The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-10-21

| ed, her eyes glistening delight! He
| could hear her vibrant Harold"
Poor child, had he been harsh last
| night? All, no, cn!y impatient for a
| moment-and frank--to make her the
| utmost that she was capable of being.
II he had unintentic naily hurt her, he
knew a potent balm to heal with, to
| make her rejoice. Why was the serv-
ant so eternally slow in opening the
| door? How long they were making
him wait! He rang again.
'Tell Miss Fairfax l am here"
Yes, sir" The servant stood silent
and awkward.
Harold wanted to quicken him with
shove;;' what was the matter with
the fellow? He walked into the
library; the light was burning low; ;
the servant followed him, and closed
the door with an air of mystery that
gave Harold mingled shock of i'm
patience and of fear.
Il was to give you this, sir, when
you came" and the man held out a
letter.
"She is at home, sir"
Then tell her at once that l am
here"
Eyes. sir"
Harold was alone with his letter;
he opened it and read:
1t is midnight, you have gone, and yet
it seems as though you are still here-so
close to me that l can see your eyes and
feel your touch-Harold. Forgive me that
l was not more l should have been
this evening, butt was a coward. Dear,
l have not been well for many weeks
and yesterday l saw specialist. He told
me ! had most serious difficulty, and
that l must undergo a dangerous opera
ton at once, if l would save my life. To-
morrow is the day appointed. implored
him to wait. but he leaves town in a few
days, and If / do not have it done to-
morrow it could not be performed for
two months, and that is too long to wait,
he says; so there was no other way To-
morrow-our day-when you are to vim
dicate my pride and hope in you; the day
we have waited for so long. There was
but one impulse strong within me, al
most overmastering-to fly to the shelter
Of your arms-to seek your sympathy.
But how could I tell you when it might
imperil your calm, your poise-undo all
you have worked for-hamper your as
cent, in which tomorrow will be a step
ping stone? No. You must not know
Your heart is too tender, l am too much
your own for you to stand up in court
and plead for legal distractions when I
am lying under the knife. 1 half hoped
you would make me tell you all my
know. You will have no shadow on your
way tomorrow, and when you receive
this it will be all behind US; it will have
been over seven hours, for the operation
takes place at II o'clock. Goodnight
good-by. / love you-it seems to me that
love you in a new way tonight. Harold
-Harold-I must call you back and tell
you, and feel your strength to make me
strong; but no. l am your love-I must
be brave And then-why should I fear?
Gods in HIS heaven
All's right with the world
HELEN.
He crushed the letter in his hand,
and reached the door with one bound,
like an animal in chase. She was his
own; his place was by her side; no
man could keep him from her AS he
opened the door he came face to face
with her father.
Harold, my dear fellow"
Let ME go to her." and Harold tried
to pass. Mr.. Fairfax put his arm
across the door.
mo, you must not, now; the doctors
are with her; they will let no one in,
not even me, and l am her father.
Harold, my boy, we must be brave and
stand by each other"
A withering quiet, like blight, fell
upon Harold. 1t seemed to paralyze
his powers of motion and of speech.
After a moment he heard himself say
ing, in a voice that sounded like a
strangers:
What - do - they - the doctors -
say?"
Mr.. Fairfax looked at him pityingly,
his own anguish stamped white upon
his face.
Don't lose heart, Harold" he said
gravely. I'VE are hoping for the best,
and Mckenzie, the doctor who per-
formed the operation, says the chances
are in her favor"