Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 128: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

268 “Young man, I shall not tell him that!” said Atwood tragically. “I honor and esteem your uncle, and such a message would break his heart.”’ “Then the greater shame to him, and to the Tristram family!’ said Reuel fiercely. CHAPTER XIII. REVELATION. 5 ETTY is very ill, Tristram,” Dr. Vincent said that evening, coming into Reuel’s room as he was sitting alone in moody reflection upon his interview with the man from Washington. “ I’ve scarcely been able to give the malady a name. “The fever has lasted far too long, and I’m puzzled as to its origin,. [ve tried bleeding, with little benefit, and her vitality is too low for any more of that, though it’s advocated by our best practitioners. “ She’s had calomel till I’m positive- ly fearful of mercury poisoning, and I’ve stimulated her heart almost beyond reason. It’s as feeble as a sparrow’s heart now, but I’m afraid that further stimulation will crack it. I hope you'll believe that I’ve not been indifferent. The most important person in all my practice could not have been given more earnest and conscientious attention.” “T’m sure of that, doctor. I wish she might live, but I knew that she had a rather feeble hold on life when I brought her here. I feel that we have all tried to help her, and—I wish we might have had more success. “ But you know, Vincent, that you're not required to hold yourself responsi- ble to me. We're all her friends, and we've done our best. Mrs. Roberts has been a devoted mother to her. You think that—that she’s dying, don’t you, Vincent?” “T won’t say that!’ declared the doctor with professional caution. “ But I’m fearful—I’m very doubtful. I was going to ask you if we ought to fetch ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. her mother. As for her father, I can’t abide the thought.” ‘“ By every standard of human con- duct and sentiment, we ought to fetch her mother,” said Reuel gravely, “‘ but —1I hope you'll understand me when I say that if she had the smallest chance to live, the coming of her mother might kill her.” “ Precisely!’ exclaimed the doctor, apparently gratified. ““We may be cruel and unnatural, Tristram, but the mother’s idea of parental devotion is too crude, too violent. She’d wail, she’d apostrophize the deity, she’d make a disturbance that would inevitably prove fatal. J think we’re in agreement.” “Is she conscious?”’ Reuel inquired. “Part of the time. Her mind wan- ders, and comes back. If the fever were more typical of any definite dis- temper, I’d say that it approaches a crisis. But there have been apparent crises already, and the fever goes on. To-day she—I hope it won’t annoy you, but she has called repeatedly for you; that is, in her irrational moments. We should have sent for you, but it means nothing. One never knows what turn the mind will take in delirium.” “Who am I to be annoyed?” asked the young man a little sharply. “ Per- haps it’s not altogether flattering that the poor child asked for me only in her madness, but I’ll go to her. “If she knows how ill she is, there might be some word she would give me —some wish to express. Ill go at once. I might ask her if she wants to see her mother—or even her father or sister. We are not the ones to make the decision.” He left Vincent and went to the Roberts’s apartment. The kindly and anxious Mrs. Roberts was gratified at his coming, and took him to the sick room. “Hetty, my dear,’ she whispered softly, “ here’s a friend to see you. Mr. Tristram has come and he hopes you are feeling better.” The small head turned slightly on Gomichbooks (C@)