The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-17
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CHAPTER XIII.
on THE BRINK OF THE GRAVE.
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for nearly two hours, and then only a slow
one which would bring him to the station
at about four o'clock in the morning. Geof-
frey had said every ill" and said it in a
tone which meant more rather than less,
and Eva might be dying; he might never
| hear her voice nor meet her eyes again !!
| The poor fellow sat on the darkest seat he
could find, that no passer-by might see the
tears of which he was, but need not have
been, ashamed. She might be angry with
him for coming. There was very little
| chance of his seeing her if she were not in
immediate danger, but he could not keep
away.
"Lady Temple is so kind and sympathet-
ic," he thought, ''she will give me bed and
tell me from hour to hour how Eva is going
on 1t would drive me mad to stay here.
must go down to the Abbey"
So, at quarter-past four in the morning,
after journey that all his life he though
of with shudder, be was landed at Still
Minister in gray darkness and thick driZ
zle, and started, portmanteau in hand, to
trudge 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
desoLte, the sea a dull, foam-hecked, heay-
ing mass of mud-colored waters.
Capless and dirty, in serene certainty of
being unseen by the higher powers, the
houscmaid was cleaning the front hall when
he reached the house She looked up from
her pail with an exclamation of dismay as
Tom, weary wet and vhitefaced, accosted
6er She was q rosy-faced, good nature,
girl, and he had made sort of acquaiut-
ance with her during his stay by picking her
up one day when she had fallen from off the
steps in the library and had hurt her side
Surprised to see me back again. Jane ?"
he said. with an attempt at carelossness
'It's rather an odd time to arrive; but |
eamo by the night train, as I missed the ex.
press. How is everybody?"
"All well, thank you, SIR" answered the
girl, rising to her feet and moving her pail
to make room for Tom to pass, except
poor Miss Davrell and she's dreadful bad
She's worse this morning, heard nurse say
! juat now. Doctor Bell was here up to
twelve last night aud is coming again at
eight, and another doctor from Ssllminster
with him"
"Is she as bad as oil that?' questioned
poor Tom, his lips quiverirg.
"About as bad as can be, answered Jane
with servants love of creatinga sensation ::
"bnt its nothing catching, You've no need
to be afraid to stay, sho added. mistakin9
tie cause of Toms dismay.
He stood silent for some minutes TO con-
troll his voice, and then asked:
'Is my old room empty?'
"Yes, sir, said the girl, hesitating; "hut
it isn't ready. In her trouble, expect my
. | In6y forrot To
@Never mind. III Just 60 and take of
these wet things, and Tom walked on, anx-
ious to get away by himself "Thank
Heaven I came! l knew she was very i'll
from Geollrey's Manner" he thought as he
took off his soaked clothes "As bad as can
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 60 mad +"
He hastily finished his toilet. A few min
utos later, he heard slow manly footsteps
pass his door, and then he found himself
face to face with Milly Dayrell-poor Milly,
with white face and red eyes gazing sadly
after the doctors She started US 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"
Millys tears came again.
81 hardly know" she answered-"in
dreadful pain, moaning or crying ont, and
very often quite delirious. She spoke of
you several times, then her mind wandered,
and seemed to think you were ill, too. She
keeps saying: Oh poor Tom is this what
you feel? Do you suffer as much as l do?
Isn't ii stranger"
Extraordinary calculated Tom, little
Guessing tho real meaning of the words.
Il am sure she mover knew me to have an
hour illness in my life However, I can't
help being glad she thinks of me at all.
thought she would have forgotten my very
existence by now"
'.It doesn't much matter whether she re-
members you or not if she is gong to die" !"
returned Milly bluntly-''and Doctor Bell
thinks her as i'll as she can bs. Oh, dear,
what q time they are !"
Fearful !" responded Tom; and then
they both waited in silence for the return Of
tho doctors.
They came at last-kind, fussy little Doc
tor Bell and the lean, tall, solemn-l looking
Stillminster doctor.
Doctor Bell, what does he think?" she
exclaimed eagerly; and the little man took
her outstretched hand in his
"Much as l 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"
II understand" moaned the poor girl,
turning away with fresh burst of tears
'you think she will die Oh, Eva, Eva,
my only sister,
And, kneeling down at the deep window
seat, she buried her face in her hands and
gobbed as if her heart would break.
And the hours stole on. Morning merged
into afternoon, afternoon darkened into
evening, and the long, weary hours of night
crept upon them as they watched by her,
but still the rawlings of delirium nlternated
with more distressing moans of pain. Lady
Temple and Mily both began to look utter
ly worn out. Tom sat over the library fire,
or wandered upstairs to Evas door like an
unquiet spirit. But on the third day after
the arrival Of Captain Lee came change,
aud Doctor Bell looked graver. The moan-
ings ended, as did the delirium, and she lay
white and still as the pillows beneath lei
head, scarcely seeming to breathe.
What does this mean?" inquired Lady
Temple anxiously Of the doctor. SIS it a
change for the better or the worse1"
THAT remains to be seen," he answered
santentiously ''The inflammation has sub.
sided, but her pulse is very, very weak
hardly perceptible. fear she has moi
strength for the battle. It is hard fight