Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1906-01-06
The Doctors wife
CHAPTER NXv.-tContinued.D
BY MISS N. e. oRADDON


But Isabel only looked at him with
bewilderment and distress In her face.
REPORTS about mel" she repeated.
what reportsY'
"There has been person. n stranger.
staying at a little inn down In Nessbor-
ough Hollow: and youth fact. I really
have no right to interfere In this matter.
but my great respect for your husband
and. In short"
"Oh. that person il gone now" Isabel
answered frankly. at was very unkind
Of people to say. anything against him,
or against me. lie was a relation. n
very near relation. and I could not do
otherwise than see him now and then
while he was there. I went late In the
evening. because did not wish to leave
my husband at any other time. I did
not think that the Graybridge people
watched me so closely. or were so ready
to think that what do must be wrong"
Mr. Pawlkatt pattcd her hand sooth-
inrly.
"a relation. my dear Mrs. Gilbert"
he exclaimed. "That. of course. quite
alters the case. always said that you
were no doubt perfectly justified in doing
rs you did: though 1t would have been
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 Ia the little parlor below.
Perhaps Isabel dimly comprehended
this. for she got up from her chair. and
went a little way toward her husbands
housckcepor.
''Oh. tell me the truth" she whispered
imploringly: ''do you think that he will
dicT'
EYES, Matilda Jcfrson answered. in
hard. cruel voice. strangely at vari'
ancc with her stifed sobs. Eyes, Mrs.
Gilbert: and you'll be free to take "
pleasure and to meet Mr.. Lansdell as
often as you like: and 90 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 mastcr-and
! had him In my arms the day he was
born. so I've need to love him dearly
even II others haven't heard the doe.
tor from Warchnm tell Mr.. Pawlkati
that he'll never live to see tomorrow
mornings light. So you might have
cd woman and wicked wife,
But just ut this moment the sick man
started suddenly from his sleep and lift
ed himself into n sitting position. Mrs
Jeffson's arm was about him directly
supporting the wasted figure that had
very lately been 50 strong.
George Gilbert had heard Matilda's
last words. for he repeated them In q
tak trn hus al. ,,,s
distinctness. II was n surprise to thos,
who nursed him to hear him speak rca
sonably. for II was some time since b,
had been conscious of passing events.
"Wicked. no. no." he said. "Always
good wife: always q very good wife
Come. lizzie: come here. I am afraid Il
has been u dull life. my dear" he said
very gently. as she came TO him. clinginp
TO him. and looking mt him with white
scared face. "dull--vcry dull: but I,
wouldn't have been always No. I thoug.c
by and by. to--new practicc--IIelm
well-mnrket town---fftcen thousand In
Northumberland yOu-,lrovc--pony eur
riagc like Laura Pawlkatt-but-ths
Lords will be done. my dcar:--I hope
have dolfe my duty--the poor people
better rooms-ventilati on--plcasc God
by and by. I have seen a great deal OF
sufrering-and--my duty-I am"
He slid heavily back. and u rain Of
tears--passiOnnte, rcmorseful tears. new
er 10 he felt by hlm-fcll on his pnllii
face. His death was very sudden, though
his illness had bccn. considering the ma
ture Of his disease. n long and tediou,
one. lie died supremely peaceful In tn,
consciousness Of .having done his duty
HA htaI with oubol'a hnuI clo mad I,
his own; and never. throughout his sim
pie life. had one pang Of doubt or jeal
Ousy tortured his breast.