The Raymer enterprise., 1912-08-01

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eyes were full Of an uncomfortable
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, l am
going to the church now to be mar
rted. All, nurse. dear nurse. poor Dick
never came back. shall be Mrs.
Herslet within an hour"
l motioned with my hand and said
with my eyes: "stay with me little
while. Mine is q dreadful fate-com.
fort me with your presence Just for a
few minutes"
She appeared to read my thoughts,
for without word she sat down near
me. Presently she took my hand and
covered It with her kisses. Some Of her
tears dropped upon 1t. As she sat SO,
and the quick moments passed, and /
knew that in a very short time her
fate would be irrevocably sealed. a
frantic determination awoke within
me. II no words could arise to ny
lips. at least / could direct my
thoughts to the Providence above. 1
began to pray fercely, despairingly.
l began to plead with Heaven to give
me back the gift Of speech. II It
could be only for short time, a few
fleeting moments. what might not
accomplish? II could but save her
by a few whispered sounds, even II
the effort cost my life, 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 1t. dear?" she asked.
Your eyes seem to speak, surely
there Is something that is troubling
you. oh, nurse, nurse, make an ef.
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 [
moved my partially paralyzed arm to
and fro. 1t 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 wrlthed as in a spasm,
and a cultural noise issued from my
throat. Suddenly the blood came surg
ing to my temples: l found that tho
long-lost speech had returned!
"Leonora!" l whispered family.
Good Heavens! she speaks, she
speaks" cried the girl. She fell upon
her knees by the bed with claspe,l
hands. Dear. dearest, tell me what
Is In your heart"
] knew that my words must be few.
! had to select them before they wera
uttered.
"Leonora, l!sten," l said. do nos
marry DR.. Herslet. Captain Clifford IL
patient In this house; he is not
dead-he came back-I discovered his
identity; DR.. Herslet tried to silence
me. to keep you in ignorance. Do not
marry that bad man. DEAR
I could say no more: my lips quiy.
cred and were still. My brain reeled,
the room became dark and slipped
away into blank unconsciousness.
l was very Ill afterward and knew
nothing more for 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 question her. DR.. Herslet
returned to the house about half an
hour after / had recovered my power
OF speech. Leonora herself met him
and told him what had happened. He
looked quietly at her and his face
grew white; he went out of the
house. never to return. Never again
did he come back to Harley street;
his career In England was ended. and
the reason Of his strange disappear.
ance was not made public as we kept
the secret to ourselves. Another
great surgeon performed the opera.
tion on Captain Clifford. who recover.
ed completely. and Leonora became
his wife.
AS for me. grew to have 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 l came to New York. Per-
haps l started to work a little too
soon, but now. thanks to your care,
DR.. Halifax. I feel that / am on the
road to complete recovery. The 81.
lence is over forever, thank Heaven.
and the memory Of that frightful OK.
perience is fast assuming the out.
lines Of some fantastic dream.
Headmasters' Renliea.