The Placer herald., 1873-08-09
AUBURN, PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 8, 1873.


even careless Gus. observed it.
care you illp" he asked anxiously. Cecy
forced Smile. "No-n not |" she answered
bravely.
Mrs. Canning met her at the door tha:
evening.
"Come in, Cecy," she said, and led her
to the parlor. There sat DR.. Canning.
"He's come sooner than expected" she
explained, "but Tom. and Lu. will be here
next week."
Cecy greeted DIR. Canning warmly, and
inquired courteously after his health and trav-
els. He spoke Of DR.. Tom. quite fire.
quently. but did not observe the quiver Of
Cecy's lip at mention of his name.
"Go into the library, Cecy, and see what
I've Gagged there, said Mrs. Canning, sud
denly.
"Have you ain elephant on your hands9"
inquired Cecy, rising.
Well-no; it's an animal, though. Tell
me what species you class him with, Cecy."
Cecy entered the library, and Mrs. Can
ming, who had made good use of her eyes,
shut the door after her. The room was
dimly lighted, but some one lay on the sofa
Cecy walked up with beating heart and
stood beside Dr. Tom. Howard. She
looked down at him curiousH. His hand
some brown eyes rested on her face with an
intense interest, and something in the look
sent thrill through her heart, heavy
though it was. He reached up and took
both her hands closely in his, saying:
81 have been i'll, Cecy. Are you no,
glad to see me?"
Cecy's eyes filled slowly with tears, but
she never moved them from the pale, hand
some face before her. She noticed that the
brown rings lay damp on his white forehead,
and that the firm lips under his mustache
were quivering with pain and emotion. The
boyish, eager look, wistful and tired though
it was, stirred her strangely. Tom. clasped
her hands cl. :.
"Cecy,N you speak to me?" he
asked softly.
Cecy stopped over the couch, her eyes
glowing through the tears, her long, curling
hair Just touching his cheek, and disengag-
ing one hand laid it softly on his forehead
whispering, "Welcome home, DIR. Howard.
am sorry you have been ILL., then she
glded away.
81 think, )" she said, putting her head in
the parlor door, 81 should class him with
genus homo, called gentleman, which l
fancied nearly extinct. He's looking re-
markably i'll. What do you feed him on?"
she asked gravely.
Tom joyo"e laugh rang through tho
room, and Cecy returned, drew chair be-
side the sofa and seated herself. Then,
with the horrible consciousness freezing her
heart, that he was another woman's hus-
band, she endeavored to do her poor little
best toward entertaining him. She was shy
one moment, startled the next, and naughty
the greater part of the evening. She re-
turned home thoroughly miserable, and
cried herself to sleep. Two or three days
after, Tom. called to see her, but as he new
er mentioned his wife, Cecy determined she
wouldn't, though she thought it very strange
she had not come with him when he re-
turned. While they were talking, Hart
Buhring called. Now, Hart felt in very
ungracious mood that day, and being indig-
naht at hearing Gus. Dent toast Miss Leon
ard SO often over his name, resolved to
make himself d sagseeable Tor the sake of
lowering Gus standing. TO help matters
along Cecy unconsciously inquired after Mr..
Dent before Hart Buhring had been in the
house many minutes.
"He was well the last time saw him."
answered Hart, stiffy, adding, 81 think you
ought not to think so much of him as you
do, Miss Cecy, for know he cares nothing
for you"
DR.. TOMS eyes flashed angrily an instant,
but Cecy turned composedly to him and
held out her hand, saying distinctly:
"Does my pulse beat any faster than it
ought to, DR.. Howard ?"
Tom. laid his fingers lightly on the blne-
veined wrist, and after minute answered:
"Not that can perceive"
Cecy lifted her slender form right royalty,
and turned TO the nonp'ussed Hart.
"Then your interference is not needed,
Mr.. Bubrng, and you will confer an ever
lasting obligation on me if you will take
your departure from this house and never
presume to enter it again.
There was nothing left for Hart to do but
pick up his hat and walk away in rage,
but Cecy's low laugh and careless mention
of her cousin Gus. Dent, was waited to
him through the open window. The next
day was dull and gloomy. The gray clouds
had hung loweringly in the south all the af-
ternoon. The wind had sighed dismally
through the trees, and an occasional mono
tone of distant thunder had accompanied
it. Twilight was fast closing in over the
scene, and the last glimpses of the land
scape and storm prospect revealed the whole
sky covered as with gray pail, while the
trees wrthed and twisted at the prospect of
the on coming storm.
cit will be such a wild, stormy night
outside. that no one will intrude on my qui-
ct and l can watch the lightning to my
hearts content" said Cecy 10 herself. She
went quietly around the parlor and arranged
things to her liking. She drew the cutains
of all the windows except toe one opening
south. and that she rolled to it's hight She
replenished the fire. making the room seem