The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-29
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Struggle With Death

CHAPTER ANIll.
A Struggle With Death
Over the little white house by
the lOch-side lowered a grey shad-
ow of doubt and fear.
The fleetest foot in the glen
had borne the message which had
flashed across the wires to sum
mon Christina in hot haste to
Glenmoira.
1t was at the hush of dawn
that the cry of a newborn child
broke the stiffness. Jock was
standing in the garden, listening.
1t seemed hours before he
heard Doctor Angus call his
name from the porch.
The child's alive" he said.
Its bit small thing; but you're
the father of a son, you'll be,
proud to hear"
Jock caught his arm. The pride
of fatherhood seemed to him as
nothing.
It's she," he stammered. us
shelf" He broke off, his voice
failing him.
Doctor Angus laid his hand on
his shoulder, and there was a.
rough tenderness in his touch.
There, there!" he said. Come
in and give me drink, will
your"
Jock recovered himself instant
ly and led the way into the house.
When may l see herr" he
asked, after he had attended to
the Doctors wants.
Not yet-not yet. She~ must
be kept quiet" was the answer.
Two weary days and nights
dragged out their heightened
course, and in the darkened room
above the gray shadow of doubt
and fear still lowered.
What are we fighting against?
That's what 1 want to know,
said Doctor Angus to Christina.
He tapped his forehead sig
nificantly. "She's babbling queer
nonsense. What is it? It's to do
with him. We daren't let him
near her"
Once, in spite of prohibition,
Jock had stolen into Angela's
room when Christina was off
guard, and the effect of his pres
ence had been disastrous. Angela
hau OpChb0 hCA tgC On anu 6OCh
hiIn; and instead of the love-light
which he had never looked for in
vain, terror had sprung into
them.
Something had happened, and
It was that something which was
keeping the flame of fever burn
ing in her blood. Doctor Angus
did not deceive him any more sue
cessfully than did Christina. They
tried to soften certain facts to
him; but he knew that it was his
presence they feared, and the rec
objection of Angela's terror at the
sight of him never left his
thoughts.
81 ought never to have left
her." was his futile regret.
Dilease, who was lying at his
feet, rose and pressed his body
close up against him.
Jock put his hand on the dogs
shoulder, and Dilease reared him
self up and planted has forepaws
on his chest. Jock could feel the
dogs weight against the little
miniature case which he always
carried about with him.
How well he remembered the
night she had given it to him.
Christmas Evei She had left him
standing In the hall anr run into
the room where he was sitting
now, and had come back holding
the little parcel, and had said,
laughing;
"I hid Il in my work basket. IL
you ever want to find out my
secrets, go and look there"
He turned his head mechanical
". There was her sofa, and
there. whiting his reach. was her
work-basket. He drew IL towards
him. There was misee1-
laneous collection of odds and
ends, and thrust down to the bot
tom he found small white
bundle. 1t jingled as he took 1t
out.
Her bawbees! Her Saturday
nights revivfngsi He united the
handkerchief, and inside Il he
found the few sixpeaces and
shillings, and a tightly folded
packet of paper. He had not seen
her put that paper into her
handkerchief.
The blood rushed up to his
head and buxzer IN his ears. He