An Effective Cure

I sa id I sliould go, and he said I should noí. I was proud and hot tempered, with a horror of being domineercd over, and I iasisted that I liad some rightswnieh the man I was engagedto was bound to respect, and, Ihadpromisod, 1 iiuist jo. Therefore wheneveuing arrived and ai) old fricnd carne to escort me to the house of an oíd acquaintauoe, I eft with him, and did not stop to think whether I would have iny lover act as I was doiag or not. I was older by three years than my equally hot temperad betrothed, and in vexed questioos invariably settlcd the dispute in my own favor by waving the flag of séniores priore over his head, a proceediug whieh silenced il'it did not convince him. He loved nic, I believe. Yes, he did, "with all the passion and foverof ajealous boy in liis lirst real love, and I - well, Ï think I was equally íbolish; evtíii my three years ot' seniority did not Bave me trata pleading guiltv to the soft impeaehment. AVe had been but an hour at the house we wcre vaiting when a furious ring at the doorbell eaused my heart to quickeu its pulsations. A servant appearod at the parlor door, sayiug uiy little sister wished to speak to ine. I Rsked the hostess tu excuse me, and T descended, vrondei'iugJU i)is ■,? r"TiYio ' caLL "Inez," said my sister, brcatalessly, Félix is here." ■W'here?" I Laierrupted, looking around. "Outside," she said. "lie won't come in. and he suys yon must come home with him now. [mmediately, or else - " she stop ped and enii led. "I told him that you would not do it ; that tho people in the house would makc fon of you both, but he insisted on my eoBoiag ii!ul tolling ou." Another pause to tnko breath, after which slie added tirnidly, "i i' you cío not come uow, he saya you cas consider all over between you!" Surprise and indignation found vent in one pithy senteuce ncither choiee nor elegant. "Me must be crazy!" I said. "Does hc show his affection in wanting me to become the laughing stock of these people? Go and teil him that I shall see him in the morning ajod to stay home quietly this evenBg, and support my absence : I carne here bocause I promised to spend tha cveniiiLT and he knows of old that I never break my word when I give it." I turned and went up stairs again. To the inquiries of my hostess I replied that it was nothing at all; my sister forgot to aak me soinething and wantod to kuow it then - nothing more. Clifford, my old friend and escort, looked at my heightened color and nervous manner, and intimatcd by a look that if that were all it was very basy to cause my ill coiicealed perturba t ion. My sister had retirod -when I got humo, bilt alter a shake or fcwo I managed to niake lier comprehcud my question; "Well. what did Félix say?" "Oh," she answered, becoming wide awnke at once, her eyes distended to twice their natural size, "how angry he was! Actual ly I was afraid ; he set his tceth- you know how he does it - mul his eyes shoiie - oh!" (this last "oli" long drawn out, expressivc of the forcibïe impression his anger had made upon her). "Didbe say that he would come tomori-ow?" 'Indeed, lie did not,"was the reply, in a positiva tone, aml thensleepily, "I wili you could have seen hini." She turnea on her side and in a minute her fcgular, (uiet breathinir gave note of her return to Morpheus's arms. I believe I foolishly lay awakoforan hour or so, but being of a sanguine temperament and "haring much confidence in my coaxing waya" - that is what mothcr says - I finally teil into a qniet slumber. I waited for Felix the ïiext aiorning. He did not come, however, aud at about noon I put my pride in my pocket and stoned to visit bis sister, wlth whom be lived. (bis mothcr -.vas dead). My anxiety was not allayed on hearing tbat hé bad not been hume all ni.abt, and I becanie seriously alarmed. lic had nevcr stayedPout before since he had known me, and we did not kuow what to think. Even while I was trying to compo.sc myself andstillthefearsthatremorseleflslytugged at my heart, a message came with a letter for bis sister. All I saw was "Öt. Luke's Hospital" in the upper lef hand corner of the envelope, when . became suddcnly calm and stilL Yes, he was then injured, dying per haps : I did not inquire. '"Sophie," ' oried, "you must come now, tbis min utc, oh, my darling, what have you dona, what have yon done?" "Sophie, dear motherly Sophie- she was tour years the junior of Fclix - took me into her arms and tried to comfort me. "You caunot go out in this condi tioji." she said, "compose yourself matter may not be as bad. as you think." But how could I He calm when thouht of him suflering, ill, and it al m3r Fault? I do upt kjiow hovr w eached thc hospital, and nave oniy a aint recollection of being helped ín ml out of a carriage and waiting Ín a larkened reoeption room, whosequietíess "was onunoua, to me an eternal ength of time before we were ashered uto a dinily lighted little room at the op of the building. My heart stood still at the threshold. Hiero, on a cot bed. the only artiele of 'urniture in that room besides a table uvcred with bottles and lint and two hairs. lay a seemimrly iir.iiiimatc forin, vhose head, though swathed in bandujos, I recognized as belonging to niy )ride, my Iovb. The gentleman who conducted us to he room - the doctor, I supposed - put warning flnger on his ups, and retrained me as I was about to rush forvniil and throw myself on the bed. "Madam," siid he kiiully bat firmly, n an oininous whisper, "the least exitemeiit may cost hiin his lile." I recovered niy composure as lio offei-ed me a glass of water. "luez!" eanie in a i'aint broken whiser t'roin the bed. "Yes," I said in the calmest tone I could nutster, "I urn here." ïhe Doctor's hand was again on my arm. "If yon íeel sure of yourself," said ie, "and can control all ontward dislay of emotion, you can go to him ; ut reincinber what I have said." I sat on a chair that the Doctor ilaced for me by the bedside and put ny hand witliin the one outside the ovevlct, wliien, oh joy! responded o niy touch with a Blight pressure." "Did you have a pleasaiit time last veninu?" "Darling," I whispered, "don't." Tliat he should think of such athing at such a time! Sophie was bonding over the bed, teavs in her eyes, her weet, low voice saying : "Courage, Pelix, dear. and you will soon be well." I hoard lier say to tho Doctor, as ,hey stood naai the door. "IIow did his happen?" He replied in a whisper, which I did ïot catch, and theu beckoned to me. "Madam," he said politely, "it is igainst the rulos of this institution for isitors to reinain with the patiënte bevond an allotted time, but as this case is rather an jexceptional one, and as I have confldence in your power to cure rather than to aggrav&te omHend'a UI, I shall allow. you to return ,his evening at six and remain with ïim till nine." I thanked hiin hurriwlly- I do not cnow how - and jfoing back to Feliz vhispered, "Good-bye, darling. 1 am jioiim' now, but he says I may come jack again this evenüiff." "luoz," he saiti. ij i olear, calm tones, that struck a chili to my heart, bo quirt and resigned tlicy were, "I have a ■equest to make : you wil] grant it, as icrhups it may be my last." "Darling, do not talk now. Take it br granted that I shall do whatever am wiah." " Wc were to be married." ïhis brotenly. "You will get "vcll and we shall be narriod. "Bui suppose - suppose I do not reiiM'i' I did not ar.swer. but tiülitened my hold on his hand. "VriH you" - another pause - "will you conent to reiidcr my last hours happy by ecomixig my wife now?" I heeitated. Was this a rich man's aiic-y that ought to be humoral, and would lic forgot all about it if I said ves? Tho Doctor was at my elbow. 'If you care enough to marry him, vou niight as well do so now; you'll lave to forego a grand wedding," a smile, halt' mo-oking, curled his lip; ■if he recover, why, a disagreeablc ceremon'y will have been gotten over with : if he do not, well, you will lave the consolation of knowing you nade all repai-ation in your power." This was said serenely. How curious the Doctor seemed. Was he heartless or cynical? lUi apoeared angry with me. Did he think [ cared for a grand wedding? "Félix," I whispered. "yes." "NowV" For a man wounded nigh into death the aninmtion he displayed was wonderfüL "This very evening?" The Doctor had his iingor on the jatieut's pulse and gave me a warning ook. "lio is getting ícverish," he sa id. Sopliie looked at me searchingly. It might save him," she said. "I wil] manase evcrytliing," theDoctor added. "When you return :his evening you will find the minister hore, aiul the ring - " Felix interrupted : "My mother's rinjr? Sophie has it," Öhe nodded. li is settted then?" the Doctor concluded. I said. "Yes." The Doctor conductod ns down stairs, even to the entrance gate, barelieailed as he ivas. We did not sieak a word on our way home. Sophie only held my haiid. After our hurried meal (who could eat?) I wrote to my motlicr and fatlier- they wero out of town- apprising them of what had occurred uid of what was to happen ; and then, with FcHx's fatlier, Sopliie, aiid my little sister, we started tbr the hospital. The Doctor met us at the door. He must have been waiting to conduct tho Btrange bridal party up stairs ; and iu due time we arrived in the attic room, where I saw sitting by Felix's bedside as we entered the kindest and most bcnevoleut looking old gentleman, with showy hair and such a good, handsome face. that I ever saw iu my life. The Doctor introduced him to us ; he was to perfonn the cereniony. Perhaps the recollection of Bome past romance ofiiis own gave his eycs ihat ïnisty, lar-off gaze as his glance met mine. It was all over; we were man and wite till death did us part. I slmddered as I thought how soon that might oceur. My husbanfl turned over on his side 'with a long-drawn siuii of relief and closed his eyes. His father gaid : "You wil] go with us?" I shook my head. ïhe Doctor interpon. "Yon must take cai-e of your health, too, and yon need have no fear that he vrill not have all the ndciulance he requires." Bm I was obdurate. "ThiB is my place and I shall not leave it." I held Felix's hand and put my head down on his pillow. They kissed me and lel't us. Feliz appeared to slumber tianquilly. I hardly breathed, f'earing I migfat d'isturb hbn. The Doctor came to the door once or twice (it was open), looked in and went awuy again. In the middle of the night Felix saiol, in an ordinair tono, quiokly and distinctly, as if he had been pondering a long time : "Inez, you do not regret it?" "I thoüght you vero asleeat" ■■Voii do Bot regret il." he persisted, "110 matter what happens? Swear itl "I swear." "Well, then. ]ut your head down and try to ileep. lt was easy enough to say "sleep, but how cou'ld 1? I was bewildered. His easy tone of command, his evident freedom trom weariness or excitemeut) the itrong pi-essure ot' his fingers on niy hand- was my preeence magicaK The dight Würe on: I said uot a word, thinking. All the ï-esolutions 1 made, how his slightest desire shoul4 be my law, how I would study to anticípate his wishes - ncverogain shouSJ a clond arise between us, 110 matter what happened - I registered a mental vow that never could be broken. When the Doctor appeared in the morning another inexplicable smLfe wreathed his lips. By-the-by,he very handsomc, this same Doctor, and young, too, not over t enty-livi'. "Your husband is so t'ar recovera!; madam," he said. "as to bo ablc to è&- cotnpaijy you home." "Do you reall (hink so, old fellow?" J said Folix, sittingupand begiuniug to : unlooscn the bandages on lus head. ■Stop," eried the Doetor, and he wliispered Bomething in his ear. Inez, darling," said Feliz, in auswer to my astonished gaze, "by the BUggestion and witli the aid of my old friend, Ilarrv, whoin I met as 1 was rushingoff inrariated, the Lord knows where, after leaving your sister at home, I practicad a little innocent deception to soften your obdurate heart and make you mine l'o re ver. that future occurrences similar to those that took plaee theevening before last might for the future be obviated. Remember, you swore you would not reyret it, uo matter what - " I thought of my resolntions during my lonely night vigil. 1 thought of what I had suil'ered - but then, had he not suffered too? The struggle was brief, before the Doetor, who stood biting his moustache by the doorway. I put my anus around my huflband'a neck, and said : "Darling, 1 ara too happy to havo yon safe and sound at any price to be [uiü'ry with you." Sophie livcs with us, now, and Doctor Harry ís :i frequent visitor. 1 snpjrised her the other day by asking lim the old question, while deep aluthes flitted over her lace : "llow did this happen?" And as beibrc I eould not overhcar iis reply.