The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-20

Love Is Strong as Death
By KATHERINE J. MURRAY


n chilly evening In October. and there
Is cold breeze. Yet I am moi cold.
/ was half frozen an hour ago, and !
made the nurse put this heavy slum-
Der robe over my aigntdress and my
bedroom slippers on my feet. And
saw tears Ia Aunt Alice's eyes--l
don't know why.
had been burning up with fever
and parched with thirst I had been
III SO long-nearly three weeks. She
ought to be glad to see that fever
leave me. should never be better
while It STAYED.
Now here am on the street, and
l don't see how 1t happened. must
have walked in my sleep. They
have watched me so closely. too
How is il they did not see me go?
Aunt Alice has hardly been OFT of
my sight for the past week, eud ane
nurse or another was always there.
r..:-=.s. look odd in my slumber robe
and slippers but III keep on in the
shadow, and nobody win notice. OF
course. cannot stay out long; but it
is so good to feel the fresh air once
more
feel 50 well-so strongl No more
fever, no more aching body and limbs.
know I never shall be i'll again.
Something worried me great deal
before was ill., Indeed l think if
made me i'll. but can't remember
what it was. so it does not matter.
Nothing worries me now, and feel
so light-so happyl
Oh that muddy crossingi III sure.
" wet my feetl IN pick my way
over; / don't want to go home just
yet Why, what frightened that
horse? Was it my white dress? How
he rears ana plunges and now he
has bolted down the street But
am safely over. I must have grown
thin while was III, for have stepped
SO lightly did not leave track in
the mud. and my slippers are quite
dry.
Here comes our nextdoor neighbor,
with her noble English mastlff. Rex
is such fine dog, and he and are
great chums. Last night heard him
bowling unusual for him
don't know what his mistress will
think to see me out in this dress
without a hat Good evening. Mrs.
Vincent; I'm so glad to be out againl
She does not answer, yet she must
have seen me. Perhaps she did not
recognize me. But then Rex would
not let me pat him, but howled and
ran away. Surely the dog would
know me. even if she did not. It's
very curious; can't understand it.
Oh. there's the doctor with his as
sistant, and he's driving 1T q furi-
ous rate. Can it be Aunt Alice has
sent for him? I'm afraid so; and
now ! must go straight home, for they
have missed me.
Here comes Judge Stilwell and his
nephew, the young artist who paint
ed my portrait last year. thought
it would be dreadful bore; but
Aunt Alice wanted It, so I sat tC
please her. and | was really sorry
when he finished. had not
seen him since | waited, but he
never came. I'll let them pass aud
then follow, for he must not see me
in this dress. They are following the
doctors and can hear them talk
ing.
"She has been III for several weeks
Il was some sort of a low fever She
was not thought to be in a danger
GUS condition until a few days ago
but | heard this morning she was
very low, and they feared she woulC
not last through the day"
That's the old judge. What woult
he say If he knew the sick girl was
walking close behind him? But
didn't know had been in danger o
death.
Il am greatly grleved and sur
, prised TO hear It. She was the yer.
picture Of beauty and health when
painted her portrait"
That's Willis Vernon, the artist
Now the judge is talking:
"The doctor drove by at the to-
Of his speed, and turned up the 7ree
where she lives. That looks as
there had been a change Of som
kind"
Suppose we walk up there and in
, quire. I should be very sorry I
hear"
J why should his voico falter? II
never cared for me- and my hear
broke when | found that out Tha
was what made me in. | remembe
now want to laugh, but I'm afrai
they win hear lsow perfectly al
sard to think that | should diel Tn
judge looks at him moment an
then says:
Very well; but did not kDo'
you were so much interested. VIII
The dead leaves rustic under the
, feet, but my dress makes no noise q
Il brushes over them. The two zoe
walk on. and for a few moments tn
artist does not speak, and when b
does. can barely catch the 10
tones
Frankly, uncle, was deeply Il
rseoooeeeeseseSesesoeeoeee