Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-05-30

Il y
Almost before the words were out Of his
mouth she was ready; the child was on Its
feet, and the old rag of a shawl that had
| covered her own head was cast over Its elf
locks. Mrs. Featherston quickly brought
| from her clothes store coarse hooded duifel
cloak, which she gave to her-to Keep, said
the little rosy woman chokingly, in reply to
an eager question. The doctor helped her
into his gig lifted the child into her lap, and
drove off through the now murk night, while
the Wears wife sought her husband in his
study, and announced with an air Of discoy-
cry, "She is an Eskdale woman, John.
Doctor Grey knew her, though he did not
choose to say anything"
sis this Hugh Tindal's child, Alice Pierce :"
asked Doctor Grey, when he had driven on
in silence for few minutes
"Yes, Doctor. My fathers at the Abbey
now, isn't he, sir" The doctor replied in
the affirmative. They were just passing the
gateway. The lodge within was all dark;
the house through the trees invisible.
l law tOh oSCh III lIohuuiC biuGC JOu
went away with him."
"Once-only once. was here that day
he was shot, doctor soaO ID done. 1
wish was dead?"
SIT is keen night; wrap your cloak over
your breast. You saw in done, did you,
Alicep You know that it has always been
laid to his brother Arthur"
"No, know nothing. saw him drop,
struck through his bad heart, and went my
way. I'd no call to cry for him. My father
sent curse after me, and refused me bit
to eat. Oh, if she was only dead, and was
dcadr'
There was another silence, which lasted
until they were nearly at their journeys
end As the gig crossed the old steep bridge
of a single arch over the little river Allan,
| which gave the country town its name, the
| doctor said "The master and matron at
the house are man and wife, strangers here !;
they come from Liverpool way. They will
not recognize you, if nobody else does. 1
should adyise you to stay quietly there un-
til you have recovered your strength, and
then to try if your father will forgive you,
and put you in the way of earning decent
living. l suppose that was your object in
coming, Alice?'
II don't know what was my object,
doctor; it was like as if could not help it.
And now I'd fain be back where I came
from. I've no hope, and can get no rest
II ic oil ittIn fbo
driving me, twined and knotted it myself. +"
The doctor did not gainsay her. The gig
stopped opposite high wall with white
door in it, at which he got out and rang, the
rickety-rackety jangle of broken bell
answering his energetic pull, and waking up
all the echoes and sleeping dogs in the bleak
market-place. After the lapse of minute
or two the master appeared at the door with
a lantern.
Jefferson, here's woman and child the
parson at Rood picked up starving by the
way-side. The woman must go into the
infirmary. I'll drop in early tomorrow and
see her." i
every good, Doctor Grey. Old sains-
1
went off quite quiet at last"
"Ah, well, it's release. You'll look
well to the woman she may want an eye on
her you understand ?"
This confidential communication made and
responded to, the doctor helped Alice out OF
the gig, saw her and the child pass into the
poor-house yard, and then drove slowly
across the market-place to his own door,
cogitating very seriously on the nights
adventure. Ifit had not been so late he
would have turned his horses head back
again to Rood there and then; for here was
difficulty to unravel harder then a tom
FOOLS knot to unite.
The doctor was not man Of energy ex
cept in the way of his business, but he was 9
man of heart and probity. He could know
a thing about which all the world was
curious without yearning to achieve CHEAP
notoriety by talking of it. His morning
thoughts were not less grave than his nigh
thoughts, but they were more cautious ant
reserved, and when he saw Alice again, III
was glad he had not gone to Rood on th,
spur ofthe event. She shared the sick ward
with two women so ancient that they wert
past minding anything but cruel, tea, snuff
and the fire. Her bed was next to th,
window and there she lay wakeful ant
! anxious, when he entered.
"Give me something to make me sleep
! doctor; the longer the better,' said she
''I've had no rest all night. 1 should lik,
to shut my eyes, and never open 'em nj
: more.n She did not mention her child, no
did the doctor tell her that the little creatur
was fretful, sickening, he feared, for th
scarlet fever. Misery is selfish, and her OWL
sensations absorbed her. The matron wa
, within earshot, and the rheumy, mazy eye
ofthe ancient women were looking tina
way. The doctor could only speak hi
common formula of question, counsel, an,
. comfort, and go but he contrived TO con
Y vey to Alice an intimation that the secret O
9 her being there would not be noised abroa
4 by him.
= After his visit to the poor-house, DR.. Gra-
set forth on his daily round, leaving Buck
hurst at home to answer casual comers. II
took Rood Abbey nearly the last, arrivin
on his visit to Mr. Tindal about the middl
of the afternoon. Pierce ushered him int
i the library, where his master was, and lef
them together. Mr.. Tindal had been en-
ployed in looking over file OF old news
!. papers when he was interrupted. II
, was tired and dispirited-had been doin
~ too much, as the doctor plainly told him.
h al want my little nurse to amuse me
/ You are her guardian, Gray, along wit
' Wynyard of Eastwood, are you mott"
it eyes, Ibelieve am but she has moth
k ing to thank me for in the way of care, re
piled the doctor, awakening all of a sudde
r to an embarrassing case, which had grow
r. up under his nose quite unobserved and I'LL
,, suspected. He shirked away from it, fo
y the moment, by inquiring what his patier
had been doing to get so weary and excitet
1t E"Trying to find way out of the wood,
10 coil Mr. Tiuda1 nointinr n IN tha ,,axyono,,a,