The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-08-16

bridal dress. Her beauty was extra
ordinary and startling. but her sweet
face was CHASTITY pale and her dark
eyes were full Of an u~ncontrollable
sadness. ! motioned to Nurse Martha
to leave us alone. Leonora came up
close to me.
IL had hoped that you might be bet
ter" she said, bending over me. II
could not go away without seeing you
and bidding you goodbye. Yes. I am
going to the church now to be mar
ried. All, nurse. dear nurse. poor Dick
never came back. ! shall be Mrs.
Herslet within an hour"
! motioned with my hand and said
with my eyes: Stay with me a little
while. Mine Is q dreadful fate-com-
fort me with your presence just for q
few minutes"
She appeared to read my thoughts.
for without a word she sat down near
me. Presently she took my hand and
covered II with her kisses. Some Of her
tears dropped upon 1t. AS she sat 30.
and the quick moments passed, and I
knew that In q very short time her
fate would be irrevocably sealed, q
frantic determination awoke within
me. II no words could arise to my
lips. at least I could direct my
thoughts to the Providence above. I
began to pray fiercely. despairingly.
I began to plead with Heaven to give
me back the gift OF speech. II 1t
could be only for a short time. a few
fieeting moments. what might l not
accomplish? II I could but save her
by . few whispered sounds. even II
the effort cost my life. I would gladly
pay the price. 'As my spirit writhed
within me Leonora watched me cur.
iously. and then leaned forward and
touched me.
What Is II, dear?" she asked.
your eyes seem to speak, surely
there Is something that Is troubling
you. oh. nurse, nurse, make an eff.
fort. Surely you can move that silent
tongue II you try hard. ! feel sure
there is something / must know. some
thing you want to tell me-"
My heart was beating wildly. and l
moved my partially paralyzed arm to
and fro. II seemed as though my
spirit must burst its bonds and over.
come the weakness OF the flesh. My
lips trembled with one final, gigantic
effort: they writhed as in a spasm,
and a cultural noise issued from my
throat. Suddenly the blood came surg
ing to my temples; / found that the
long-lost speech had returned!
"Leonora!" / whispered family.
Good Heavens! she speaks, she
speaks" cried the girl. She fell upon
her knees by the bed with clasped
hands. Dear. dearest, tell me what
Is In your heart"
knew that my words must be few.
I had to select them before they were
uttered.
"Leonora, listen," / said. do not
marry DR.. Herslet. Captain Clifford is
a patient in this house; he is not
dead-he came back discovered his
identity; DR.. Herslet tried to silence
me, to keep you in ignorance. Do not
marry that bad man, dear"
/ could say no more; my lips Quiv-
cred and were still. My brain reeled.
the o became dark and / slipped
away into blank Inconsistencies.
] was very Ill afterward and knew
nothing more for a long time. When
I came TO myself Leonora told me the
story of the next few days. Acting
on advice, she went TO seek Captain
Clifford. and found him. She said
little or nothing about that interview,
nor did l question her. DR.. Herslet
returned to the house about half an
hour after ] had recovered my power
and told him what had happened. He
looked quietly at her and his face
grew white; he went out of the
house, to return. Never again
did he come back 10 Harley street;
his career in England was ended, ard
the reason of his strange disappear
ance was not made public as we kept
the secret TO ourselves. Another
great surgeon performed the opera.
ton on Captain Clifford, who recover
ed completely, and Leonora became
his wife.
AS for me, ] grew to have q horror
of my surroundings; everything in
London seemed to remind me OF the
terrible period through which l had
passed. When / had regained my
strength / resolved to try what change
OF climate and country would do for
me, and I came to New York. Per
haps / started to work a little toe
soon. but now, thanks to your care
DR.. Halifax, l feel that I am on the
road to complete recovery. The ST
lence is owe forever. thank Heaven
and the memory Of that frightful ex
perience Is fast assuming the out
lines OF some fantastic dream.