The Morning herald., 1878-05-30

of with q shudder, he waB landed at Still
minister, in gray darkness and thick driz-
zle, and started, portmanteau in hand, to
trGdSe the seven long miles that lay between
him and Newland Abbey. He was glad Of
the dreariness and discomfort; it suited
him better in his present frame of mind that
the morning should break gray and rainy
that the country should look sodden and
desolate, the sea dull, foam-fecked, heav-
ing mass of mud-colored waters.
Capless and dirty in serene certainty Of
being unseen by tic higher powers, the
housemaid was cleaning the front hall when
he reached the house. She looked up from
her pail with an exclamation of dismay as
To4l, weary, wet and white-iG2ed, accosted
her. She WAS g roa;-:tAced, gcnd natured
girl, and he had made u gou of acquaint-
ance with her during his stay by picking her
up one day When she ii:d fallen from off the
steps il TIE library ard had hurt her side.
"Sulprised to see me back again, Jano?"
he said, with an attempt at ct.relessness
''lts rather m odd time to arrive; but
came by tho night train, as I missed the ex-
press. How is everybody"
"4.ll we'll, thank You, sir" answered the
girl, rising to her feet and moving her pail
to make room for Tom to pass, "except
poor Miss Dayrell, and she's dreadful bad.
She's worse this morning, I heard nurse say
just now. Doctor Bel was here up TO
twelve last night, and is coming again at
eight, and another doctor from Stillminster
with him."
"Is she as bad as all that?" questioned
poor Tom, his lips quivering,
"About as bad ds can be, answered jane.
with servants love Of creating a sensation !;
"bHt it's nothing catching. You've no need
to be afraid to stay" she added mistaking
the cause of Toms dismay
He stood silent for some minutes to con-
troll his voice, and then asked:
'ls my old room ompty?"
"Yes, sir" said the girl, hesitating; "but
it isn't ready. In her trouble, I expect my
lady forgot to say you were coming
"Never mind I'll just 60 and take OIL
these Wet things" and Tom walked on, anX-
ious to get away by himself "Thank
Heaven came! I knew she was very i'll
from Geoflrey's manner" he thought as he
took off his soaked clothes. "As bad as car
be, and second doctor coming Oh, Eva,
Eva, my darling, this is worse than the
other trouble For she might have changed
her mind-she might have learned to care a
little for me in time, when Chetwynd was
married. but if she dies ] shall go mad!"
He hastily finished his toilet. A few min
utes later, he heard slow manly footsteps
pass his door, and then he found himself
face to face with Milly Dayrell ll-poor Milly,
with white face and red eyes gazing sadly
after the doctors. She started as she caught
sight of Tom peering anxiously out of his
room.
Captain Lee-you here! Adelaide did
not tell me-"
"She does not know yet that have come,
but could not stay away when heard how
i'll Eva was. Tell me how she is this morn
ing"
Milly's tears came agai:,,
81 hardly knew" she answered - "in
dreadful pain, moaning or crying out, and
very often quite dclirious She spoke OF
you several times, then her mind wandered,
and seemed to think you were i'll, too. she
koens saying: oh, poor Tom! IS this what
you feel? DO you suffer a5 much as dor
Isn't it stranger
"EXtraorlinory calculated Tom, little
guessing the real meaning of the Worc5.
Il am sure she neyC" knew me to have Gn
hour jilness in my life. However, l can't
| help being glad she thinks Of me at all
| thought sic would have forgotten my very
| existence by now
'It doesn't much matter whether she re-
members YOU or not if size IS going to die, "
returned Mlly hlnntly-''nnd Doctor Boil
thinks her as i'll as she can be. Oh, dear,
| what q time they arc p
'.Fearlulr responded Tom; and then
l,t tcl in -;la fOy
! the doctors.
They came at last-kind, fussy little Doc,
| tor Bell, and the lean, TALL solcmn-loOAinG
| Stillminster doctor.
doctor Bell, what does he think?" she
exclaimed eagerly; and the little man tooH
| her outstretchcd hand IL his.
"Much as I do, my dear" he answered
kindly-'that the inflammation is acute
very acute; but we must hope for the best
She is young and while there is life there Is
hope"
turning away with q fresh burst OF tears =
"you think she will die! Oh, Eva, EVa
my only sister,"
And, knecling down ot the deep window
| seat, she buried her face in ber hands ano
| eobbel as if her heart would break.
| And the hours stole OIL. Morning mergec
| into afternoon, afternoon dGrkened INTO
| evening, and the long, weary hours OF nlgn
| cropt upon them as they watched by her
| brt still the rawlings Of delirium alternatec
| with more distressing moNnB Of pain. Lady
| Temple and NI.lty both began to look utter
| " worn out. Tom sat over the library fire
| or wandered upstairs to Eva's door ike III
| unQuiet spirit. But on the third day a1le'
| the arrival Of Captain Lee came change
! and Doctor Rell looked graver. The moan
ings ended as did the delrium, and she t'j
! white and still as the pillows beneath he!
! head, scarcely seeming to breathe =
/ "What does this mean 7? inquired LACY
! ron,nln onyinnslu of the doctor. ''ls II