The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-10-28

dition, where dismembered souls col
lect, awaiting their summons either
to heaven or TOTO some OF many 9TH
er possible destinations. Tom.
"Then, as | stood there, / seemed
to realize that Jim was with me. lie
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?
II was so terrified / did not know
what to do or how to answer him.
Eyes, Polly he said, your time on
earth will be up year from next
week Unless
"And here hts voice became so
vague and indistinct that l could un-
derstand nothing. When l heard him
ar"'u, 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 De glad. Re-
member, year from next week.
Tom Raymond frowned impatiently.
"Of course, it may have 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! I'd like to see
myself"
He kissed away the tears that were,
falling freely. But after he had gone
Polly remained for a long time think
ing of the boy who had died in suchl
a lonely fashion upon the mountains
III.
The house was strangely silent.
Upstairs there was no sound at all;
downstairs only that of the man who
tramped slowly backward and for
ward in his library.
Mercifully he had forgotten his,
wife's prediction. He was conscious,
only of that agony of soul that comes
when ones dearest is wrestling with
death.
The doctor came into the room, and,
Tom Raymond spun round and faced
him.
Tell me the truth" he cried. rs
there any hope?"
eyes," said the doctor. frankly.
There is hope. But it is very faint
one. You must be prepared for the
worst, Mr.. Raymond, and | cannot
delude you with any false anticipa-
tions. Your wife is dangerously ILL
She is at present sleeping. 1t all de-
ponds on the first rest"
"And the child?"
"A splendid girl. She is doing finei
ly. ] have seldom seen child SD
healthy at birth"
Tom Raymond groaned. At that
moment he felt utterly Indifferent to-
his child. If only Polly lived! She
must live, for his sake.
The doctor took pity on the bag
gard man.
81 don't think there is any reasoni
why you should not sit by her bed
side, if you go up very softly" he
said.
Raymond assembled the stairs and
entered his wife's room on tiptoe. The
nurse rose from the bedside and laid
her finger on her lips. Raymond
crept to the chair which she had va
Gated and sat down.
Polly was sleeping, but it was more
correct to say that she was uncon-
scious. She was barely alive, and
her breast hardly stirred under her
light breathing. Her face was ashen,
her lips as pale as her cheeks.
Sometimes her husband was afraid
that she had ceased 20 breathe. The
hours went by. He still sat at her
side. Midnight sounded. He did not
move. With all his power he was will
ing that Polly should live. And SO
the night passed, and gradually the
light of dawn began to penetrate the
room.
Suddenly the nurse started and
stepped to the sick woman's side
Her trained ear had detected the lit
tie sound of awakening. Next mo-
ment Polly was conscious, and her,
eyes were fixed on Toms.
Il am going to get well, Tom, dear"
And Tom could read that in the
tinge of color that had come back TO
her cheeks.
The nurse, obedient to the sick
woman's unvoiced wish, stepped to
the cradle and brought out the baby
Isn't she dear, Toni" murmured
Polly. "And she has the dearest little
birth-mark. Show him her shoulder,
nurse"
There was a faint stain, extending
from the base of the neck an inch OF
two in the direction of the right shout
der.