The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-11

use his term. We sometimes go to see
her at her pretty little cottage over by
the lake."
"Indeed My love, when he wakes
up, ask him what he was doing at Mrs.
Rushton's yesterday afternoon. Stay
I will tell you, if you promise not to
breathe word. 1t will make you laugh
so. He was Mrs. Pennewell chuckled
immensely-"h was on his knees to
her, uttering the widest nonsense you
ever heard in your life p
Perhaps the old lady expected Mrs.
Inglesby to cry instead of laugh; but, if
so, she was disappointed.
ooh l can easily understand that,
madame. Poor Eustace is subject to
strange attacks of absence of mind,
when he does the most eccentric things.
He told me all about it this morning
not an hour ago." ,e.... --..
This produced a climax to Mrs.
Pennewell's laughter, and for a while it
was uncomfortable. When she had re-
covered, she said:
"Child, your innocence will be the
death of me. But I have q thought |!
Here comes Doctor Protherwood. You
must tell him about your husbands &C.
centricity-or shall /? I know him very
weH-better than anybody knows him,
perhaps.
Mrs. Inglesby was too bewildered to
make any demur, and presently the
doctor trotted in.
He was a hearty-looking, short,
merry old person, with a blooming
countenance and fdgety manner-the
sort of old gentleman one is likely to
meet almost anywhere, and whose ma
tionality never could be satisfactorily
fixed upon.
Mrs. Pennewell and the good old
doctor presently did considerable whis-
pering; and then Eustace awoke, of
course with start.
"Great heaven 1 thought it was
midnight. 1 was dreaming about the
oldest things, and 1 fancied Mrs. Char
lotte Rushton was her. L hope" he
said, earnestly, 6" I didn't talk in my
sleep?"
"No, DEAR" responded Mrs. Ingles-
by; "but you remember, 1 suppose,
that you dropped off into your nap in
the middle of my music ?"
He sprang up and took her hand.
"Of course 1 did, Emma-brute that
I, am but Helloa, doctor, you
kera? .:-Mhat time is il? Great heaven
7 ts,tat :lpstGffff:"
"Where are you going" cried Mrs.
Inglesby, seizing him as he was about
to take his departure.
"My dearest love, don't detain me, 1
j"'e fnoTLvoa-voT Wdai2dNih i2E 14F fact Gt yo
would be acquainted with everything
within the circle of my knowledge !!
And so, an reuOir. Mrs. Pennewell,
and doctor; this is pressing, you know,
and all that-and SO 1 shall see you all
again at dinner"
And away he went
There was a pause. Doctor Prother
wood shrugged, and raised his ugly
eyebrows.
"Clear case, Mrs. Pennewell."
"I think So"
Mrs. Inglesby was tremulous and
pale.
She could hardly gasp out request
for explanation but the words came at
last.
"Um! My dear child" answered
the doctor, " I really don't wish to dis
tress you but"
But what ?"
"Nothing. I really must go. l
haven't minute. Ha Good morn
ing, ladies. Expect me at dinner"
And out trotted the funny old doctor.
"Dinner - said Mrs. Pennewell.
"They'l both be back then, so they
say. Now, my sweet Mrs. Inglesby, l
see that you are greatly distressed.
Don't deny it. You are quite ready to
cry"
True enough. All the dear little lady
could do was to stife a sob, and gasp
out I:
"What did the doctor say ?"
"Never mind. Perhaps the curtain
will rise after this famous dinner. And
so you think your husband eccentric ?"
eyes. He has acted in the strangest
manner since the last few days. He
has always preoccupied-wanders in
| his talk-and-"
Mrs, Pennewell held up her finger.
"Wait !" she said.
The dinner very naturally came as
expected. Who should walk in after
the soup but Mrs. Rushton, on Mr..
Inglesby's arm
Yes he had been quite right in his
description, for she was large, spark
ling, handsome, though certainly q
trife weighty-physically and meta
There was no delay in explanation,
since she said, after while
ct have invited myself here to dine
to-day, because after dinner Mr..
Inglesby and have some very par
particular business together"
after dinner! And yet Inglesby
scowled. His wife didn't know what
to do (; but the doctor and Mrs. Penne
well nudged each other and laughed.
After dinner the doctor and Mrs
Pennewell took the little woman aside
81 will tell you," said the former
"and tell you frankly. 1 think YOU
Inglesby is not a sane man. I have
consulted authorities this morning, ant
it is impossible for any man in hi
sound senses to act as he does. Now
1 propose to examine him. You shall
stand by and notice his answers, ant
afterwards we'll compare notes."
81 have a different theory" m.
dear" croaked Mrs. Pennewell. 9Th,
end will prove who is correct"
So they at once went to look fo
Eustace. He had left the house will
the widow.
Where could he have gone? Mrs
Inglesby timidly suggested the peach
orchard. They went noiselessl,
through the garden in that direction
and, on approaching, heard voices.
eyes, there they were-Eustace ant
L