River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-17

He's calling out in his sleep. He's
calling her, just as he has called for
the last two weeks. But he will wake
conscious-or he will not wake at all"
The anguish trembling in that lat
ter phrase would have attracted
SXeetwater's earnest, If not pitiful,
attention at any other time, but now
he had ears only for the cry which at
that moment came ringing shrilly
from within
Edith! Edith"
The living shouting for the dead! A
heart still warm sending forth it's
longing to the pierced and pulseless
one, hidden in a far-off tomb! To
Sweetwater, who had seen Miss Chal-
loner buried, this summons of dis
tracted love came with weird force.
Then the present regained its sway.
He heard her name again, and this
time it sounded less like a call and
more like the welcoming cry of meet
ing spirits. Was death to end this
separation? Had he found the true
o. B., only to behold another and final
seal fall upon this closely folded mys-
terry? In his fear of this possibility,
he caught at Doris hand as she was
about to bound away, and eagerly
asked:
when was Mr.. Brotherson taken
i'll? Tell me, entreat you; the exact
day and, if you can, the exact hour.
More depends upon this than you can
readily realize"
She wrenched her hand from his,
painting with impotence and a vague
alarm. But she answered him dis
tinctly:
con the twenty-fifth of last month.
just an hour after he was made mana
ger. He fell in faint at the works."
The day-the very day of Miss Chal-
loner's death!
Had he heard-did you tell him
then or afterwards what happened in
New York on that very date?"
mo, no, we have not told him 1t
would have killed him-and may yet"
Edith! Edith" come again
through the hush, hush so deep that
Sweetwater received the impression
that the house was empty save for pa
tient and nurse.
This discovery had it's effect upon
him. Why should he subject this
young and loving girl to further pain?
He had already learned more than he
had expected to. The rest would come
with time. But at the first intimation
he gave Of leaving, she lost her alb
stracted air and turned with absolute
eagerness towards him.
zone moment" said She "You are
a stranger and I do not know your
name or your purpose here. But /
cannot let you go without begging you
not to mention to anyone in this town
that Mr.. Brotherson has any interest
in the lady whose name we must not
speak. Do not repeat that delirious
cry you have heard or betray in any
way our intense and fearful interest
in this young lady's strange death.
You have shown me a letter. Do not
speak of that letter, I entreat you.
Help us to retain our secret a little
longer. Only the doctor and myself
know what awaits Mr.. Brotherson if
he lives. | had to tell the doctor, but
doctor reveals nothing. Promise that
you will not either, at least till the
crisis is passed. It will help my ia
Their and it will help me; and we need
all the help we can get"
Sweetwater allowed himself one
minute of thought, then he earnestly
replied:
Il will keep your secret for today,
and longer, If possible"
Thank you," she cried; thank you.
thought / saw kindness in your
face" And she again prepared to close
the door.
But Sweetwater had one more ques-
ton to ask Pardon me-" said he, as