Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-02-18

and here his voice became so
vague and indistinct thad could IN
derstsnd nothing. When I heard him
again, he was telling me how he died.
II wanted you ever since knew
you, Polly, dear he said And I am
going to have you for my very own,
through all eternity
THAT will never happen, JIM l
answered.
"'Oh, yes, II VIII. be said, and,
more than that, you viii be glad Re
member, a year from next week.
Tom Raymond frowned impadently.
'Noh course, II 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 Ike to see
myself"
he kissed away the tears that were
falling freely. But after he had gone
Polly remained FOR long time think
ing Of the boy who had died In such
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 around and faced
him.
Tell me the TRUTH he cried. is
there any hopper
"Yes. said the doctor. frankly.
There Is hope. But II is a very faint
one. You must be prepared for the
worst, Mr. Raymond. and l cannot
delude you with any false anticipa-
lions Your wife is dangerously H.
She is at present sleeping. 1t ell de-
ponds on the first rest"
-And the ehildT"
"A splendid girl. She is doing fine
ly. / have seldom seen a child 50
healthy az 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.
~ don't think there is any reason
why you should not sit by her bed
side, II you 30 up very softly" he
said.
Rayr ond assembled the stairs AMI
entered his wlfe'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 II 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 sshen.
her lips as pale as her cheeks.
Sometimes her husband was afraid
that she had ceased 10 breathe. The
hours went by He stin 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 10 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 a dear Tom :" murmured
Folly. ~And she has the dearest little
blrthmark. Show him her shoulder,
nurse"
There was a faint stain. extending
from the base Of the neck an inch or
two In the direction OF the right shoul-
der.