The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-21

something new which | had totally
forgotten. | had the strangest and /
most dreadful dream the other night. |
And it must have been just at the
time when Jim lay dying. 1t comes
back to me now so wildly.
Il seemed to be lying somewhere
in space There was nothing around
me, and. although | was fully con
scious of my own existence, | seemed
| to have no body. And then it came
| to me that this was that place. or con-
dition. where dismembered souls col
| lect, awaiting their summons either
| to heaven OF toto some Of many 9th
! er possible destinations, Tom.
Then, as | stood there, l seemed
to realize that Jim was with me. He
was very much astonished at finding
me there.
| why. Polly he said, don't you
know that you are not to pass over
, for nearly year more?'
u was so terrified / did not know
what to do or how to answer him.
Yes, Polly he said. your time on
earth will be up year from next
week Unless
And here his voice became so
vague and indistinct that l could I'M
derstand nothing. When heard him.
again. he was telling ME how he died,
- wanted you ever since ! knew
you, Polly, dear, he said. And | am
going to have you for my very own,
through all eternity
THAT will never happen, Jim
answered.
"'Oh. yes, it will he said, and,
more than that, you will be glad. Re
member, a year from next week.
Tom Raymond frowned impatiently
"Of course, it may Lave been some
sort of inner perception that Jim was
dying" he answered. Il have no
doubt such things are possible. But
in dreams they become blurred and
, distorted. and one must never rely
on such nonsense. Lose you in a
years time, indeed. Id like to see
myself"
/ He kissed away the tears that were
falling freely. But after he had gone
| TOllS lOI lonS tiiuO thihN
l ing of the boy who had died in such
D a lonely fashion upon the mountains.
III.
: The house was strangely silent
Upstairs there was no sound at all
l downstairs only that of the man who
s tramped slowly backward and for
ward in his library.
e Mercifully he had forgotten his
wife's prediction. He was conscious
e only of that agony of soul that comes
}. when ones dearest is wrestling with
l death.
7. The doctor came into the room, ant
g Tom Raymond spun round and facet
him.
Tell me the truth" he cried. IL
there any hope?"
\ YES" said the doctor, frankly
There is hope. But it is very fain
\ one You must be prepared for tn
! worst, Mr. Raymond, and | canno
delude you with any false anticipa
> tons Your wife is dangerously Ill
! She is at present sleeping II all de
q ponds on the first rest"
I And the child?"
!, "A splendid girl. She is doing fine
ly. ] have seldom seen child y
n healthy at BIRTH
= Tom Raymond groaned. At tina
moment he felt utterly Indifferent t
!. his child. II only Polly lived! Sh
\ must live, for his sake.
Il The doctor .Sok pity on the hal
gard man.
Il don't think there is any reaso
why you should not sit by her BET
side, If you go up very softly b
: said.
Raymond assembled the stairs an
entered his wife's room on tiptoe. TIL
nurse rose from the bedside and lai
- her finger on her lips. Raymon
crept to the chair which she had vi
Gated and sat down.
:. Polly was sleeping, but 1t was moi
~ correct to say that she was unco
=. scious. She was barely alive, an
ba her breast hardly stirred under HI
\, light breathing. Her face was ashe
Ia her lips as pale as her cheeks.
40 Sometimes her husband was afra
80 that she had ceased to breathe. TT
"a hours went by, He still sat at HI
" side Midnight sounded. He did n
-. move With all his power he was wi
~ ing that Polly should live. And
ha the night passed, and gradually Il
On light of dawn began to penetrate Il
room.
Suddenly the nurse started al
.r stepped to the sick womans sid
a Her trained ear had detected the |
tie sound of awakening. Next IN
:. ment Polly was conscious, and h
:. eyes were fixed on Toms.
Il am going to get WELL Tom, dear
And Tom could read that in d
- tinge of color that had come back
,a, her cheeks.
The nurse, obcdient to the 81
:, - womans unvOiced wish, stepped
"a the cradle and brought out the bal
Isn't she a dear, Tom" murmur
IA Polly. And she has the dearest lit
-, birth-mark Show him her should
a., nurse.
80 There was faint stain, extendi
"a. from the base of the neck an inch
&C two in the direction of the right sho
der
cen --------