The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-07-30

dicRtiChh F1Acif BilhF thAk HahANu AZ
aud the two vases that were sDch
precise match annoyed her. A Wild
desire seized her 10 set them all
crooked
Then she was tired Of looking Al that
hldeons silver creation on the side
board she was certain II must lie
testimonial And what an ugly one 10
lie saddlei with for the rest o. ones
natural life, She remembered with
what dlsmay sho and Robert had re
ceived some CHASTITY old family plate
from a rich uncle aud how thankfully
they had RELOCATED II to little used
room, Robert saying lsughlngly that u
would come ia as an heirloom for their
grandchildren,
A vision of herself as white haired
old lady made her smile again. She al
ways Intended TO grow old gracefully
when the time for growing old came
but II was very, very long way on,
and she aud Robert had only been
married SIX short months they had
years and years ~ sunny life In front
Of them before
The door opened
Mrs. Ainsiie," said trim parlor
maid, and the little lady rose aud fol
lowed her.
And all AZ once her heart gave that
frightened leap again. but she was
..tgs fha hn
doctors room.
Both doctors were standing, and n
queer feeling came over her as she
saw their faces that they watched her
pitlfully if--as II she were that
prisoner nj the bar one OF them WAS
Just going TO put on the black cap,
II was a whimsical idea Her glance
fell almost inyoluntarily upon DR.
James gray head, and she smiled
agnin..
Dr. Bryant leaned against the man
telpiece.
II struck her that he kept his eyes
ayerted. She wondered vaguely why
he did so. Possibly he had made some
little mistake In diagnosis and was
rather vexed about 1t.
"Will you sit down. Mrs. Ainslee|
Or. James voice broke In upon her
thoughts.
She sat down In the big armchair
where she had sat just now-al those
minutes or was II hours agof-when
she had first come into the room today
with DR.. Bryant.
DIR. James seated himself at the table
facing her.
This room was brighter thnn the
other where she had waited so long,
The sun came Into IL, and little patches
of light danced upon the carpet and
upon the table that was strewn with
letters and upon the great mans kind,
quiet face,
Outside the window there was ac-
tually a tree. II was April, and the
leaves were beginning 10 grow green
and waved gently to and fro In the
soft spring air.
Her eyes left the dancing leaves out
side and came back to the faces OF the
two silent men. She realized that they
were both strangely quiet.
"Well," she said IN a gay little voice,
what Is the verdict? You The
words died on her lips She could not
have said why, only something In DR..
James face gave her curious sense
of suffocation.
Mrs. Ainslie," he said gently, so
gently that a sudden longing TO cry
nssalled her, II am afraid we have not
very good news to give you" He
paused, and the sudden longing to cry
left her.
Some instinct inherited from her Rev
olutionary ancestors made her draw
herself up In her chair and look the
old man squarely in the face,
II was he, not her, who WINGED lit
tie as she said quietly:
as II very serious operation. then
Don't mind telling me. ] am not
afraid"
She was dimly conscious that DR..
Bryant turned quickly away from
where he stood and moved toward the
window and that the silence following
her words seemed weighty with mean.
| ing.
"No,p DR.. James said slowly, II am
sure you are not afraid of-of-an
operation. But-there Is no operation
that we can do
Again she was conscious OF little
movement on the part Of the silent
man by the window. and she watched
with curious sort Of fascination how
the pattern OF the dancing leaves out
side was repeated in dancing sun
beams upon the carpet within.
mo operatlon?" she asked. But
Then her eyes went back to DR.
James face.
But" she continued, after tina
queer little pause. then 1t is not seri
GUS at all, suppose?"
Dr. James lifted his head quickly
and their eyes met.
SO profound a pity lay in them tina
she drew back tribe. Her OVID eye'
never faItered, only the hand that he'll
her handkerchief clutched 1t so tightly
that ii was almost pain.
IL have never had harder thing 4
do than this, Mrs. Alnslie," DR.. jane
said. you must prepare for gren
shock a very great shock. We canno
operate because an operation would b
useless, but-the growth is SO seriou
a one-that"-
ut viii Kill me, do you meanr sh
said, and the color flushed over he