LOT tDeSe were all Uetu Ny aunt SlOOO
at the foot of the bed. My Cousin
Eugenia, To whom l was engaged to be
married, sat weeping near window.
her face buried in her handkerchief.
Laura, whom my mother had left TO
my care when a 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 l could not see her face.
Laura was now twenty and by my
death would be left without a 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 a softly mOdulated
voice:
lit 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 a springy step.
Eugenia rose and cast u frightened
glance my way. l expected to see i'll
her face indications of blighted life.
l was astonished TO discover Il 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-
RI 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
ceaIed it 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 i'll
which IL person may linger for Il long
while and concluded that mine was
such ii case. l was certainly paralyzed.
Had 1 not been propped up with pill
lows l should not have seen what /
did.
During the night | heard a faint
laugh in distant chamber. l recog-
nized it at once, for 1 had long loved
it. 1t was Engenia's laugh. l heard
sob in the hail. and in a 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 lffe-lile
tfnge. At any rate, she touched my
cheek. She appeared to be disappoint
ed and took her hand away, but not be
fore 1t had stirred my dormant pulse.
Then she bent down and imprinted
kiss upon my lips.
That kiss was like new fuel to
pickering fire. l 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.
'Nonsenser' said Tom, but with Il
look full of fear that 1 might live.
It's that stupid Laura's fancy" said
my aunt
l hoped to hear more, but after
hasty glance they left the room. Laura
came back and stood peering down in
to my face. gave faint sigh Quick
as n fash she put her hand to my heart
and felt ii beating. Selling my hand,
she chafed it 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 reviying than its rays.
Laura had started life anew; the sun
gave it strength. The doctor declared
that still lived, bat after deliberation
decided not to give me any remedy.
though lie ordered q tank of oxygen for
me 10 breathe. The household again
gathered in the room, my fiancee APP
preaching me with n partly concealed
dread or disappointment in her face.
They crowded about my bed, and Lau-
"a, as before. was crowded out Then.
when sure l lived, they went away
again.
The time came when l was perfect
y recovered. I broke my engagement
with Eucenia and turned the rest OF
them out of the house When they
We're all gone l sent for Laura She
came into my study wonderingly.
had two wills in my hand. / gave her
one to read 1t left all my possessions
TO my late fiancee. When Laura had
read it, handed her the other. execut-
ed that morning. 1t left everything TO
her
What does this meanT' she asked,
4 color mounting to her cheek. why
am 10 have all this propertyT'
You won it,
How
by kiss