Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-17

what is the matter with her, but suppose
Please come to her.s 1 Thought best to
send for you instead Of old Doctor Barton;
and; and. besides, you have been our family
Il should certainly depend upon your
calling me In" ! interrupted hastily. Il
prescribe for Miss iHs Lyeli: STRANGER "
are 50 very much oecupied With ss horrible
affair of poor Pauls. And, somehow, Esme
seemed to shrink from having you sum-
A strange feeling took possession of me.
/ felt a wild. unreasonable anger. which
Esme MI hy 81 tb
golden curl hidden away in my desk. and
Ash shiver ran oyer me. l must destroy II.
prove in a chain of circumstances which
would bring her fair name into question?
II will destroy the curl" l said to my
Then. I entered the darkened chamber
and paused beside the white bed. She lay
there looking like lily, so, pale and wan
was her face. But as. the great dark eyes
met mine i saw that there was no recog-
upon her brow, and found that 1t was
burning with fever.
Mrs. Lyel uttered a low cry
oh. no! no! Don't say SO, Doctor Dor
one way or the other, could leave an i'm
press upon memorable fate .'Esme must
went on s'c neraousiy, the scene Of 0 thst
awful murder! 1t will kin her! She will
never recover under. these circumstances.
We wanted to take her away on the first
boat-her father and land get her home
to News Orleans, where she would have
your care. You will be leaving here soon
The mothers tears and sobs choked her
MRS Lyell,'' said, Il will never leave
your daughter until she is-out of danger.
II was, indeed. my intention to return to
remain. / will write today to Doctor
Stanhope, my old friend, who will look
him to do so. Do not t trouble yourself Mrs.
Lyell III my presence affords you any
satisfaction you shall have It until Miss
awful feeling was creeping over my heart.
an awful horror taking possession of me.
and fair, so wildly worshiped? MOI she
must not die. will pray and beseech the
Of Mereles fo to asr ntv. W
plicafions? - - ' ' p
hope to have my petitions answered? Ny
heart contracted with a sharp pang. Well.
at Least would do my duty.
/ bent over the poor. white face and as
/ did so / marked the crimson flush of
fever rising ,Sapidly. l felt her pulse. It
was strange. but the fever had apparently
increased at rapid rate since had en-
tered the room. Could my presence have
1 did everything in my power: 1 made
the sufferer as comfortable as possible;
placed iced cloths upon the burning head,
within my knowledge. All this. time Esme
had never spoken aword. At last, all was
breakfast; i must Keep up my strength for
the ordeal before me-. Aye, l needed
strength-strength of mind and ID body B;s too TO-
PIN In the hall outside Es,ne room ] encoun,
hand "Good morning, Doctor Dorrance,'
he said. in choked voice, you !, have been
III Il fear So" / returned, trying to keep my
voice well under control. II am afraid that
she Is going to have an attack OF brain
Colonel Lye,l dropped my hand with a
low cry. Then he turned to me once more.
Old old e. eyes pi full Of tears sTs 80
s Doctor Dorrance!''' Infringing my hand
franticaily. as though he would never let
R Svs III ia am = not Rich in worldly goods.
colonel Lyell , Do not speak Of such
to know it, sir-I would lay my life down
He made no reply but fancied his face
grew dark and stern for moment. But this
w frs no T a@e @sh be fasu
oh, my love my love- She might soon drift
out upon the great river. Of tina unknown.
ana all qutsttous III muIflusc &uo SiNAh6
marriage be forever settled.
Depend upon me to do all that lies In my
power" ! said. He wrung my hand once
more and | FASTENED away. After I had
partaken of the morning meal went up to
my own room. ! wanted to assure myself
that / had with me everything requisite to
treat the awful disease, brain fever. In my
travels / was wont to go prepared for any
emergency. l found now that my one fore
dearest In all the world to me.
l found the needful medicines, for which
was doubly grateful For Grand Isle Is
only summer resort and there are few
facilities for treating disease to be readily
found there.
CLOSING my medicine chest, locked the
door Of my room after which opened the
lid Of my writing desk. There, hidden away
in a" secret drawer, was the shining little
gold curl. l pressed II to my lips with ten
der kisses; then, suddenly remembering
where had found 1t, felt my heart grow
hard and cold.
il must be destroyed. There must be no