Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1906-10-04
Love Is Strong as Death
RvKATEERINE ]. MURRAY.

(CopyrlRnt, 1SVo, ny OoiAy wv -
How came l on the street? IL IS
q chilly evening in October, and t1ere
is a cold breeze. Yeti am not cold.
| was half frozen an hour ago, and
made the nurse put this heavy SUM
Der robe over my nightdress and my
bedroom slippers on my feet. Ana
| saw tears in Aunt Alioe's eyes-l
don't know why.
l had been burning up with fever
and parched with thirst. | had been
Ill so loag-nearly three weeks. Sne
ought to be glad to see that reVer
leave me. should never be better
while it stayed.
Now here | am ON the street, ana
| don't see how It happened l must
have walked in my sleep. Tnes
have watched me so closely, too.
How is it they did not see me goy
Aunt Alice has hardly been out OF
my sight for the past week, and one
nurse or another was always there.
| must look odd in my slumber ROBE
and slippers, but I'll keep on In the
shadow. and nobody will notice. OF
course. cannot stay out long; but It
is SO good to feel the fresh air once
more.
feel so well-so strong! No more
fever. no more aching body and limbs.
| know | never shall be i'll again.
Something worried me great deal
before l was Ill. Indeed. | think II
made me Ill, but can't remember
what 1t was, so it does not matter.
Nothing worries me now, and feel
so ight-so happy!
Oh, that muddy crossing! Ill sure
" wet my feet! I'll pick my way
over; | don't want to go home just
yet. Why, what frightened that
horse? Was 1t my white dress? How
he rears and plunges, and now he
has boltei down the street. But |
am safely over. l must have grown
thin while was Ill, for have stepped
so lightly | did not leave a track IN
the mud. and my slippers are quite
dry.
Here comes our nextdoor neighbor,
with her noble English mastiff. Rex
is such fine dog, and he and are
great chums. Last night heard him
howling-something unusual for him.
don't know what his mistress viii
think to sec me out In this dress,
without a hat. Good evening, Mrs.
Vincent; I'm so glad to be out again!
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 1t.
Oh, there's the doctor with his as
sistant, and he's driving at a furi-
GUS rate, Can it be Aunt Alice has
sent for himg I'm afraid so; and
now must go straight home. for they
have missed me. ~
Here comes Judge Sdlwell and HIS
nephew, the young artist who paint
ed my portrait last year. Thought
1t would be a dreadful bore; but
Aunt Alice wanted 1t, go ! sat to
please her, and was really sorry
when he finished. had not
seen him since. l waited, but he
never came. I'll let them pass and
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 i'll for several weeks.
1t was some sort of low fever. She
was not thought to be in danger
GUS condition until a few days ago;
but l heard this morning she was
very low, and they feared she would
not last through the day"
That's the old Judge. What would
he say If he knew the sick girl was
walking close behind kim? But
didn't know / had been in danger of
death. -
II am greatly grieved and sur
prised to hear 1t. She was the very
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 top
of his speed, and turned up the street
where she lives. That looks as II
there had been a change of some
kind"
Suppose we walk up there and In
Quire. l should be very sorry to
hear"
Why should his voice falter? He
never cared for me, and my heart
broke when found that out. That
was what made me Ill. l remember
now. want to laugh, but I'm afraid
they will hear. How perfectly alb
surd to think that / should diel The
Judge looks at him moment and
then says:
Very well; but l did not know
you were SO much interested, Will
The dead leaves rustic under their
feet, but ny dress makes no noise as