The daily gazette., 1878-03-04
WHAT TT AEL MEANT.
BIZ HELEN coKwIs FISHER.
TcoScLuDEp.l

- ~
|struggfing In the room Major Greviilej
calling. I had never liked Durand 1 end |
|now 2 frenzied conyi ctior seized me that |
he was somehow in league with my
fhther-in-law against my husband.
Where Is Claude 2" I cried out. "what |
have you done with him %
"Your husband Is suddenly very Ill. |
Lucy" he answered hurriedly, but in Il
more gentle tone. THE doctor Is with |
him now. You look III yourself. must
Insist upon your seeking in your own
apasst1nnents the rest you SO evidently
l Indignantly refused to go TO my cnam-
Der. but, confounded and bewildered,
went into the family sitting room, and
sat down In one of the gloomy corners to
wait some news Of Claude.
/ was OF an imaginative turn, and /
could not help, as / sat there alone,
anxious, alarmed, even angry, at the au-
thority Major Greville presumed to ex-
ercise over mel could not help all sorts
of vag,ie but dismal fancies.
Near midnight, no word coming from
Claude, went out into the hall, and un-
able TO govern my anxiety, stole along 1t
toward the door of the room in which 1
had heard Durand's voice. As put my
hand on the knob 1t was turned from the
other side and Major Greville opened the
the door. He frowned at sight of me,
came out and shut the door, locking 1t
after him, not, however, before ! had
caught glimpse across one room Of an
other open and lighted, and heard my
husbands ringing laugh sound from the
inner apartment.
care you not going to let me see my
husband 2" L exclaimed.
Major Greville groaned and wiped his
forehead, and muttered something, like
I"My Godw
| mo p he said to me, emphatically !;
"In the name Of mercy, Lucy, go up to
your chamber and stay there"
He took my hand as he spoke and tried
to lead me toward the stairs, but / refused
him.
| .There is something you are keeping
from me-" l said ''tell me what it IS"
| Major Greville seemed torefiect and to
calm his evident agitation by an effort
Looking at me steadily, he said with a
stern air:
"My son is very ILL., More than life de-
pends on his being kept quiet. will
not suffer him to be disturbed even by
you; and insist once more upon your
retiring to your room. Moreover, Lucy,
1 will be obeyed p
The steady eye, the stern firm tone had
their effect upon my shaken nerves.
"Can 1 see him in the morning ?" /
plead. M Hn .
"Possibly.' Go now"
obeyed him.
Toward morning, 1 fell into a slight
slumber, from which / was awakened by
the breakfast bell, and that soon followed
by a message from major Greville, TO the
effect that breakfast was waiting.
l exchanged the wrapper in which l
had lain down for q fresh one, and made
ready TO go down as quickly as possible.
What was my surprise, upon entering
the breakfast parlor, to find my husband
seated there, looking. well and happy, as
though nothing had happened to disturb
his equanimlty or minel He came for
ward to meet me with the fond courtesy
he always extended to me. N
"Dear Claude l said beginning 10 cry,
and reaching up my arms TO clasp his
meek, II am so glad you are better We're
Iyou very i'll, indesdT I.
i"Tut, was not" he laughed buoyant-
ly, .'the old boy" dtwas thus he designat-
ed his father) sis always trying to make
me outsick. He's got his reasons-selfish
ones they are too"
He led me to the table, and we sal
ldowns
Major Greville knitted his brows slight
ly ~ his son spoke, but said nothing. He
looked haggard and pale, more as though
he had been III than claude, and seemed
nervous, / thought. He watched us toe
--he certainly did-Claude especially
II could not eat. 1 felt altogether
wretched, oppressed with sort Of mis-
Igiving and suspicion. Every time
looked up and caught Major Greville'.
cold eye fastened either on me or Claude
felt sort offrenzy of impatience.
Claude presentlyasked me togo out and
ride. Before L could reply, or express
my surprise, at the strangeness of the re
quest under the circumstances, Majol
Greville interposed with peremptory
NEGATIVE. My husband turned toward
him like a flash, his face darkening. ]
fancied an almost imperceptible gesture
of Major Greville's hand, and Durand
whose nearness 1 had not suspected
came forward and stood carelessly lean
ing against the wall. To my astonish
ment Claude with a glance of unmistak
able terror, shrank shiyering into his
chsir.
| What did it mean? Trembling ant
sick, with dread of another such scene a,
we had had the day before, l went anc
stood by my husband, with my arm
around his neck.
~ don't feel strong enough to ride OF
horseback, Claude dear" said, shut we
might 60 over to mothers in the car
rage." ~ II
Claude assented eagerly, but Majol
Greville gave me look of indescribablt
bitterness and impatienee-a look thai
| thrilled me Win SOrJ OF Iear Dub !
would not yield to the feeling and wher
Major Greville suggested that we should
take Durand with us for fear Of acci
dents, 1 objected scornfully, and only
consented to his coming with us because
Claude really seemed distressed at my
opposition. L did not know what tC
make of my husband. He insisted thai
: Durand should go with us, and he sud
! denly grew cross when he found he wa
going. Arrived at my mothers, he re
fused to alight, but sat still with lower
: ing brow, while my cousin Monroe
Hewlett assisted me down from the car
riage.
/ was perhaps little angry at hi
persistence in refusing to come into ths
house with me, but was also very un
happy, and longed to tell my mother al
: the miserable misgivings, perplexities
and griefs of the past weeks.
We had scarce turned our backs upol
J the carriage, my cousin and /, hurryinl
, to meet my mother, who was approach
ing, when my husband called after me
in loud, sharp accents, and l turned Il
Z behold him half out of the carriage ant
J. struggling violently with Durand, VIII
n seemed TO prevent him. L was hy1nI