Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1915-02-26

| It'll be hard blow for Mary, one
of the crowd was saying. Poor Jim!"
Driscoll recognized him as the local
druggist, with whom he had been on
bad terms for years. He clenched his
fists. He hated the mans hypocrisy
even more than himself
Nov there's many talks against
Jim, but he wasn't such a bad fel-
low," broke in the shoemaker He
Driscoll had had a feud of several
months standing, on account of a
business misunderstanding. when q
mans cranky folks makes allowances
for him. l tell you, a man who can
keep the love Of woman like Mary
Driscoll must have some good in him
it stands to reason"
"It's a pity there wasn't no chill
dren," sighed Miss Hemans, the sis
ter of the butcher. That's what ate
into their hearts like acid. But l
guess that II he lives Mary Driscoll
will be so overjoyed that life'll take
on happier look for her."
mo chance Of his recovering, is
there?" asked Austin.
"a small one," said the butcher.
'The doc says that II he RECEIVERS
consciousness he'll most likely get
well. It seems there's a splinter Of
bone pressing on his brain, and they
can't tell how much It's injured him.
If he recovers consciousness, the
brains all right; II he don't-well, he
won't, that's all"
did Mary Driscoll write that?"
asked another.
Sure. She wrote to Miss Hemans
here"
Jim Driscoll was conscious OF min
gled emotions. The first was of
shame and humiliation. or all the
neighbors gathered there, not one had
a bad word for him. But the second
was Of disgust. Could 1t be possible
that his wife had gone to the hospital
and actually mistaken another man
for himself?
Or was somebody lying? That was
a more probable explanation. OF
course! 1t was a lie. His impulse
was to run into the room, but he re-
strained himself, and he heard an
other speaker say:
Il tell you, Miss Hemans, when
saw Mary Drlscoll start of this morn.
ing, she looked actually pretty in that
black dress Of hers, in spite OF her
sorrow. She was crying, and she
couldn't hide it, but she looked like a
girl again. Sorrow seems to bring
back the youth in some people"
She's had sorrow enough" broke
In the first sneering voice that Dris-
coll had heard. Living with a man
like Jim is enough to make any wom-
an wish she was dead"
Driscoll knew the speaker. He was
the cashier Of the local bank. and
about the only friend he had In Box.
vile. And the sudden realization OF
the fellows treachery almost un-
nerved the watcher at the window.
He, Driscoll, had been so wrapped
up in his hatred and moodness that
he had never been able to tell his true
friends from the false ones. He had
acted like fool. An overwhelming
sense of remorse came over him. II
he could see Mary now, and tell hel
what a fool he had been!
And, unable longer to restrain him
self, he sprang for the door, opened
II, and rushed into the parlor.
I'm here, and I've heard ever,
word!" he shouted to the assembly
"You, Mr.. Nevins-" he turned to tn,
cashler-"were my best friend, ant
you can walk right out Of my hous,
and never come"
5 We'll. Jim Driscoll was good maj
in his way" said Miss Hemans, wiz
ing her eyes.
They had not heard him! Nobod
had heard or noticed him! And, evei
> as he stood there. bewildered, Nevin
: walked straight into hlm-and througI
him!
In an instant Drlscoll understood
He was dead! He had died in tn
|, collision, and he was In his own hom
A in the spirit, while the mangled fies
. lay-in the hospital, no doubt. wher
A his patient wife was watching!
= II agree with you, Miss Hemans,
!, the butcher answered.
@ Jim Driscoll turned slowly ava,
n and, with the realization that his las
d chance to redeem his life was gon,
an agonizlng sense OF hopelessnes
4 crushed him.
"Jiml"
y Jim Drlscoll opened his eyes an
|, stared into his wife's face.
= 20. thank God, Jim! You are col
= sclous. You are going to get wei
Jim. God has answered my prayeri
I have prayed for you night and da
70 these ten days past, and the doctc
said II you knew me again you woul
8 recover. Jim. my dear-Jim. o, m
9 deari"
U And. kneellng at tho bedside sh
flung her arms round the sick man
]. neck.
y Jim, everyone Is talking about II,
,. she said later.
:, About what7" whispered Drisco
u feebly.
:, "The little girl In the next bed
= = look at her. Jim! Don't you remen
" ber7 You pulled her from beneat