SHE LOVED MUCH.
I would have rather been a slave
In tears, in bondage, by his side,
Than shared in all, if wanting him,
This world had power to give beside.
L. E. LANDON.
She was kneeling by his couch--she was gazing through her blinding
tears upon that pallid, emotionless face, as still now as though it
already bore the stamp of death; her hand touched his, but it did not
respond to her passionate pressure, and when she called his name, there
was no answer--not even a quiver of the dark, curling lashes lying so
heavily against the marble-white cheek.
Mrs. Chainey and the two physicians looked on in the tenderest
compassion. The story of the young girl's love was written on her
anguished face, and they knew, alas! that Ralph Chainey lay close to
the borders of spirit-land. The dark eyes would never open on that most
beautiful face bending over him, the pale lips would never unclose to
speak her name.
Breathlessly she called upon his name, beseeching him to look at her,
to speak to her; but the spell that wrapped him was too deep. Those
strong men listening to her wept in sympathy. They had no hope. It had
been so difficult to stanch the flow of blood from the terrible wound
so close to his heart, that he was sinking from inanition--he could not
survive the weakness.
Suddenly the girl turned and looked at them. They were whispering
together. She caught some disjointed words:
"It has been tried with success. You remember cases of?--but he is so
far gone, I doubt--transfusion of blood--do you think?"
It startled them, the way the weeping girl sprung to her feet. New
life seemed to come to her. She threw off the long fur cloak from her
slender form, pushed back the sleeve from the most beautiful white arm
they had ever beheld, and cried, beseechingly:
"You can save him! Oh, take my blood--my very life, so that you restore
him!"
They were shocked at first, but she would not listen. She implored them
to yield to her wish.
"I am so strong, I have such splendid health, it will not hurt me--I
can bear it!" she cried, pleadingly, and they were full of admiration
for her courage and bravery.
Her lovely face shone with its lofty purpose.
"Impossible!" they answered; but they gazed with admiring eyes at the
beautiful girl whose fresh young loveliness indeed hinted at glowing
health and strength; but it seemed hopeless, such an experiment. He was
so far gone. Any minute might launch his life's bark out upon death's
unknown sea.
She could not bear it, this obstinate refusal. Oh, to save him, to save
him she would lay down her life!
A desperate thought came to her. Her dark eyes fastened on a rich blue
vein in the rosy white arm she had bared to their view. A furtive
movement and she had slipped from the burnished mass of her golden
tresses a toy dagger with a jewel-studded hilt. Maddened with misery,
she thrust the keen point against the blue vein, and the scarlet tide
of her life-blood spurted out in a tiny vivid jet. Oh, horror!
They sprung toward her, one bound a handkerchief over the wound,
but--her bravery had thrilled their hearts. They could not hesitate
longer. It was a forlorn hope, but yes, they would try the experiment!