Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-01

oay, oho loF tue WnOic ol every Dlgnt, Tor
when be slept he only lay down ON a sofa by
his wife's bed, and be scarcely slept three
hours out OF the twenty-four But yet, wake
ful as he was, was more wakeful still Fear
gave me an unnatural strength For seven
days and nights never closed my eyes for
one entire hour. With restless, feveIish,
underlined terror, l watched over my sister,
/ driving sleep from me. Mr. Hallam never
came near her bed, never looked at her, never
spoke to her but my eyes were on him. He
k'ler, too, that l watched him, and possessed
as | was of his secret, the fear he had ALWAYS
had of me became this week unutterable. But
L rejoiced in that fear now 1t was my strength
This misery, say, endured for seven days.
AT the end OF that time the tidings were gi-
ven to me that my sister was out of danger.
To me they were given, not to Mr.. Hallam,
for throughout her illness, by tacit consent all
communications from the physician who at
tended her had been made to me. Mr. Hallam
had scarcely seen him Yet to-day it happened
that while DR.. Kane talked with me, he for O
moment entered the room in which we were,
DR.. Kane had bis face to the door and he
perceived his entrance and went forward to
him.
/" Hr. Hallam," he said, cheerfuly ave
have good news for you to-day. / think we
may call our patient out of danger"
Mr. Hallam stood STILL His eyes glanced
up and flashed.
" Out of danger-who ?" he cried.
Frederick p l said
lie looked at me, seemed startled pressed
his hand upon his forehead. go
"Ah, J. forgot. beg your pardon. Out of
dangers she ?" he said
There was moment or two's strange pause.
Then, with an effort, l turned DIR. Kane's at
tention back to me. l trusted that while we
spoke Mr.. Hallam would leave u.s. and he did.
Dr. Kane took up his hat-his hand was
extended to me. Suddenly he brought his
eyes up to my face.
Mr.. Haliam is not well, i" he said, abruptly.
l felt my color flushing over cheek and
brow. but | answered calmly
I" He does not complain
" Is he in good spirits ?"
l trembled at that question with sickeninp
dread, the horrible terror of discovery that
continually haunted me. My eyes fell before
they answered they could not bear the keen
gaze that confronted them
He has not high spirits"
DR. Kane looked at me sharply. He stood
still for several moments, but he spoke no
more. His hand was again extended
Good morning, Miss King"
He turned from me, and breathed again.
Alas he was not yet gone He reached the
door, then paused, hestated, finally came
back, and again addressed me-
Miss King" he began abruptly-and il
the color had come to my cheek before, it left
it now as white as marble-"I do not know
you suspect half think you do I feel, in
any case that | ought to speak to you about
what you may be forced to hear soon. Nv
dear young lady, am afraid it will not be
possible to keep it concealed much longer. if,
indeed, it is concealed now. am very much
afraid some steps must soon"
So far, as | stood frozen, he spoke but his
sentence reached no termination.
Anne !" suddenly shouted Mr.. HalIam's
voice from the door, and | broke from Dr.
Kane and fed
l tried to rush straight up stairs, but my
brother stood in the hall and caught me by my
arm. He caught and shook me, his face
white. the widest fury in his eye.
You were betraying me |" he hissed into
my ear. ~
| was not, so help me God !"
You devil, if that is lie"
His face was close to mine he had his fin
gers round my throat. A cry-a sort of gasp
burst from me, and in another moment DR..
kane's figure was between US.
Mr.. Hallam ~
With guilty start the fingers unloosed
sprang from their hold and rushed up stairs
few seconds afterwards the hall door was
opened and closed and | heard DR.. kane's
carriage drive away
| went back as soon as | was able to nv
sisters room, and sat beside her undisturbcd
for several hours Happily for me-for the
emotion, whose entire signs | could not sup
press, might else have betrayed me-during
these hours she slept Where Mr.. Hallam
was did not know.
1t was past midday when, sitting in silence,
through the door that was not quite closed my
ear caught the murmur of voices whispering
in the hall. The sound might not have not at
tracted me it did not at first but suddenly
| heard, or thought | heard, within it the
voice of Dr. Kane. AT that rose up silently,
and crept from the room
| descended the stairs midway, and, unper-
ceived myself looked down. / was right
DIR. Kane was in the hall, and with him ano-
ther gentleman. Both were speaking in low
voice to the servant who admitted them, but
the parey was almost at an end while /
looked, the two gentlemen went forward along
the hall, at one end of which was the dining
room saw them stand together moment
before that door then with one look at each
other Dr. Kane softly turned the handle,
They entered the room, but almost at the
same instant | was beside them Before the
opened door could be closed against me,
stood upon the threshold
They both saw me and paused They asade
one hurried effort to bar my entrance
stood, wid-eyed and determined, and tAsy let
me alone and passed in.
They advanced in silence to whese. before