The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-28

 him carefully and regularly. But sim ultaneously with the news of his death Middlemarch discovered that Lydgate. who had been in severe financial straits. had paid off creditors and that the funds had come through a check for f1O0O that had been given 10 him by Bulstrode
 Dr. Lydgate had obtained 1t quite innocently, having asked the rich bank CT to lend him the money temporarily "a request that was sufficiently jus tified by the fact that he had been giving his services freely to a hospital endowed by Bulstrode.
 The loan had not been quite so in- nocent on the bankers part. He had granted 1t because he feared that the blackmailer might say something be- fore Lydgate in his delirium. Dr. Lydgate's explanation met few believers The situation would have seemed suspicious in places much less intolerant than Middlemorch No legal action was contemplated. The other physicians discouraged it, because they knew that there had been nothing but natural causes for the mans death. But they did not feel impelled to de- fend Lydgate, and the young doctor s reputation was being blasted by the same disgrace that overwhelmed Bull strode when the secret of his wealth was discovered.
 Dorothea had learned to know and trust Lydgate. When his disgrace came, she was fired with zeal and de- termined to hasten to his house to visit Rosamond and give her support. Her heart was in her resolve the more for the fact that Will Ladislaw' s name was coupled with the gossip. "The grandson of thieving pawnbroker, were the words used about him.
 She had accepted her whole relation to Will very simply as a part of her mar riage sorrows, and entertained no visions of any nearer approach to him. But in the months that had passed she had felt a delicious though sad repose in thinking of him as one who was inwardly whole and without blemish. His disappearance from Middlemarch had given her proud belief in his delicate sense of honor, and her heart had long been at rest regarding the gossip about him and Mrs. Lydgate. She was sure that their relations had been blameless.
 So she went frankly and sympathetically into Middlemarch to see Rosamond. A blundering servant ushered her into a room without announcing her. As she en- tered she saw Will Ladslawl And close by his side with flushed tearfulness that made her face brilliant stood Rosa mond, while Will held her hands and spoke with a fervent, low voice.
 They started away when she entered. Dorothea immediately bowed and swept from the room, pausing only to regret that she had missed Dr. Lygate.
 She sobbed herself to sleep that night on the floor. But in the morning the old Dorothea arose-the Dorothea of sacrifice. And now she had found her true sacrifice
 What sort of crisis might this not be in the three lives whose contact with hers had laid an obligation on her? "What shall I do-how should I act now she prayed, If I could clutch my own pain and compel it to silence and think or those three?"
 great and clear knowledge came to " hei. Before noon she was on her way 'o , Middlemarch again. .,, Rosamond they told her, was very Ill. She had been hysterical and had Tainted again and again. She found her heart swelling when she sat by the side of the poor. pretty, weak young thing, so woe begone and wretched.
 Patting her hands. Dorothea told her that she had come in to speak to her 1 about her husband, and to tell her that rood friends would strive to vindicate him and that she would stand by him 1 and never leave off believing in his high | character.
 ! Then she bent low to Rosamond and
 whispered: And ah! If one has hus
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