The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-06

or speak. At last she nodded TO the
boy who stood waiting, and crushing
the note into her bosom, staggered
dazedly into the house. She had just
strength left to push a bell, and 1t
was answered Immediately by her
maid.
"Mr. Reissinger is very i'll, Valerie;
have Peters see to his room at once,
and-and-get on your hat as quickly
as possible and go to the postoffice.
A letter was mailed to Mr.. Randall
Hudson, 1435 West Elm street, by
by mistake You will have to get 1t;
there will be papers to sign, and SO
on; but don't come back without It..
Now hurry!
The maid permitted herself a mo-
mentary stare of bewilderment; then
with the tact of well-trained SER
want she bowed and disappeared.
Half an hour later they brought
Raymond Reissinger home in an un-
, conscious condition.
Mrs. Reissinger met the doctor in
the corridor, and chung to his arm in
an agony of entreaty. you think
there's no chance, none?" she cried,
through ashen lips. The blood had
settled like indigo about her great,
black eyes, and every muscle of her
face was twitching
I'm afraid there's little hope, Mrs.
Reissinger. Reissinger has always been
subject to these attacks, and I long
ago predicted what has happened. He
knew it himself and his affairs have
been kept in shape for an emergency.
He would not distress you by men,
tioning-"
At this juncture Mrs. Reissinger
swooned, and had to be carried to her
room. 1t was hours before she re-
vived. Her first question was of her
husband. His condition was prac-
tically unchanged; he might linger
for days, or he might go at any mo-
ment, leaving her-free.
When she could gather strength to
raise herself on her pillow Mrs. Refs
singer reached over to a table near
and secured a pencil and sheet of
| paper. Her hand shook so she could
scarcely write, but this is what she
| finally managed to scrawl
Your insOlence Is beyond compre-
] hension. My husband is good, kind
man, who has devoted his life to my
| happiness, and today he is dying You
have insulted me beyond pardon, and
l hope that | shall never look upon
| your cowardly face again"
When Valerie came in Mrs Refs
| singer called for an envelope, into
which she slipped the piece of paper
| and addressed it to Randall Hudson.
| caused her to thrust 1t quickly under
| the cover and close her eyes When
| he bent over to listen to the beating
| of her heart she stirred and looked
up.
Dr. Burton heaved a sigh of relief.
you're all right" he said. II was be-
ginning to think perhaps we were go.
ing to have a siege of another sort
in this house I've good news for you,
Madam"
Mrs. Reissinger looked up with d.
lating eyes. You mean?"
| Exactly; your husband will get
well. Much to my surprise, he be-
came rational an hour ago. He is
improving rapidly. and If we're care
full well have him out Of here in a
| week"
She took a deep breath, and for a
long time lay with folded hands, white
as wax against the not less white
coverlet. Her lids had dropped, as
though in sleep and the doctor stole
nCiselessly from the room. AS soon
as he had gone Mrs Reissinger
touched the bell at the head Of her
bed Valerie appeared instantly.
THAT letter-did you get it from
the postoffice?"
Yes ma'am. Here It is The maid
reached into her pocket and pro.
duced the missive.
] The other woman opened it with
eager fingers and scanned the lines
hurriedly A little smile fitted over
her wan face, and her lips parted
TREMENDOUSLY. She felt under the sheet
and drew forth the last letter she
had written, and tore 1t into fine bits.
Then she slipped the first one into
the envelope that was already d.
rected. and gave 1t back to Valerie.
Take it back to the postoffice at
once" she said. 81 was under the i'm
preston that I had made mistake
but | haven't"
When the maid had gone she left
her bed and crossed the room to the
telephone. She rang up Randall Hud-
sons number. and he answered him.
self.
Without calling any names she said :
You will get my letter this after
noon. 1t will be impossible for me
to keep the appointment, but come to
me tonight-here."
Then she hung up the receiver and
crept back to bed She covered her
face with the sheet and sobbed hys.
terically
|