The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-11-12

| piled quietly, soothingly. Il will do as
you say. until you change your mind.
You can trust me. Sleep now, and when
you have rested we will find a way-we
will find a way"
Wilson turned and knelt beside his
wife. His body fell forward across the
bed, and he lay there exhausted.
Two DAYS later the train brought in a
solitary passenger, a young man with q
band of black felt around his hat, who
asked directions of the agent, and hurried
I'D the street. He climbed the narrow
steps to DR.. Vests office and waited his
turn in the ante-room.
NV name is Burns" he announced in
a matter-of-fact way, after the doctors
patients had gone. Il wired you yester-
day"
You are a relative"
Eyes, [ am his brother. They left st.
Louis three weeks ago for a trip down
the river and a cruise in the gulf-a fool
hardy undertaking in a small boat. I
knew from the descriptions and pictures
here'-touching a bundle of newspapers
under his ARMAND I came at once.
There is no doubt"
DR.. West hesitated, embarrassed.
'"They were all. then" he asked finally,
your brother, his wife and the engi-
neer?"
mo, there was a child, too, who per-
ished with the rest, although the papers
do not mention her"
"But suppose the child was rescued"
the doctor insisted dreamily. Suppose
she had found a home with a childless
couple who loved her beyond anything
on earth, and suppose there had been a
lonely old fellow to watch over her
through the years, as he would have pro-
tected a child of his own"
That would have been a very good
solution" the young man replied; but
don't you think this speculation is rather
ridiculous when I am so certain"
"By the way the doctor exclaimed,
reaching for his hat, "you must excuse
me. | have an important call to make
at once, but I must see you again this
evening, say at s o'clock.
All right" Burns answered. "I1l meet
you here. Pm not leaving until tomor-
row afternoon
They shook hands and the doctor hur-
ried away. For the first time in his life
nv llC ~ 1CSOSAlZC IllC lIlclluS VIII
passed, and they looked after him, won
strange, youthful spring Of his step as he
turned into the Point road.
When he reached Wilson's cottage the
blinds were drawn, the place was mys-
teriously quiet and looked deserted. He
Knocked several times before the door
was opened very cautiously by the cap
tain.
Wilson sank upon the edge of ne bed:
his haggsrd face fell into his haras.
why do you come to take her away?'
he demanded. "She's happy here"
"Hes, l am sure she would always te
happy here" the doctor answered. 81
was not thinking of her happine1s now,
however, OF your own-yours AM mine
and the love between your wife and
you"
Il know. She says he ought to give
her ur, but it would break her heart, too,
an we can't-we can't, I tell ye."
eyes, hut you know that this child,
when she grows older, may discover
your deception? Then she will hate You.
Can you afford it, Wilson? You who
have always been a good man."
firing of her play, the little girl hal
wandered across the hall and opened the
door noiselessly. 'Dood man." she lisped,
catching the last words. "Dood man."
Wilson sprang up with a cry and
clasped the wondering child in his arms.
you're right, Doc" he said brokenly.
Il guess well-we'll have to do what's
right"
DR.. West stepped to the window and
threw open The closed blinds, flooding
the room with the golden light of the
sunset.
HE deserves to suffer for a while, at
least" he unused, looking out beyond the
long reach of sand to where the waves
tossed and glinted and murmured peace
fully. Their. another thought crossed his
mind.
1t is the physicians duty to alleviate
suffering when he can't matters not
whether it be the pain of the body or the
anguish of the heart.
by the way, my FRIEND" he began,
his voice trembling, and again his eyes
shone with a strange light-the ethereal
light of victory.-James True, Jr., in the
New Orleans Times-Democrat.