Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-10-31

now IL he meant to eject her; for I'M
til the patient spoke, here h meant
to remain.
Doctor" she quietly said, you have
another duty to perform than that OF
watching over your patient. An n
| cent man is accused of a terrible crime.
| Lord Radcliffe, though very weak,
is fully conscious. II he can save his
nephew by a word that word must be
spoken tonight"
Send for Tom Ryder" murmured
the sick man. he'll understand"
The words came in gasps, but other
wise fairly distinctly. Doctor Newing-
ton. in all his professional experience.
had never been placed in such an ex-
traordinary dilemma. He was not
thing as he had originally been, and a
kind of hopeless bewilderment showed
itself upon his face.
will you send for Sir Thomas, doc
tor? asked Louisa. You see that Lord
Radclyffe wishes it"
The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
The responsibility was getting all too
heavy for him. Besides being Il fash
ionaOle physician. he was also Il man,
and as such not altogether inhuman.
He had seen much acute suffering.
both mental and physical, throughout
SaA& S45H OA AiAS NSSASSAs ~ ~ ~ AAssA
he been brought face to face with such
an acute psychological. problem, and
frankly-he did not know how to deal
with it.
SO he sent the nurse to ask Sir
| Thomas ryder once more to step up
stairs. whilst he himself went up to
his patient and with the mechanical
movement born of lifelong habit, he
placed his white, podgy fingers on the
feebly fluttering pulse.
God only knows h will be the is-
sue" he said almost inaudibly. II
don't"
seemed to be outstanding his strength.
He had most obediently taken the
brandy which had been given him, and
now he lay back quietly among the
pillows. with eyes closed and lips
Slightly parted. The hands wandered
somewhat restlessly along the smooth
surface of the quilt. otherwise Lord
Radcliffe lay perfectly still. 1t even
seemed-to Louisa's super-sensitive
gaze-as il an expression Of content
had settled over the pale face. Once
looked up at the portrait; the lips
murmured the n word:
Luke and slowly. very slowly. two
tears formed in the sunken eyes and
trickled down the wan cheeks.
you had better.' said the doctor
curtly, leave the patient to me and to
Sir Thomas"
Certainly" she replied. "Ill wait
in the mex ROOM"
Sir Thomas will call you. no doubt
II your presence is desirable
She was ready enough to obey now:
her uncle's footstep was heard on tho
landing outside. Quietly she relin-
pushed her place beside the bed, and
as she did so she bent down inc kissed
the poor old hand that wandered so
restlessly along the folds of the quilt.
was just leaving it. They met under
the Intel of the door.
He seems stronger" she whispered
pointing to the sick man. II think that
ne Will make an effort-for Luke's
sake"
She waited a moment in the door
way. until she saw Sir Thomas RYDER
installed on one side Of the bed, and
the doctor on the other side, with his
finger on the patients pulse. Then she
relreated into the morning room, and
pulses she went to the piano and OPEN
ing It. she sat down. and with ex-
qulsite softness began to play the
opening bars Of one of her fayorite
songs.
She sang hardly above a whisper: the
velvety tones of her voice sounded
IKE the murmur of ghosts through the
heavy tapestries OF the room. When-
ever her voice died AVA. in the inter-
walls OF the song she could hear the
mum OF mems voices, her uncle's low
and clear. now and then a word from
n doctor, n through it all the voice
OF the sick man. feeble and distinct.
peaking the words hat would mean
life to Luke.