Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-01-14

yours. but I couldn't help it. They're
gone-gone"
Notwithstanding all our efforts to
soothe him, he continued to talk wild
ly and incoherently. The only words
that were intelligible were gone" and
Miss Keath." The same old pain
returned to my heart at the sound of
that dear name on this boys lips.
There doubtless were 500 or 400
Miss keaths, OF any one Of whom he
might be speaking. Who was sheY
What had she given him that he
should grieve 20 over its loss?
On leaving his room 1 felt OF my
own pulse to see II It was normal. l
was little worried over myself.
had OF late INDUCED SO much In day
dreaming. Since my first visit to this
young man, 1 had been constantly as
sociating him with the youth who
sold the books at the secondhand
store. And Miss Keath7 Could It
be Katherine Keath with whom 1 had
guarded five years ago, the sweetest,
most beautiful woman God ever madeI
When reached homo 1 took the little
oANOA NOA0AACo lAOA Nu6 bu61I ana
touched each Of them to my lips. That
night dreamed Of the happy days of
long ago.
For weeks my patient lowered be-
tween life and death felt from the
first that the case was almost hope
less, but 1 worked for his life as l
had never worked for anything be-
fore. and had the Subtraction OF
at length seeing my efforts crowned
with success. The crucial point had
been passed. He would recover.
cannot tell you how happy 1 was
when knew that under favorable cir
cumstances he would soon be we'll
again. I had formed a strong anec-
ton for this boy, with his wasted. pale
face, and his deep, pathetic blue eyes.
When he had recovered sufficiently to
be discharged from the hospital. I In
Yttsd him to spend q few weeks With
me. I remember yet how pleasant 1t
was to have him there to always vel
come me with his winning smile
One evening when no was lying on
the couch / brought to him my set of
short stories. and said In as careless
a tone as could assume: "See here.
Willard You are literary fellow.
What do you think OF theseF"
But the next moment regretted my
rashness, for he started up with that
old wild light of delirium In his eyes.
Where did you get thessf'' he asked.
excitedly.
AT the secondhand store" an,
s~sred. as calmly as I could.
y left them there" he said, with
forced oalmness. as he sank back upon
his pillow. Why should wonder
that some one should purchase them!
But told the proprietor that would
DO back in few days. He said he
would hold them for me- never In
tended any one else to have them
When went back again they were
gone"
You shall have them, old fellow.
Tell me all about them"
Then followed a story of poverty
and aspiration that I need not repeat
hare. Only what he said about the
books concern US: "One summer,
with some other academy boys, 1 act
cd as waiter In a large hotel at a
summer resort While there l met
Miss Keath. In some way she learned
OF my fondness for books, and when
she left she gave me that set. She
had purchased them for herself and
had read all of them"
What is her first namef" / oues-
toned, eagerly.
I'm not certain. but believe it is
Katherine"
I could hardly control my voice
enough to ask: "Is she married3"
Il think not One of the boys who
knew her told me that she was once
engaged to a physician. He was a
bright young man, but was proud,
naughty and jealous. They quar-
relied, or, rather, he did, and the en-
gagement was broken. She has re-
NAMED true to him ever since. Hers
is the most sadly beautiful face ever
saw" Then he broke OF abruptly:
why, doctor, what is the matter ?"
] had borne my sorrow alone long
enough. When / heard that eager
sympathy In his voice, ! broke down
and told him everything. He lis
tened calmly, with my hand gently
pressed between his. When / had
finished, he said, quietly: Wen find
her some way"
We did ind her. When / saw her
once more in all the beauty of her per-
fected womanhood, felt that those
five years Of SORROW had been neces-
sary to develop my better nature and
make me worthy Of her. Willard stood
at my side when ] proudly but hum
bly, clAspsd her hand In mine, and
we spoke those words that gave US
to zach other for all eternity. Then
he said with that quaint smile which
both OF US had learned to love: Doc
tor, Pve heard Of fellows examining
their brains fun Of all kinds of mental
food from secondhand books, but this
is the first time ! ever knew OF one