Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-16
The Doctors Wife
BY MISS N. E. BRADDoN
$SSS$SSSTS
CHAPTER xxv.-tcontinued.)

But Isabel only looked at him with
bewilderment and distress in her face.
Reports about me-" she repeated.
"What reportsT
There has been a person, a stranger,
staying at a little inn down in Nessbor-
ough Hollow; and you-in fact, / really
have no right to interfere in this matter,
but my great respect for your husband
and, in short
'Oh, that person is gone now" Isabel
answered frankly. 'It was very unkind
OF people to say anything against him,
or against me. He was a relation,
very near relation, and | could not do
otherwise than see him now and then
While he was there. / went late in the
evening, because l did not wish to leave
my husband at any other time. l did
not think that the Graybridge people
watched me so closely, or were so ready
10 think that what do must be wrong"
MT Pawlkatt patted her hand sooth-
ingly.
relation, my dear Mrs. Gilbert"
he exclaimed. "That, of course quite
alters the case. l always said that you
were no doubt perfectly justified in doing
as you did; though it would have been
better to invite the person here. Coun-
try people will talk, you know"
In less than ten minutes Mrs. Jeffson
came back, looking very pale, and with
traces OF tears upon her face. The good
woman had been listening to the medical
consultation in the little parlOr below.
Perhaps Isabel dimly comprehended
this, fer she got up from her chair, and
went little way toward her husbands
housekeeper.
"Oh, tell me the TRUTH she whispered
lmploringly; do you think that he will
dieP'
YES" Matilda Jeffson answered, in
a hard, cruel voice, strangely at vari-
ance with her stifed sobs, Eyes, Mrs
Gilbert; and you'll be free to take yo
pleasure and to meet Mr.. Lansdell as
often as you like; and go gadding about
after dark with strange men. You might
have waited a bit, Mrs Gilbert; you
wouldn't have had to wait very long
for they say my poor dear master-and
i had him in my arms the day he was
born, so I've need to love him dearly,
even if others haven't heard the doc
tor from Wareham tell Mr.. Pawll1att
that he'll never live to see tomorrow
mornings light. So you might have
waited, Mrs. Gilbert; but you're a wick
ed woman and wicked wifew
But just at this moment the sick man
started suddenly from his sleep and lift
ed himself into sitting position. Mrs.
Jeffson's arm was about him directly,
supporting the wasted figure that had
very lately been so strong.
George Gilbert had heard Matilda s
last words, for he repeated them in a
thick, strange voice, but with sufficient
distinctness. 1t was a surprise to those
who nursed him to hear him speak rea-
~sonably, for it was some time since he
had been conscious of passing events.
Wicked! no, nop' he said. always
good wife; always a very good wife!
Come, lizzie; come here. l am afraid it
has been dull life, my DEAR" he said,
very gently, as she came to him, clinging
to him, and looking at him with a white,
scared face, "dull-very dull; but it
wouldn't have been always So / thought
by and by, to-new practice-Helm-
well-market town-ifteen thousand in
habitants-and you-drOve-pony car
riage like Laura Pawlkatt-but-the
Lords will be done, my dear;--I hope
have done my duty-the poor people
better roOms-ventilatio God.
by and by. l have seen a great deal of
suffering-and-my duty-I am"
He slid heavily back, and a rain of
tears-passionate, remorseful tears, new
err to be felt by him-fell on his pallid
face. His death was very sudden, though
his illness had been, considering the ma
= ture of his disease, a long and tedious
one He died supremely peaceful in the
consciousness of having done his duty.
He died, with Isahel's hand clasped in
his own; and never, throughout his sim
pie life. had one pang of doubt or jeal-
ousy tortured his breast.