Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-24

Doctor Barlow-By Edwin G. Thornton.
copyrighted 1911. by Assov-ated Literary Bureau

pulled her through.
Such devotion broke down her objec-
tons to accepting another lover, and It
was not long after her recovery that
she showed her feelings toward the
man who had saved her life and openly
renewed his suit and was accepted.
DR.. Barlow now laid his plans for
entering upon his profession as prac-
ticing physician and being welded at
the same time. Miss Etheridge re-
signed from the hospital service with
out waiting to take her degree. the
melancholy that had hung ever her dis
appeared, and both she and the doctor
seemed very happy in anticipation OF
their approaching nuptials.
Neither of the two having any means
and weddings celebrated in the usual
way being expensive. II occurred to
Miss Etheridge. who had grown at
tached to the hospital stat. to be mar
ried on the premises, where she would
be surrounded by her friends. Her
betrothed consented. and It was ar
ranged that the ceremony should take
place in a large room used for religious
and other services. The nurses bore a
hand in decorating the room with ever
greens and otherwise assisted In the
preparations.
The day before the date set for the
wedding DR.. Barlow turned over his
duties to his successor. The next
morning such patients as were able to
leave their beds We're permitted to
gather in the wedding room. and soon
after, the bride entering by one door
and the groom by another. they pro-
ceeded to a dais on which speakers
usually stood. There they were met
by a clergyman in the vestments OF
the Episcopal church.
The ceremony had proceeded to the
point where the clergyman asks any
one who can show cause why the
couple should not be Joined together to
speak or to hereafter hold his peace.
At this request faint voice came
from a patient-a man-who had been
wheeled into the room in an invalid
chair
at can"
All present turned to look at the per-
son who had made the interruption.
The bride tainted. and the groom
! staggered on his feet.
| DR.. Barlow saw the corpse. or rather
the man he had intended to steal for
subject when he was a medical stu
/ dent Miss Etherldge saw her former
lover, whom she supposed TO be dead
She was carried out OF the room. and
DR.. Barlow was supported as he
walked beside her.
The man who had broken in upon
the wedding, being Intercepted, gave
the following statement:
81 am an electrician and was some
years ago employed in the Ampere
works, where one day / accidentally
received an electric discharge sup
posed to be sufficient to kill a man
l knew nothing till I found myself
stretched on a board In a room. 1t
was night l got or the board and
stood by a window. Seeing that was
on a level with the ground, stepped
out OF the window and, guided by
street lamp. walked away.
II was treasurer Of the church to
which l belonged and had used a thou
sand dollars Of its funds. | was not
long In inferring what had happened
to me-that | had recovered and that
a favorable opportunity was offered TO
disappear till l could raise the money
to make good my deficiency.
81 went into hiding and read in the
newspapers of the disappearance of
my body. I was relieved to hear that
the trustees Of the church made up the
deficiency in the funds. was engag-
ed to Miss Etheridge. but of course
dare not communicate with her.
II have earned the money to reim-
burse the church and came back for
the purpose of doing so. ! was taken
Ill. and, hearing that the girl l loved
was a nurse here and was to marry
the resident physician. | had myself
brought here last night in order to pre-
vent the marriage"
This explanation having been trans
mitted to Miss Etheridge and DR.. Bar
low. they held a consultation. at
which no one was present except
themselves. and the bride indigna Mt
at her former lovers confessed action,
chung to her fiance. They decided to
return to the wedding room and re-
quest the clergyman to finish the cere-
mony. II Is needless to say that the
, man who had caused the trouble was
not only not invited to be present but
was excluded.
The story being known 10 all. the
couple received an ovation. and when
they were driven away the windows
and porches were filed with those
waving them an adIeu. DR. Barlow Is
now one OF the most eminent physi-
clans IN the land. and his wife Is be-
loved by all who know her.
Since this most important episode OF
his life the doctor has interested him
self IN the matter of bringing back to
life those who. though they are sup
; posed 10 be dead. are cases OF mere
suspended animation. He has made
many experiments upon animals. caus-
ing their hearts to cease beating. then
manipulating the organs with a view
to restoring pulsation. He has recently
rsstOred 10 life a Lnan pronounced dead.
! June "a in American