The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-04-04

emily, that other men sought through
toilsome years, yet never found. He
was rising, 35--iS was part of the stu
alton that disregarding all tempta-
tons, he had waited to match him
self with his benefactors daughter.
He had played with her, a dimpled.
rather heavy creature, had watched
her grow into an ugly big girl. and
later a magnificent woman. She had
accepted him as part Of the picture
since she was 10 she had placidly to
all talk of her future:
Il am going to marry Eugene, so he
can really belong to daddy"
Then had come the episode Of Doc
tor Ware-the last man in the world
one would have thought to go down
before her. He was as big, as vital as
she was-moreover, quite as rich.
Science had been his ruling passion
until one day he woke suddenly to the
fact of Marcia. Thereafter, for three
months, he had been her shadow-she
had made his world indeed When II
came to an end with her soft-spoken
NO. he had flung himself anew into
work-hospital work, and highly paid
he gave away, though, each month
more than thrice his salary
therefore it was into his hands Dali
las almoa+ MORALLY hurt, fell within
an hour from the time after he Quilted
Helen. He was unconscious, barely
breathing, his heart beats the merest
ghosts of pulsation. DR.. Ware grew
nearly as pale-hold himself as hard
as he might, he could not quite push
TO the back Of his mind the thought OF
what might be possible If Eugene
Dallas were thus removed from his
path.
Because OF The thought he fought
for Dallas's life as he had hardly ever
fought before. Yet after three hours
the issue was still so doubtful he felt
constrained to send for Marcia.
Marcia came with her father. She
knelt beside the wounded man, her
warm vital fingers clasping his livid
ones. But there was no wild grief in
her eyes. though they misted over
whites.
Poor Gene" she murmured softly,
laying her scarlet lips against his
cheek. Dear Genel Come back TO us.
We've can't spare you"
She reached for his other hand, and
drew 1t to her breast, then nestled it
softly in the hollow of her throat. For
the first time since he had come from
under the anesthetic, Dallas stirred,
moaning family.
Doctor Ware stepped 30 Marcia's ell
bow. You had better go now" he
whispered. You can come back after
little-when he is fully conscious.
Marcia shook her head. She knelt.
statuee-like, now gripping both the
wounded mans hands. 1t was as If
she held him back from a chasnl of de-
struction. Once or twice she spoke
his name, but SO softly Ware alone
heard IL.
You had better CO." he repeated at
last, seeing a faint flicker of the eye
lids.
Dallas muttered inaudibly-his lips
ad more color-they began to be dry.
Ware moistened them delicaeely. Dal-
las turned his head the least bit, NUT
tering again. Marcia spoke to him low
but strongly, and so clearly it might
have pierced the ear of death itself.
You are coming back to us! To
life" she said Then in a thrilling
voice, Tell me-what is it you
want?"
The flicker of the eyelids strength
ened-still they did not lift Marcia
bent closer-so close she alone
caught the murmured name Helen"
Still she knelt, still she held the Ian
guild hands, but now her eyes were
not misty-a radiance lit them that
burned away the mists. Over her
shoulder she whispered to DR.. Ware;
Send for Helen-Helen May. He
will know her-because he loves her"
Until Helen came-a long, long
hour-she kept her place, soothing
and Strengthening Dallas. 1t seemed
indeed she was saving him, pouring in
to him her own superabundant life.
And when Helen came she got up,
pushed the other into her place, then
flung herself impetuously upon Wares