The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-09-12
the law she said simply, n am ready

the law she said simply, II am ready
to go with you now"
Vivian had to let her go alone. The
poor crushed body Of the little Jap
required all his attention. He laid
him tenderly on his own bed aud sent
for the best doctors he knew. Until
they came he could not leave.
AT last he was at liberty to go. But
at the police station he was told that
Elise had been allowed to go. Her
father had signed the bond for her
temporary freedom and taken her
home.
Mcclellan turned YEARLY away. The
feeling Of relief at finding her free
was overcome by the overwhelming
sense Of his uselessness to her. He
was not needed. He never had been.
Elise had home as good, better than
his, and her father was an all-sufi-
cient protector. 1t was true, she did
not need him.
He learned at the station that she
was driving her car alone when it ran
over the Jap. Why she was without
a chauffeur he did not know. Then the
feeling of uneasiness returned. What
II Truro should die! 1t would be I'M
pleasant for her. The old feeling of
responsibility, of wanting to protect
her was strong in him.
He bowed to the inevitable, and,
when he opened his own door again
he looked like an old man.
The doctors had gone. Truro lay
sleeping quietly. He was unconscious
Of pain. Vivian sat near watching
him. He had refused to have a nurse.
The little fellow who had sat night
after night watching him while he
tossed with fever at Port Arthur and
nursed him back to life should know
what gratitude meant. He was going
to fight for his life. The battle had
already begun.
The night light was turned low.
Mcclellan in DRESSING gown and slip
pers had allowed his magazine to slide
to the floor unnoticed. He was awake
Dat dreaming. How he ionged TO-
Elise. Every fiber of his body crieS
out for her. Then the barbed shaft
sank into his heart for the second
time that night She had ceased to
need him, ceased to care for him. His
head bowed as though under burden
he could not bear
1t was time for the medicine! He
sprang up guilty, brushing his hand
over his eyes to Danish the bitter
thoughts.
Was he mad? Had trouble turned
his brain, or had the dim light at
tracted the world of spirits? He
looked again. Elise was standing be.
fore him all in white. Her fur cloak
had slipped to the floor and her hair
and the long, white veil across her
shoulders sparkled with drops Of
melted snow. But her eyes-her eyes,
how they shone!
The man trembled! The sudden
shock weakened him. Why had she
come to mock him 1t was hard
enough to bear without this. He stood
silent. He had no words for her; he
could think of nothing to say.
Elise moved slowly toward the bed.
DO you know what the boy has done,
Vivo?" 1t was the old name. HE
sacrificed himself for us-to save US.
Don't you see2 l have thought it all
out. He did this to bring US together.
He saw me alone in the car out there
and threw himself in my way. He
knew you were in here, that you would
come out TOTO help me. He must
have seen me night after night pass
by and look up at your windows. He
knew you cared and that IL still
cared and he was generous enough to
risk his life TOTO break down our
pride"
"Elise!"
She turned her eyes full of the old
love light toward him. "Vivo, will
you take me back? We must not
make his sacrifice in vain"
Truro sighed and opened his eyes,
then turned his head toward them
The ghost of a smile lighted up his |
face, then another sigH and he slept |
again.
Vivian folded Elise in his arms
and touched his lips to her hair.
Thank God for this" he said, "and |
We will nurse him back to life to-
gether."