Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-10-29
An Euenissg Story
NAME.
fBy Reinhard Koester.)

the patient who was sound asleep she
stopped over the man whoSwas sitting
next 10 the bed resting his head In his
hands to see if he were asleep. His eyes
were wide open.
Don't you want Inc to get you some
thing TO eat, doctor. or a glass Of wine?r
The man shock his head but did not
look up.
but your wife is sleeping peacefully
and you know that the crisis l. over. In
a week or two she will be as well ms ever.
and you must think of your own health
DOCTOR"
The nurses words were like her steps.
soft and almost silent. A change passed
over the features Of the patient. her lips
moved. but the words were unintelligi-
bic.
DIR. Willemcr bent over her. trying
10 catch her words. an expression Of deep
anguish in his face. but his wife was al
ready sleeping calmly again.
Baby il doing fine" said the nurse
even more gently.
Thank You, sister, His words sound
ed 50 Indifferent. as if he had not heard
what she had said.
For two days and nights. DIR. Willemer
had been thus watching at his wife's bed
side for the birth Of her first baby had
nearly cost her her life. But il was only
since the night before that his face had
turned SD pale and his eyes so full Of
names anguish. Was il really only ex-
haustion as the sister drought? Why had
he suddenly refused 10 eat anything? Was
his anxiety for his wife so great that il
made him forget hunger and thirst? Why
should he worry thus when every danger
was past? Why didn't he leave her side
even for a moment now? Why didn't he
feel relieved and happy?
The name-this dreadful, torturing
name!
No. il was sheer insanity Ia think such
"A thing. he was overwrought-hiS brain
was sick. the excitement had been too
much for him. He must take a rest now.
or he should surely 90 insane.
And still il had felt like a stab in the
heart, when she had pronounced this
name in her fcverish dclirium, Fred
she had whispered. gently and tenderly
Nothing more. That was au--mercly a
name.
Really il WAS follish. almost wicked
of him 10 build any suspicion which
threatenedto destroy his young happiness.
Why shouldn't she pronounce the name
of a dear friend who was Il frequent guest
at their house? Perhaps she was back in
her childhood when Fred had ALWAYS been
her dearest playmate.
lie chung desperately 10 this cxplana.
ton telling himself that during fever
patients often imagine themselves chill
dren again. Perhaps in her dreams she
was playing in the garden asking Fred
TO pick her an apple Yes. ii must
he so! How is il possible that this thought
did no occur to him before? 1t was des.
picable that he should thus have suspcc.
tea his innocent wife. for the sake of n
name.
Dr. Willcmcr spoke to himself rs if he
were spanking to a patient, but in spite Of
himself the doubt came back. oh. this
dreadful. cruel doubt.
Once more the expression of the M.
tents face changed. her lips moved. but
no sound anne. How beautiful She looked
as she lay there on her white pillow. the
bulc veins showing dimly through her
pale transparent skin. The lips had lost a
little of their color and looked pale and
thin hut a lovely smile was almost con
unually on her face. a smile he thought.
no quite %unmingled with sadness.
How he loved her smiles! lie could have
sat watching il for hours. And these lips
had lied to him? No. il was u%nthinkablc
lie felt utterly ashamed Of himself and
silently begged her TO forgive him. Should
he tell her Of his suspicion later on? lie
could see her look nj him. shake her head
a little and smile. She would never be-
able to understand now he could doubt
her love even for a moment No. he would
breathe no word to her Of this dreadful
night. II was only because he was utterly
worn cut hat his brain had seen ghosts
that had no existence.
How could he ever forget what she had
been to him during the three years Of
their marriage. lie had only happy hours
to think Of. never "A quarrel nor even the
slightest discord. How perfectly happy
they had been and how she had gloricd
in the thought that she vas to become a
mother.
You are not going TO leave me-" she
had said when she felt her hour had come
and thrown her arms around his neck.
lie closed his eyes TO retain this picture