Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-02
ing toward mel came in, though he
was not aware of it."
'sI hadn't heard that"

was not aware of it,"
81 hadn't heard that"
Malcolm has always been pet or
mine, and he confided his betrothal
to me- lie was heartbroken when he
had to give her up
Didn't she love himT'
81 think she did; but, yorl see. he had
nothing but his salary. No girl in
her senses would give up a fortune for
a salary that must be earned. An in
come from property is very different.
1t earns money while one is asleep"
That's so, but girls are apt to be
romantic, you know"
Mildred is practical. 1 don't think
she will ever die for love"
I wanted no girl for a wife who had
given up some one she liked better.
The dialogue continued for a few min
utes later, and heard every word.
ETHEL hasn't been treated right. She
was taken in, given a home. brought
up in a refined way. and provision
should have been made for her"
"Oh, she'll be all right. There's a
rich man ready to marry her the mo-
ment she says the word"
"Why hasn't she taken him before
this2"
Nobody knows"
1 felt like putting IN the words Eek
cept the dead" but l couldn't, and, be-
sides, wouldn't If could.
The speakers fell TO talking of the
approaching Christmas festivities. meu-
tioning how sad 1t would be for those
In the house of mourning. l had no
idea how long 1t would be till Christ
mas, but heard one of the ladies say to
the other that it was 1.-The day after
tomorrow" Persons were continually
coming into and going from the room
in which lay, and I heard some one
say, speaking Of the funeral, why are
they so long about 1t. and why don't
they have it over with before Christ
masT
1 knew 1t was Christmas eve by the
remarks of these persons. l was much
depressed at the prospect Of the holi,
days passing and lying there like q
log.
Then l began to wonder II by an
effort of the will l might not pull my
self out of my peculiar condition.
|
the power of mind over matter, and ID
| occurred to me that IL 1 could bring
myself to believe that could throw OF
my paralysis 1 would be able to do sos
OF course my condition troubled me-
Indeed, was in danger of being bur
led alive l determined to make an
effort of the will to regain an active
condition.
1 commenced on Christmas eve by
driving all thought or fear of inter-
ment out of my mind. After awhile
began to think that l could move my
muscles, though / didn't try. l fell
asleep feeling less troubled and awoke
in the morning refreshed as had not
felt since l had lost muscular power.
/ remembered that it was Christmas
morning, and l was still apparently a
corpse.
The door opened, and Ethel entered.
Casting a glance at the sunlight COM
ing through a window, she moaned:
"Oh, what a Christmas-the brighter
without, the darker Within
She came to the bed and stood look
ing down upon me. She did not speak,
but could interpret her thoughts from
her expression. She looked at my cheek
and seemed surprised. / wondered if
she did not see a tinge of color in 1t.
She started for the door as though to-
call some one, then stopped, hesitated;
and came back to me. Kneeling beside
me, she took my hand. She must have.
felt some warmth in it, for she began
to rub it. 1 felt current, a nerve cur
rent, current of life passing from the
hand that held mine and coursing up.
through my arm to my heart For the
first time since l had been stricken I
had power. My hand began to tighten
on hers.
She gave a low cry, but did not
know If it sprang from Joy or fright
She made as If to rise, suppose to call
others, but I held her Then made an
effort to speak. but could only whisperi
Put your arms about me-"
She did So F'
Lay your cheek against mine"
|. This, too. she did. felt the life COM
ing back to me. 1 made no effort for
awhile, permitting the vigor i was
drawing to accumulate. Then / spoke
again.
Dear heart the life you have re-.
called is a gift to you on this blessed
Christmas morning"
The food Of hope joy, love. that we'll.
ed up In her rushed to me and spread it-
self through my being. Within a few
minutes more I could move any muscle
chose. And | was there. on Christ
mas day, restored, with the girl whom
knew loved me and for whom there
had been born In my heart an equal
passion.
Mildred married the man whom she
had discarded for me-or, rather. for a
fortune. If that fortune had been vest
ed In me to do with as ] liked l would
have settled part Of 1t On her. came
back from the dead on Christmas morn
ing. and on the next Christmas morn
,, ing our first child came to Ethel and
me from out the great ocean of life.