The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-07
The Woman WhoFearedHIerself



4 tured. 1T am rather afraid OF s-sicl
people" ~
4 Horrible! Nonsense, my dear child
pr. Collinwood said promptly. ",rh,e e
any way; you can lead exactly the same
sort OF life rs you do here, and necl
never see my patients. Then you must
| recollcct that YOU Will soon BIO marry.
| ing and leaving me. and / have my liv-
Ing to work for. Think, IL 1t was LEFT
! for woman doctor to discover the Sc.
cret Of this dread disease and It's cure.
| How envious nen would be, and my
name would become famous throughout
| the world" 4
Mildred Colllngswortl's eyes spark
! led and her face flushed family In mo-
mentary excitement. She was not Of
ten so communicative about her plans.
t touched. She Went VENT and kiielt down by
her cousins chair.
"D-dear M-Mldred. 1t Is very sell
fish OF me not to wish you to carry
out YOUR schemes. You have your pro.
fession to live for, and have Gerald.
Indeed, will do whatever you wish
me to do"
For one moment the elder woman,
turned away her, head as though she
could not bearto meet the sweet, frank
eyes gazing at ller SO lovingly.
Then she gave a hard little laugh.
you are good child. Alison. So tile
matter is settled"
Gerald Thornley, had only left Eng
land only few months when DR.. Col
lingwood and Alison settled in their
new home-a large. rambling HOUSE,
in lonely part Of Devonshire. The
scenery was lovely, like allsDevons shire
scenery, and the Loneliness did not
trouble Alison. as she mad the better
opportunity to day-dream OF her lover
and his return.
the house. but Dr.. Collin~wood had en-
gagged n niddle-ased lady as nurse,
tended to the house and tho garden.
There was also small boy from "a
nelghborlng cottage, who did odd Jobs
after school hours.
Alison felt vague dislike and dis
and thin. sharp face made the girl
think unconfortably OF weasel she
once saw attacking a rabbit. She know
that she would feel Just sorry for
anybody who was weak and helpless
and in Nurse Withers's power.
II wish you would not k-keep her"
Alison could not help saying one day
to her cousin. when the nurses name
came.up in the course Of conversation
The doctor looked at her sharply.
"Why not?'
"Oh, I d-don's know; she makes me
think OF w-weasels and things" Alison
faltered.
How absurdly you talk. Really, All
son, you are very babyish sometimes
BY the way. don't you feel well?"
Eyes, thank YOU. W-why?" Alison
| was startled
"Oh, Your face looks such strange
color Better go to bed early, and will
mix you a dose of medicine
alison obeyed her cousin unquestion.
ingly, as she always did. but she coult
not see any think wrong with her com.
plexion when she studied it In the bed
| the medicine. and certainly she Git
feel rather sick and queer afterwards
Strange thoughts of captured rabbit
/ and cruel weasels-of a woman with
hard gray eyes which seemed to glin
and glint-troubled her. Then she te!
into a heavy sleep.
l Alison awoke.
I. How strange the room looked. Al
tlc luIIiltuie ana QTdpeEy aWe1'
cleared away: then Alison realized tina
1t was not her bedroom at all but On,
lighted by a skylight. And how strang,
she felt. She put her hand up to her
head and found all her lovely hall
had been cut off. She gave cry OF
| distress. and some one came from be-
Hind the head of her bed---it was Nurse
| Withers.
i There. there, Miss Alison. dearn'
4 What has happened to ME? Wher,
is Dr. Collingwood 2"
II Will fetch her.
/ The nurse went to the door and call
ed. and a minute later DR.. Collingwoot
entered.
my poor poor Alison!"
W-what is the matter with me-?
1 Alison cried, piteously.
You have been Ill. but you are bet
| ter-alittle better-now.'
] While she was speaking neither hel
4 cousin nor the nurse looked at Allison
away from her face.
4 Why was It,?
I. How long have I been Ill? VIVA
time is it?"
You have been i'll several weeks
dear Alison. 1t was July when yo
were takenill, and now it is the midil
Of August"
Have been i'll all these weeks
i Why 1 can't remembers"
You We're taken suddenly ILL.," ID
collinswood went on in her quiet. le,e
tones. Some Of the time your brair
was affected and you We're unconscious
me doctors consulted Gone was
London snecialisD govc little hope
Death or Rengo,
Which is II for Won