"Every time that he stoops to kiss my lips I am sure he wishes they were hers.
"His thoughts are with her. I am a mere shadow to his life; she was the substance.
"People about me look upon me with envy, but you can realize that I am more to be pitied than the poorest beggar on the street. Tell me," she cried, eagerly, "do you think any one on this earth ever had a sorrow equal to mine?"
Chapter XXXI.
As the hours wore on, poor Jessie Staples grew so alarmingly worse, and the fever increased so rapidly, that, despite her entreaties, Dorothy felt that she must summon medical aid.
Soon after the entire household had gathered about Jessie, in the greatest alarm.
A physician was sent for at once—Doctor Crandall, whom Mrs. Garner had known for long years.
It so happened that the doctor lay very ill himself from an attack of la grippe, and, penning a line or so to Mrs. Garner, he explained that he had sent as a substitute a young doctor whom he had taken into his office to act for him during his illness. He felt sure they could rest Miss Staples' case with all safety in his hands.
That was the beginning of the terrible end.
Surely a cruel fate must have brought the situation about. It happened in this way: