The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-08-25
TEMPTED
IOriginaI.l

recommended to her husband to place
her In a sanitarium where she would
be treated for her defect. She was
taken to retreat In the country and
placed under the care Of DR.. Downing
Bowers, a specialist In such cases.
Mrs. Quincy was beautiful woman,
and there was nothing In the impair
ment of her memory to detract from
her mental or physical charms. DIR.
Bowers was a bachelor. He had con-
slant access to her, and day by day,
month by month, he felt himself yield
ing to fascination for her which was
irresistible. Then the possibilities Of
the situation occurred to him. The
woman he loved did not know that she
was married. AS her physician, he
had great power over her.
At first this was a mere fash In his
brain. Then there were times when II
would obtrude itself upon him as a
temptation. Finally when his love be-
came great power, absorbing his
whole soul, he resolved to put his plan
into practice. His patient had been
told that she was a wife and q mother.
He gave her to understand that a cure
could be best effected by travel. He
would leave his practice and take her
away with him.
The spark of love for her physician
had not entered Mrs. Gurney's breast.
But she was delighted at the prospect
Of being released from her confinement
him when no told her that he was her
husband, but since a new marriage
would satisfy any mlsgivings she
might have In the matter she proposed
that the nuptIal knot be tied again.
Perhaps there was something In the
DOCTORS evident conflicting emotions
that induced her to decline his PROPOSE
ton without taking this precautlon.
The doctor consented, but 1t was
some time before he began to make
preparations for wedding and their
departure. He shrank from the crime
he was about to commit. But Satan,
though he permits us to pause in Grim
lnal intent sharply watches as to see
that we do not forsake II. The doctor
finally began to make certain prepare
lions OF which he alone need be cognl-
cant From these he haltingly took up
others till at last he had everything in
readiness to secretly steal away with
the woman he coveted.
One morning when he visited his pa
tient he found her highly excited.
"Oh, doctor!' she exclaimed. Last
night I went to bed with headache
and dreamed all night. l dreamed Of
our little boy. 1t seemed that he had
been familiar to me from his birth.
remember him now. and can see his
face plainly In my minds eye.
dreamed Of you, his father; but your
features were not the same. They were
some one had long loved. Oh, doctor,
what does II mean? Am l getting
worse or betterY"
The doctor Was visibly agitated. He
put his hand on her wrist-from force
Of habit or to gain time to compose him
self-then said:
II think your recovery Is near"
''Then bring me my boy. must see
him at once"
For some time the physician did not
reply, He was trembling
ayes" he said at last. II think II
will be safe for you to see him. win
send for him"
Imprintlng kiss on her cheek.
something he had never done before.
he left the room.
All that day the patient chafed In
her room. waiting for the boy who had
been restored to her memory and
thinking OF the face of the man she
had seen In her dream. She sent for
DIR Bowers. but was told that be had
driven away. leaving word that he
was going to see a patient at dis
lance and would be long gone Night
came, aud he did not return. It was
during the next morning that a car
rlage drove up to the house. and In q
few minutes the door 30 Mrs Gurney's
room opened, and the man and boy Of
her dream stood before her,
'MammaF'
The woman 10 whom memory was
slowly returning saw a vision Of a
child she lndlstlnctly remembered with
reawakenlng love flying toward her.
his eyes wild with delight. his blond
locks dancing over his shoulders, his
whole body alive with motion. He
dew into her arms and. elasplng his
own about her neck. covered her face
| with kisses.
And who is the tall man looking at
this childish ebullltion eagerly. between
hope and fear1 Memory struggles for
moment like bird endeavoring to
escape from a cage. then one word
sets Il free.
| Alice"
She starts up. wondering, fearing.
The poison lnstilled by her physician
troubles, retards. her returning mem.
DRY, She had not doubted that he was
| her husband. but this man she dimIy
remembered as such. Stepping for.
ward. he took her. daHed expression
on her face, to his arms. and father.
1 a