The Morning herald., 1877-09-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

Walking rapidly homewards, the young
barrister entered by the private door
known only to himself, and was soon in
stalled in his study before his absence
could have excited notice.
But five minutes had hardly elapsed be-
fore there came an anxious rapping at his
door.
"Sir-sir, oh, do speak to mel"
He opened the door impatiently.
"Well, what's the matter7 I thought
this was my study, and it was understood
I wasn't to be disturbed"
"Oh, sir" gasped the servant, wiping
her eyes with her apron, "don't be angry
with me but missus is SO awful bad! I've
raped at your door three times. You
must have been asleep. On, sir, DO come!
I'm afraid she's dying"
The barrister followed the frightened
woman into Madame Gerdys room.
He could hardly restrain an exclama-
ton of fear as he looked at her, she was
50 terribly changed:
Her face was livid in its ashen palor,
and her eyes. which cleaned with dull,
lurid light, seemed filled with fine sort
of red powder, or dust.
Her long hair, that had escaped from
the net she wore, fell like dark vail down
her face and neck, contributing, il possi-
BILE. to the wildness of her appearance.
From time to time groan or sob es-
caped her lips, mingled with unintelligible
words. -,
Sometimes spasm more terrible than
those that had preceded it wrung from
her cry of pain.
She did not recognize Noel as he entered
lin fact. was unconscious Of the presence
of any one in the room.
"Isn't she awful bad2" whispered the
moor servant sand wasn't right to ask
YOU to come and Judge for yourselfT
eyes. But who would have thought
that this fever would have made such pro-
eress9 Put on your bonnet and run Tor
Your life to Doctor Harvey, and tell him
I to come at once." =,
Doctor Harvey was the young barris-
4ers most intimate friend, and Noel knew
that the summons would be obeyed at
And he was right, for ten minutes had
hardly elapsed before the doctor was IN
tho room. In less time than it takes to
write. he had taken the lamp from the
table. and, after examining the SICK wo-
man. came back to his friend. :,
.Wbats happened to her2" he SAID,
ahrnntlv. "Some great shock, ehl Now
mind, must know the truth, or can 10
nothing" ;.on
"The TRUTH" stammered the barr1ster.
"Yes the truth and nothing out 'he
truth. This is peculiar case-not at al
an ordinary one. She's suffering lro"
encephalitis."
Encephalitis2 what's thatY''
Inflammation of the BRAIN"
"And the cause?"
The doctor looked grave and shrugged
his shoulders. 3 o,,o
great sorrow a shock, at any rate' tf tna1 :,
Suddenly strikes the nervous system. ieh
me. Noel. tell me as your Oldest trlend' mas
Madame Gerdy suffered such shocKr
- The barrister paused for some moments
before he replied, then, pressing MS
friends hand, he said: "Harvey, s9cn a
blow as that YOU hint at has, indeed, tal-
len upon this unhappy woman" ;,
unhappy woman! Noelmv''' a.hor,o
it thus you speak OF your mo1ne'E nth
i The barrister raised his hanos wi'I L. !"
gesture of sorrowful entreaty' ana MS
head sank on his breast. =, ~
"Madame Gerdy is not my mother
"Are you madY" Lawn
Alas! no; though the wrong l have
suffered might have made me SO. Madame II
Gerdy has robbed me-falsely roopeu u
me- Of my inheritance to enrich her r
own son robbed me alike OF fortune
and Of name! 1t is now three weeks ks
since I discovered the double fraud;
and ths effect of that discovery you see!'
Another pause; and then Noel ask ed, il
a low veice, and without meeting the sF e% o
his friend, :" L, the malady dangerous es
(, $50 dan gerousy" wrs tho seAae.n no ply