St. Landry democrat., 1879-06-07


eyes, mamma
every well. II can't talk upon the
subject Just now. | must 60 up stairs
and think awhile, before I can decide
what to do. i am overpower-d with
astonishment. Stay you here, and when
l call you, come upstairs"
eyes, mamma"
Mrs. Dane swept away, and Mollle
waited anxiously to he called. In avery
! few minutes her summons came, and
most unsuspiciously she ran up to her
mother in the third story.
She expected to be talked to, but as
soon as she was safe inside the door,
Mrs. Dane shut it, locked it, took out
the key. and put it in her pocket.
"There, now p she said II think I
shall bring you to your senses In this
room you shall stay-you shall never
leave it until you promise to give this
fellow up"
"Then I shall never leave itp' re-
turned poor Mollie, very pale, but firm
and resolute.
"We'll see! I fancy day or two Of
solitary confinement will bring you to
your senses. And when your fine lover
comes, I'll show him the door, and that's
all the answer he'll get. Now, I'll leave
you to your own reflections"
Mrs. Dane let herself out, locked the
door on the outside, and went downs
stairs, leaving poor Mollie completely
taken by surprise. But what could she
do? She could not jump from the third,s
story window nor struggle with her
mother for the door.key. Her case ap-
peared hopeless, for she had not even
any chance of communicating with her
lover, Mrs. Dane allowing no one to come
upstairs but herself.
By the end of the second day, Mollie
had cried and fretted herself into such
a fever, that Mrs. Dane felt herself OBJ
liged to send for DR.. Paul Reeves. DR..
Paul came, looked very grave, prescribed
some medicine, and told Mrs. Dane he
thought it best to look in again before
bedtime. And he made out, when he
shook hands with his cousin, to leave a
tiny paper in her soft hand. The instant
the key was turned again upon Mollie,
she unfolded the scrap of paper and
read:
DEAR Mo111E: Charley and myself agree
in thinking that desperate cases require des.
perate remedies. If you are willing to fol-
low our lead, give me hint wktpa I return
tonight. P.
Mollie had no writing materials. So
she tore bit from a blank leaf of a
book, and scratched few words deeply
upon it with hair pin. This she NAM
aged to give to Paul when he made his
second call.
DR.. Paul. was still very grave. He
told Mrs. Dane that he was afraid Mol
lie would have tough siege of it, unless
he could help her at once (and that was
the truth, too y, and promised to come
again early next morning.
Mollie took her cue from him: and
pretended to be much sicker than she
really was. So when DR.. Paul came in
the morning, he found her in bed in her
own room on the second floor.
Mrs. Dane, much alarmed, lad ven-
tured to remove her there, thinking she
would certainly make no attempt to see
Charley Abbott while she was sick.
This time Paul brought Mollie another
note, and 1T read thus:
When come tonight, Charley will be in
my carriage at the door. I will get Aunt
Jane out of the room, and you must f. down
and make your escape quickly. Courage,
now and be all ready, P.
Molly was very sick all the morning.
In the afternoon she thought in prudent
to grow better, and when Mrs. Dane
brought up cup of tea at supper.time,
she found Mollie dressed, wrapped in
big shawl, and sitting in an easy chair.
Why, Mollie, what made you get
up?" she asked.
'Oh, mother" says Mollie, "you
know I could never bear to lie in bed.
Let me sit up awhile, and I shall rest |
better tonight
Mrs. Dane did not object. but she |
mentally resolved that she should 20 |
back to the thisd story in the mernlng. |
DR.. Paul came soon, pronounced her
better, sounded her lungs, and said he |
still thought she had better have mus
tard apL lied to her chest. IfAunt Jane
would prepare the peultice herself, to
make cure it was just right, they would
apply it at once. |
Aunt Jane, not supposing there was
my danger in leaving the patient few
moments in the doctors care, walked
light into the trsp, and went down to
prepare the mustard.
The moment she was down stairs, the
ick girl sprang up, crying excitedly:
Now, Paul, what?"
Throw your shawl over your head
ont stop for hat-and run down to
jharley. I've left the front door open
n purpose. Fly, new, and make no
oise. I'm going to run down and tell
unit, on second thought, have decided
0 let thesnustard wait till morning.
Zn1 I'll aaoo no xz,hiIo Pr e.o-.a -