Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-13

ment of telling her hurried tale.
Lydia's gaze, which at first had been
fixed on her SO angrily, had fallen be-
fore her; she hid her face in her hands;
and now, as Mrs. Dorchester ceased,
the wretched listener sank senseless
to the floor.
When Lydia revived, Mrs. Dorches-
ter finished. Leonard Drake had
spent three years in searching for his
wife, and the last time Mrs. Dorches-
ter had heard from him he was living
in Morrisania, N. Y.
The next morning saw Lydia and
Dorcas on their way to N. Y.
It had been showing when they
reached the metropolis and by the
time they left the railway-train which
they had taken in Morri sania it had
settled into a heavy sto1m. Lydia
wanted to walk; 80 Dorcas wrapped
a proof cloak about her, drew
the hood over her head and did her
best to shelter her.
"Ask how we go!" was all her mis-
tress said. "Be quick-I want to
start; but must walk-I should 60
mad"
Dorcas stepped into a hotel near
the station and made her inquiries.
The road was straight enough. Mr..
Leonard Drake, she was told, lived
out beyond the town q little: she
would know the place by such and
such directions.
They were less than half an hour
on the way. They reached the man
sion, a handsome dwelling, half town
house, half villa, with a long garden
attached. They mounted the steps
and Dorcas ran the bell.
"You ask" she heard her mistress
whisper.
She caught a sight Of her face. 1t
was lined and scanned with pain the
dark eyes fairly strained and dilated
with suspense.
"Is Mr.. Leonard Drake in 2" Dor
cas- asked.
"No; he is in New York. Mrs.
Drake is at home."
Instinctively Dorcas reached out
her arm to support Lydia as she ask
ed, "WhO is that-his mOther?'
"No; his wife. DO you want to see
her 7" asked the servant rather curtly,
beginning to think them people in
search of charity and not liking to en-
counter the cold air.
"No," Dorcas said. "lIow long has
he been marriedy"
"AbOut six months"
Allow chokcd whisper from her
companion reached Dorcas. 1t said,
"come away! Quick! Come"
Dorcas turned without a word and
supported her mistess down the steps.
Lydia did not speak. DOrcas could
not. She put her arm about her mis-
tress and drew her on as fast as she
could. The house stood in u plot Of
ground by itself. They turned the
corner. where the garden led down q
side street.
"Waitm said Lydia suddenly. ~
can't go any further; let me rest a lit
tie. Only don't speak to NEEDN'T
say word"
They sat down on the jutting line
of stone that supported the iron fence,
Dorcas half sustaining her mistress,
who cr0uched forward, hiding her face
with one hand. Dorcas bent over to
see her FACET was distorted by an
guish.
"Mistress, dear!" she sobbed, "Only
speak-only-'-
"Hush!" muttered Lydia. "Come
away; can walk now. Let me alone;
don't talk yet. Help me up; can
walk"
Dorcas was assisting her to rise,
when a gentleman turned into the
street a little way down and walked
rapidly towards them.
Mutfled though he was in his great
coat, Dorcas knew him and uttered a
cry of terror.
dts his step" whispered Lydia.
"Sit down--he'll not know us! |
promised never to trouble him!
must keep my word. Don't look up,
Dorcas. Sit down, say"
The very act attracted the attention
of the gentleman. He halted in front
of them, saying, "Why do you sit here
in this storm 2"
Neither answered. Dorcas felt
Lydia's hand press her arm like a
hand of stone.
"Can't either of you speak," he
continued, rather impatiently. "This
is not weather for two women to be
sitting outof DOORS"
Still no answer! Some mad idea
that she could pull Dorcas away; and
run from him, seized Lydia. She at
tempted it. The hood fell from hel
face. Heknew her, and cried, "Lydia,
Lydiaw
She felt that she was fainting; that
he had caught her in his arms; then
an awful blackness closed over her.
When consciousness came back she
thought at first she must be dead;
then she knew that she was in warm,
bright room. She saw Dorcas, a
young, pretty lady near the bed, then
Leonard, and shrieked aloud.
She was held fast in his arms again
his voice sounded close to her ear.
"Lie still, darling; it's all clear. Ny
cousins house-my Cousins wife
Don't you remember that l told you
had cousin with the same Christian
name as myself?"