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Show iT-isVT'im ssWrrrrasri -JgiitwiM.nniiMi ' ' ' . IfILENCED I I I srtran4e Experiences in tho Lffa 1 I (Copyright, by V. 0. Chapman.) Lolo Petrlo camo to mo from Kng-land, Kng-land, bearing testimonials from buv-eral buv-eral of lotidoti's foremost physicians regarding licr ability as a graduate nurso. I nvalled myself of her services serv-ices In my private hospital, and hIio Justified the good Impression she made upon mo at our Ilrst Interview. Sho was clever, painstaking and absolutely ab-solutely trustworthy, and I learned to rely upon her In tho handling of tho most dllllcult cases. Her health, however, how-ever, was not all that It should have been, and two mouths after her engagement en-gagement she was nken 111 with u form of nervous malady, I treated her successfully, and she acknowledged acknowledg-ed that, as I Buspccted, she had suffered suf-fered from the ailment formerly, and HiIb was a second nttack of the old trouble. It was then that sho related to mo a rather singular story, which I hnvo endeavored to Ret down as follows, fol-lows, na nearly us possible In her own words: Early In tho winter of last year, when living In Iunlon, I was sent to nurso n patient by tho name of Leo nora Trefusls. She was a girl of nineteen, nine-teen, and the victim of nerve dlstiess In an acute form. The Illness was brought on by an unfortunate love affair. Two years before she had been engaged to a Captain Clifford of tho lirltlsh army. Then the news reached Leonora that her lover had been killed during an cmouuter with tribesmen In India. Ills body was never recovered, and the blow completely com-pletely prostrated tho young girl. The k nervous breakdown which required my services took plnce. 1 got her to conltdo her sorrows to me, and she often uihjUo of Captain Ulfford and of tho love sho still bore him. Hy and by lconora began to get well, and soon afterward, to my astonishment, aston-ishment, I heard of her engagement to Dr. llcrslct, one of tho cleverest surgeons In Ilnrley street. I had nursed patients for Dr. Ilerslet, and nover Imagined that he waa a marrying marry-ing man. Ho was hard and dry in appearance, not more than thlrty-llw, but looking considerably older. Ilerslet Ilers-let was a brain specialist, and no man living had studied tho anatomy of tho brain mora thoroughly. All that mod- Kl .. orn sclonco knew ho had acquired. I respected Ilerslet, but at the same tlmo I feared him. for ho was a silent. cold sort of Individual whoso manner repelled ono. 'When ho became on- gaged to Leonora I felt sorry for the girl. Onco I ventured to speak to my patient on tho subject. "Do you really love this man whom 1 ' you tho going to marry?" I askod. ( I Sho looked at mo sadly mid shook , J her head. "I do not," sho said slowly. "I am going to mnrry Dr. Ilerslet slm- ! ply berauso my father wishes It. Yet ,j ho knows that all my lovo Is given to' J tho man who lies In an unknown t grave. Dr. Ilerslet understands that I' If such un lmposslbo thing happened i as thut Dick Glfford should come bark V '' I could not matry him. Dick will II never como back, of course, nnd I shall bo married to Dr. Ilerslet In two months from now. Von will stay with mo until tho redding Is over, will you not, nurso?" 1 readily promised, for 1 had grown to lovo tho girl well. On a certain day not long utter tills conversation I happened to bo alone, when tho door of tho room I waa In opeued and Dr. , Ilorslct camo In. "I hnvo n very critical caso in my ' hospital Just now, nurse," said ho. "I want your assistance, as tho caso Is I ono'or Ufa or death. You must loavo ' Miss Trefusls tomorrow nnd como to iuo." "I cannot," I replied. "Leonora Is better, but sho Is still dependent on ma." "Nevertheless," ho returned coldly, "you will como to my houso tomorrow tomor-row evening. Tho operation will take placo on tho following morning. 1 am going to trephine If I am not successful, tho patient will go mad; trephining Is tho only chnnco for him. .1 will nrrnngo tho matter with Miss TrofiiBls." That evening Lcnora camo to me. "You will havo to leavo mo, nurse," sho said. "I feel torrlbly sad at tho . thought of losing you, but Dr. Ilerslet Is Insistent nnd must have his way. When ho becomes cmphntlc 1 havo to obey him. Hut I want you to como to my "oom; 1 wish to show you something some-thing you havo nover yet seen Cap-1 Cap-1 tain Glfford's photograph." 1 followed hor to her room and she handed mo tho photograph of a remarkably re-markably fine-looking, plcasnnt-faced man. "It Is a good faco," I said, after 1 tp had oxamlnc-d tho picture, "tho conn- tenanco of a bravo man. 1 am sorry '.'or you. Leonora." Toward tho evening of tho next day I went to Dr. Herslot's hospital, which was next door to his own house Having been tnken to my room and given somo refreshment, n servant camo to ask mo If 1 wished to see my patlont. I assented, uud In my professional pro-fessional cap and uniform followed tho girl to tho door of a room on tho tlrst floor. I knocked, a volco bade ,jo cufor, nnd 1 stepped Insldo. A rail a oi had risen to rccolve me; a lamp mood on tho tablo behind him. his face and figure were In tho shadow. Ho came forwnrd and shook hands. "Pray sit down, nurso," ho said. "Has Dr. Ilerslet told you tho nn-turo nn-turo of tho operation?" "Yes," I replied. "Ho says It Is n serious one." ' "Kxaetly. Well, n couple of years ago 1 received a severe blow on tho head and Dr. Ilerslet believes thero Is pressure on n certain portion of tho brain. Since tho tlmo of tho ncchlent I huvo suffered from epileptic fits. To savo myself from tho horrors of a lunatic asylum 1 prefer to take the chance of tho surgeon's knife. I returned re-turned homo a fortnight ngo. When with my regiment I received the blow which 1 have Just mentioned. I was supposed to be dead, but was taken prisoner Instead. I have much to llo for, should I ho operation provo successful. suc-cessful. If not, thero are certain friends whom 1 would Just as soon havo believe that I perished In India. Hut I must not talk too much as the slightest excitement brings on a fit. Here Is the key of my portmnnteau. 1'erhnpH, nurse, you will go to my room ntnl unpack somo of my things." t took the key and went Into his bedroom, which adjoined tho sitting loom. A largo portmanteau stood by tho door. I unlocked It and began to pin uwny my patlcnt'H clothes. At Ihe bottom of tho portmanteau I found a pile of papers on top of which lay a photograph. I took tho photo-graph photo-graph up, and the well-known faco of my late patient, Leonora Trefusls, v.ns before me! My mind reverted to thn man I hnd JURt left. Surely, as ho tunnd from out the shndow nnd the lamplight fell upon his features, I had noticed something familiar about that frank, open faco. Whcro had I seen It before? Like a flash of truth, or what seemed to be tho truth, became clear. Tho man I was about to nurso had only Just returned from India, where ho had been wounded nnd tak en prisoner. Was It possible that 1 had found Leonora's lost lover? Hut I must mako sure; I must not be rash 1 roturncd to tho silting loom. "I havo unpacked your things," I said to tho patient, "lly tho way .Mild you mind letting mc know your name. "My nanio Is Captain Glfford," was tho reply. I left tho room without spoaklng further. It wns nearly 10 o'clock, but I resolved to go straight to Leonora nnd tell her what I had discovered. I dressed hurriedly nnd was descending descend-ing tho stairs when tho front door opened nnd Dr. Ilerslet entered. "Havo you seen the patleut, niirte?" ho nsked. "Yes," I nusweied. "I hnvo unpack cd his things. I am going out to st , Miss Trefusls; I havo somo Important news for hor." "I am nfrald I cannot sparo you now," ho said. "Tho operation Is to bo porformed early lit tho morning nnd I want to tnllt tho enso over with you. Como Into my consulting room." I followed him down tho hall and entered tho consulting room. "Now, nurso," ho said, "what do you mean by saying you have news for Miss Trefusls?" "Do j on not Intend to marry her In about six weeks?" I asked. "Certainly; but what has your news to do with that?" "Hvorythlng. You engaged yourself to'marry Leonora on a condition. Sho piomlscd to wed you only becnuso sho belloved her old lover to bo dead." "Which ho Is. I did say to her that If such a thing should happen as that the dead should return to life, I should In honor glvo her up. I Hit I was never siilllclcutly Interested to even ask the name of tho gentleman, I preferred to avoid tho subject." "You can scarcely avoid It now," I sold. Dr. Ilerslet, Leonora's old lover ejjlsts; ho Is nllu nnd In this houso now. His nahio Is Captain Olf-foid. Olf-foid. Go to Leonora, If you do not be-llovo be-llovo me, nnd ask what her lover's-nnmo lover's-nnmo wns. Ask her to show you his photograph. Tho photograph Is that of tho man upstnlis, your patient." Dr. Herslot's cold eyes gazed nt mo steadily. The man's nerves must have been mudo of steel, for ho never flinched. "I will Investigate your story," ho said. "In tho meantime, I do not Intend In-tend to allow you to seo Leonora tonight. to-night. Whllo I am abKcut you shall remain here." Without waiting for a reply, ho lei l the room, and locked the door after him. At the end of nn hour he returned. His face was us cold uud linpnhhlvo us over. "1 huo verified tho truth of your talo," he said. "I vlslled Miss Tref-ublH. Tref-ublH. nnd for tho first tlmo since our engagement 1 nlluded to her old lover She wept. I nsked his uuiiie and particulars par-ticulars about him and was shown his photograph. My rival lives; ho Is np-stairs. np-stairs. Tomorrow I am to perform a critical operation -upon him. Think what you havo put Into my power. A swerve of tho knlfo means death. Hut I havo no Intention of committing murder. I shall opcrato upon Captain Glfford and I hope to bo successful. I will not throw tho case away, for the success of such nn operation will greatly enhanco my reputation I will not sncrlflco cither lovo or ambition. The operation wilt bo postponed. I will give my patient excellent reasons for tho delay. I shall keep him hero nnd operate after my marrlago has taken place. Now, perhaps, ydu understand un-derstand tho strength of my position. You can, If you wish It, return to Leonora and stay with her until after tho "marriage, or you cun defy mo," "You mean that I nm to go back to Leonora nnd not tell her what I havo discovered?" "Kxaetly; but you can plenso yourself." your-self." "What Is the alternative?" "If you do not promlso to obey mo, I shnll seal your lips. How I will do so Is my secret. You cannot loavo this houso tonight. Tomorrow morning morn-ing I will spenk to you nguln. Now you must go to your room." He took mo by tho nrm and led mo out of the consulting room. My brain was in a whirl and I was Incnpablo of resistance. I went up tho stnlrs, entered en-tered my room nnd sat down to think matters over. Knowing Ilerslet as I did, I saw that It would be useless to try to leave the houso that night. Perhaps 1 could manage It In tho morning. Wo had said tho operation wub to bo postponed, and thero might yet bo time for mo to save Leonora. Overcome with excitement and emotion, emo-tion, 1 lay back In my chair, and fell Into a deep sleep. 1 invoke suddenly nnd opened my eyes to see Dr. Harslet Hars-let standing before inc. I tried to rise, but was unable to move. Tho surgeon bent over mo, one hand on my shoulder, shoul-der, the other holding something to my mouth nnd nostrils. The faint, sweet smell of chloroform wns In tho nlr. Ilorslol's cruel eyes were gazing Into mine. "You nro In my power," ho nald; "1 nm sealing your lips." Ah he spoke 1 ceased to utrugglo nnd my senses left me. When 1 nwoko nguln It was morning nnd 1 was lying on tho lloor with my head against a r.harp comer of the bedstead. 1 felt queer nnd heavy nnd thero was a dull pain In my temples Suddenly tho door opened nnd a servant entered. "What Is tho matter?" sho cried. "What has happened7" 1 mudo nn effort to speak, but not a word would come, only a gurgling Sap- Fa? II If you do not i4&gggp obey me, I hall aeal your lipal ' nolso In my throat. I tried .to struggle to my feet, but my right side, arm and leg wero powerless. I sank back with a moan. As I did so I noticed u little blood on tho corner of tho bed against which 1 hnd evidently fallen. Tho girl rushed out nnd returned In n fow niouiotitH with Dr. Ilerslet. Ho looked at me keenly. "This Is drendfiil," I heard him murmur. Ho raised my paralysed arm and let It fall ugnln. "How did this huppeu, nurso Petro?" ho asked. Agnlu I tried to speak; my lips moved, but no sound escaped them. "King for Nurso Murthn," said the doctor, "and get her Into bed. It Is apoplexy. 1 will bo back shortly." 1 was put to bod, and soon Dr Ilerslet returned with another doctor. doc-tor. They both examined mo carefully. careful-ly. "It Ih n clear cam, Herslot," said tho other doctor. "Hemorrhage from the le'ft middle cerebral, with lieml-plegls lieml-plegls anil aphasia. Very sad indeed. Tho mind 'Is fully conscious but all power of speech Is lost, llroen's convolution con-volution Is evidently Involved." Tail j on nils" our right arm?" ho queried, bending over me. f shook my head In reply. "You seo bin understuudH what Is said to her," he added, looking ut Dr. Ilerslet. The two physicians left thn room, but soon Dr. Ilerslet returned nnd cent tho nurse away "Well," said he. bending over me. "you can see now how wrong you were to defy me. I told you 1 would seal your lips If necessary, and they nro sealed. I am going to marry Miss Trefusls, and so I havo taken steps to Insiiro your silence. It Is possiblo that you may nover ho able to spenk again. With my knowledgo of tho localization of motor centers of the brain, It was easy for mo lo do what 1 havo done. When I saw that you wero determined to leave the house . soiiietlmu nnd tell Miss Trefusls what you hud found out, I mado tip my mind to net. I waited until you had dropped nslecp, then 1 administered nn anaesthetic. The rest wns easy. With a sultablo Instrument I mado a smalt oponlug through tho bono nt tho top of your temple, Just ovt'r tho confer which controls tho power of speech. Having mndo tho entrance I Introduced Intro-duced a probo and broko up that portion por-tion of tho brain tissue. Tho external opening Is scarcely visible You aro supposed to bo suffering from ccro-brnl ccro-brnl hemorrhage. You may later on rlso from your bed. but you cannot speak, nor can you control your brain sulllclently lo wrlto nnythlng, oven with your left hand. Thus you nro ns powerless to convey tho Information you know to Leonora Tnifusls as If you wero dead. Having performed tho operation, 1 placed you with yogr head beside the sharp comer of the Itcd, and utti It smeared n little blood. You may call attention to tho small wound on your head by making slgnn to the nurse, hut she has beoij told that tho wound was caused by your fall." He tiowed to mo mockingly nnd left the mom. I lay perfectly motionless In my bed. I know that I wns doomed, doom-ed, ehnlned as In Iron fetters; I, In my first youth, wnn doomed to the silence of the grave. Dr. Ilerslet would probably marry Leonora; Captain Glfford Glf-ford would probably die. Such thoughts, sweeping by In grim proces-Men, proces-Men, tortuiod mo day and night. At last, about a week after my snUuio, Leonora camo to see me, accompanied accompa-nied by Dr. Herslot. "She looks so nuxlous nnd pathetic." pathet-ic." said Miss Trefusls. "Wutch her eyes, Paul; they seem na though full of n question. She Is longing to tell us something. Perhaps sho can write It." "Try her," suhl Dr. Herald, producing produ-cing u pencil nnd sheet of paper. I'onorn placed tho pencil In my hand. I glanced nt hor uud made a frantic effort, hut In vain. My brain directed the wor's, but tho hand would not obey. I could only effect n fow straggling Hues on the paper. "It Is of no use; sho cannot," said the surgeon "It tortures her to try." Ixonoru bent ovei nnd kissed me, I P. 'IH - .... dR.!--'.,. .-urn. ....,. ,. (, , in. .- P. then left tho room, hor eyes wet with tears. Somo more weoks went by; there was no thango In my condition. A certain morning dawned uud 1 uwoko feeling strangnly better. 1 ' could not account for my sensations, but I felt lighter and ltH lieuty limbed. I noticed, too, that I could imivu my arm tho paralysis was evidently evi-dently passing away. Onco again I mado an offort to speak, but not u word would como. Si III, tho paralysis of tho arm and side was less marked. Wtisn tho nurso entered tho room I longed to suy to hor, "I am hotter." but I think my eyes must huvo told her something for sho leaneil, over mo cheerily uud said: "Well, my dear, you are looking more like jourhelf" J raised my nrm about un Inch In onier to draw her nttentlon lo it. Why. that Is a splendid Improvo-meat' Improvo-meat' she said. "I must tell Dr. T islel." Sho stood ut tho sldo of tho licit as If considering. I am uncertain whether I ought to trouble him today," sho said. "This In his wedding day. Hut, nurse, what i Mtrango expression you have In your line. You have got su h curlo'ib ees I never before saw human 'eye i express so much. I do not believe Hint you like the Idea of this wedding. Well, Miss Trefusls Is n beautiful )')iiug lady; but then. Dr. Herslot Is ha clever, tho cleverest surgeon of his day. Of course he Is older, but " She was Interrupted by u knock nt tho door uud went to open It 1 heard her utter an exclamation; sho then camo back quickly to my side. "What do you think has hnppencd?" sho said. "You uro highly honored. Thero Is no less n person standing outsldo than Miss Trefusls herself the brlde-tobo. Shall 1 show her lu?" My eyes spoke, my baud beckoned, and Leonora entered. She wns In her I . - r i brldnt dress. Her beauty waa extraordinary extra-ordinary and startling, but her sweet fnco was ghostly pnlo and her dark eyes wero full of an uncontrollable sadness. I motioned to Nurso Martha to leavo us alone. I,cmiora came up closo to mo. "1 had hoped that you might bo better," bet-ter," sho said, bending over mo. "I could not go away without seeing you and bidding you good-bye. Yes, I nm gulng to tho church now to bo married mar-ried Ah, nurse, dear nurse, poor Dick never camo back. I shall bo Mrs. Ilerslet within an hour." I motioned with my hand and Raid with my eyes: "Stay with mo n llttlo while. Mlno Is n dreadful fate comfort com-fort mo with your presence Just for n few minutes." Sho appeared, to rend my thoughts, for without a word sho sat down near me. Presently sho took my hand and covered It with her kisses. Somo of her tears dropped upon It. As sho sat so, and tho quick moments pnsscd, and I know that In n very short tlmo her fnto would bo Irrevocnbly soaled, a frantic determination nwoko within mo. If no woiis could nrlso to my lips, at lenst I could direct my thoughts to tho Provldenco above. I began to pray flcrcoly, despairingly. I began to plead with Heaven to glvo mo hack the gift of Rpecch. If It could bo only for a. short time, a few Meeting moments, what might 1 not accomplish? If I could but save her by a few whispered sounds, even If tho effort cost my life, I would gladly pay tho price. As my nplrlt writhed within mo l.conorn watched mo curiously, cur-iously, nnd then leaned forward and touched mo. "What Is It, dear?" sho asked. I "Your eyes seem to speak, surely I (hero Is something tlint Is troubling iyou. Oh, nurse, nurse, mako an ef-rort. ef-rort. Surely you can move Hint nllent tongue It you try hard. I feel sure thero Is Romethlui; I must know, something some-thing you want to tell mo." My heart wub boating wildly, nnd I moved my partially paralyzed arm lo nnd fro. It seemed ns though my spirit must burst Its bonds nud over-como over-como tho weakness of tho flesh. My lips trembled with ono final, r.lKantlc offort; they writhed as In u spasm, nnd n guttural nolso issued from my throat. Suddenly tho blood camo Burg-lug Burg-lug to my temples; I found that tho long-lost speech hnd returned! "Leonora!" 1 whLpercd faintly. "Good Heavens! sho spenks, sho speaks," cried tho girl. Sho fell upon hor knees by tho bed with clasped hands. "Doar, dearest, toll mo what Is In your heart." I know that my words must be few. I had to select thorn beforo thoy were uttered. "Leonora, listen," I snld. "Do not marry Dr Ilerslet. Cnptnln Glfford hi n patient In this house; ho Is not doad ho camo back I discovered his Identity; Dr Ilerslet tried lo allottee mo, to keep you In iKiioranoo. Do not mnrry that hnd man, doar." I could say no more; my lips quivered quiv-ered and were still. My brain reeld, tho room beenmo dnrk nnd I slipped nwny Into blank unconsciousness. I wan very 111 afterward nud knew nothing moro for n long tlmo. When I came to myself Leonora told mo tho story of tho next few days. .Acting on advice, sho went to seek Captain (iifford, and found him. Sho sold little or nothing nbotit that Interview, nor did I quest ton her. Dr. Ilerslet returned to tho houso about half an hour after I had iccovered my power of speech. Leonora lie: e. If mat lilm nnd told lilm what Ind happened. Ho looked qulo'ly nt her and his faco grew white; ho wont out of tha house, never to rotur.il. Never again Old he como Uncle to Hurley street; his career In Hughim! was ended, nnd tho reason of his strange disappear-nueo disappear-nueo wns not mudo public us wo kept the srerot to ourselves. Another great surgeon performed the operation opera-tion on Captain Glfford, who iccover-ril iccover-ril completely, and Leonora heenmo his wife. As for mo, I grew to lmvo u horror of my surroundings; everything In Loudon seemed to remind mo of tho terrlblo period through which 1 hail passed. When t UfliX legalned my strength I resolved to try whut change of climate nud count ty would do for me, and I enino to New York.. I'c r-haps r-haps I btarted to wot I; a llttlo too soon, but now, thanks to your care, llr. Halifax, I feel that I am on tho road to complete recovery. Tho silence si-lence Is over forever, thank Heaven, unit tho memory of that frightful ex-pnrli'iico ex-pnrli'iico Is fast assuming tho out-Iit.'S out-Iit.'S of some fantastic dream. |