Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-10-23

law ~ N4S |
Il do not know-yet," he whispered,
answering the question in her eyes;
1T is too oon to tell. He lived
through it, and it is one of those oper-
atoms when the patient does not al
ways live"
Somebody led her away. In a dazed
fashion she knew that Alice Volk
bathed her face and braided her hair
into two long strands and changed her
stage gown for a soft kimono. Then
Merry took her hand and she followed
him to the library. She lay down upon
a couch feeling as if every nerve in
her body had an ear and it was listen
ing. The house was perfectly still.
once in her mind she used that
phrase, Still as death" Afterwards |
she fell into a shivering fit; the tears
came. and she sobbed SO f~ercely that
the agony seemed to tear at her
throat.
From a shadowy corner near the
fireside Merry rose and crept across
the room. He dropped on his knees
beside her and soothed her without a
word, as one broods over an unhappy
child. The warm grip in which he
held her hand between his own gave
her courage and hope. She rose to
her feet and he led her to the window
where she sat down and looked out
into the dark, quiet square. Out of her
memory rose the thought of an early
morning-it vas only a year ago
when she had seen Andrew Merry for
the first time. stretched listlessly on
the park bench. with a gray. thin fog
occasionally blotting him from her
sight. 1t was here, too, she had sat
watching children scuffie through
wind-blown leaves, while she heard
her brother read the manuscript of
THE House of Esterbrook." Merry
sat silent at her side until the nurse
entered the
Miss Wentworth" she said, DE
Mowbray wants you. Your brother has
been conscious for a few minutes. lie
cannot speak, but he wants something.
Will you Gomez"
They followed the woman swiftly.
Enoch's eye sought hers with piteous
pleading which was almost agony. she
bent to kiss him. His gaze Travelled
to Merry and the agony seemed to
change to peace.
You saved his life. Enoch.' b
whispered.
Andrew laid his fingers gently upon
the n~erveless hand which rested out
side the sheet. The eyes of he two
men net: in those of n was a mute
prayer for forgiveness. in the others
shone gratitude and the old affection
grown steadfast.
Enoch's lips moved He was trying
to speak. Dorcas laid her a close
to his mouth.
He wants his keys" she said
quickly.
The nurse left the bedside and re-
turned with a bunch of small keys
strung upon a steel ring. Dorcas laid
then. in her brothers hand. 1t was
pitifully inert! She lifted them and
ran them through her fingers, one by
one, as a Catholic tells her beads in a
rosary. Her gaze was fixed upon his
eager eyes. When she touched a shin
lug brass key a CLEAN of relief shone
in the mans beseeching eyes She
rose to her feet.
Il will go at once, Enoch, and find
it. ! shall know what you want, what
ever it is. and will bring it to you"
The doctor followed Merry and Dor
cas- to the door. Don't come back I'M
less / send for you. The exertion has
been too much for him."
This is the key to a small drawer
in Enoch's desk" explained he girl.
Il can probably guess what he wants.
I ought to show it to him. If his
nina is set on something he may sleep
quietly when he knows l have found
it."
~ will call you if he does not Sleep"
said the doctor.
Merry walked to the window and
stared vaguely into the darkness. A
little clock on the mantel struck three.
Once he looked over his shoulder at
Dorcas. He could heal the crackle OF
stiff paper as she unfolded a few long,
narrow sheets which were tied in a
thin bundle.
4 have found Enoch's will and q
number of business papers. Here are
his bankbooks and the contract with
Oswald for the play. There are bonds
and things of that so~rt-things ! dc
not understand. imagine" the girl:
voice broke into a sob. lit must be
the will he wants"
Probably, it is. DEAR" said Andrew
gently. She laid the papers on the
desk and lifted a yellow envelope
There was nc writing upon it; it wa:
unsealed. She took out a slip Of pa
per and stood motionless while SHE
read it. Then her fingers moved in {
cropping way to turn CT a blaze o
electricity under the green gloo'
above the desk.
The room is SO dark" she muir
INJURED.
She dropped the paper upon the
blotter in front of her and leaned upor
the desk with he face betwees he
hands.
Andrew" cried Dorcas with
stified moan, come here!"
He crossed the room and stool
looking down over the girls shoulde,
See" she whispered, see what
have foundi Tell me what is it?" He,
fingers pointed to the bond. Sh,
stretched out her hand as if search
ing for protection and help. The mai
clasped it between his own, then sh,
t raised her eyes to his.
: Was it this, Andrew, this that la,
behind everything-that made yoI
give up your play and"
Merry's lips parted, but he did no
t speak. Dorcas glanced at the date
| She withdrew her hands from his an,
put her fingers across her eyes as i
trying desperately to remember some
| thing.
ITO BE CONTINUED1