The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-04-05


to Mrs. Aston that the condition OF
her health gave cause for great anx-
iety, and he advised her to consult a
specialist on diseases of tho lungs
without delay. Jack, on talking It
over afterward. said that all physi-
clans were fools, and the biggest fool
charged the biggest price to make up
for other deficiencies. However, al
though he was inclined to pooh-pooh
the whole AFFAIR, he consented to his
WIFE seeing a specialist, and a consul
tation was accordingly arranged.
Clara, who was nervous and terri
bly, afraid of stetoscopes and tapping.
would have liked Jack to accompany
her to the eminent physician's house.
But on the morning Of the appoint
ment he came down stairs with a
ready-packed travelling bag, and an
nounced that If a certain letter were
waiting for him at the office he would
be obliged to undertake journey on
business and would not return home
before the following day.
II 1t had not been on account Of
urgent business, Clara would have
thought her husbands absence at
this critical juncture very unkind.
For the specialist would pronounce
on her, that afternoon, sentence of
life or death. But the journey, IL
undertaken, was clearly unavoidable,
and she could only reproach fate for
having chosen that day of all others
to separate them.
Still, 1t would have been kinder,
Clara thought, IL Jack had asked her
to telegraph the result OF her inter-
view to him, but he went of in a
hurry after the briefest of farewells.
and she was obliged to console her.
self with the reflection that pressure
Of time had fiurried him into forget
fulness.
He will think of it as soon as he
has moments LEISURE" she repeated
to herself over and over again, land
then he will feel miserable about It.
poor fellow, and send me a telegram
asking to have the verdict wired to
his Office"
But the message never came, and
Clara went on to her appointment
with a sinking heart.
The physician shook his head as
he examined her chest, tapped each
rib, and listened to the labored
breath. 1t was not his custom to con-
ceal the truth from patients, but he
regarded Clara's pale. anxious face
and frail form with intense pity when
it was all over, and hesitated.
The poor creature read her fate in
the glance Of sympathy.
MY case is hopeless, is it not"
she asked, in a low, tremulous voice.
II fear So" replied the doctor,
gently.
Shall 1 live long?"
She awaited his answer in painful
suspense.
"One lung is gone" said the great
man, laying a kindly hand on her
arm, "and the other is-going. The
end of the disease will depend much
upon climatic conditions. / fear. un-
less you can manage to go South at
once"
That 1 may not last through this
cold weather." put in Clara, to help
him out.
He nodded with a serious air, and
few minutes later the unhappy pa-
tient, her doom ringing in her ears.
was speeding home.
A letter in Jacks handwriting Law
upon the hall table. 1t had been de-
livered by special messenger, the SER
wants said, shortly after her de-
parture.
Dear old Jack!" she cried, forget.
ting the awful blow that had Just
been dealt her in the Joy of the mo-
ment. Il knew he would remember
me and send some message!"
She tore open the envelope and
taking out the letter kissed it rap
turously. Then she hurried into the
drawing room to read it there alone
and undisturbed. It ran:
Dear Clara-By the time this
reaches you shall be on my way to
Europe. Mabel is going with me. My
object in writing is to wish you good.
by forever and to assure you that on
my return some arrangement shall be
made with regard to your future well
fare. You can, If you like, get a
separation-possibly even a divorce
(the latter would enable me to marry
Mabel; but, although the world in.
yariably says nasty things OF people
in our predicament, / am, in yielding
to the irresistible fascination OF a
woman whose charm lies I'm the fact
that she is your counterpart, paying
you the highest compliment.
yours, JACK ASTON"
The Pittsburp Dfqnafch