Family Pride

A pressure of the hand was Wilford's reply, and then there was silence between them, while Wilford mastered all his pride, and with quivering lips whispered: "Katy."

"We have sent for her. We expect her every train," Morris replied, and Wilford asked: "Who is we? Who has been with me--the nurse, I mean? Who is she?"

Morris hesitated a moment, and then said: "Marian Hazelton--she who took care of baby."

"I know--yes," Wilford said, having no suspicion as to who was the woman standing now just outside his door, and listening, with a throbbing heart, to his rational questions.

In all their vigils held together no sign had ever passed from Dr. Grant to Marian that he knew her, but he had waited anxiously for this moment, knowing well that in his present state Wilford must not be shocked, as a sight of Marian would shock him. He knew she was outside the door, and as Wilford turned his head upon the pillow, he went to her, and leading her to a safe distance, said softly: "His reason has returned."

"And my services, then, are ended," Marian rejoined, looking him steadily in the face, but not in the least prepared for his affirmative question: "You are Genevra Lambert?"

There was a low, gasping sound, and Marian staggered forward a step or two, then steadying herself, she said: "And if I am, it surely is not best for him to see me. You would not advise it?"

She looked wistfully at Morris, the great desire to be recognized, to be spoken to kindly by the man who once had been her husband overmastering for a moment all her prudence.

"It would not be best, both for his sake and Katy's," Morris said, reading her thoughts aright, and with a moan like the dying out of her last hope, Marian turned away, her eyes dim with tears and her heart heavy with a sense of something lost, as in the gray dawn of the morning she went back to her former patients, who hailed her coming with childish joy, one fair young boy from the Granite hills kissing the hand which bandaged his poor crushed arm so tenderly, and thanking her that she had returned to him again.

She had not asked Dr. Grant how much he knew of her story, or where he had learned it. She was satisfied that he did know it, and she left her case in his hands, wondering if at any time Wilford had been conscious of her presence as a nurse, and if he would miss her any. He did miss her, but he made no comment, and when, as the morning advanced, another nurse appeared, he said to himself: "Surely this cannot be Miss Hazelton," but asked no questions of any kind, and Marian's heart grew heavier when in answer to her inquiry, Morris said: "He has not mentioned you."