Middletown transcript., 1881-09-23

ger, IL was most pr0DaDIy all Margaret IS
fault.
She had been forbidden to go to
the river alone. thought she was up
stairs,' Margaret said, simply, receiv-
ing the dripping child into her own
arms. She did not, at the moment,
observe that she was being scolded.
" Fanny, Fanny, how could you be so
naughty =? Mamma will be so fright
ened. Oh, Mr.. Elmering, 1 don't
know how to thank you, but 1 shall
never forget
Margaret eyes, uplifted, and shining
with tears, made the broken words elo-
quent.
My dog deserves the chief credit, "
said Mr.. Elmering. He was touched,
in spite of himself. A plunge into
the water hurts nobody, in July. Your
little sister will be herself again, in the
morning ready for another adventure,
if you don't watch her well.''
II don't think she will disobey me
again." said Margaret. "And pray
take care of yourself, Mr.. Elmering.
You are very wet. Come, Fanny.
You reckless, little creature, how could
you What if we had lost you, you
wicked, unlucky, precious, precious
darling ?''
And kissing and scolding Fanny,
whom her fright had brought to state
of repentance, that reproaches could
scarcely heighten, Margaret led her
into the house. Mr.. Elmering entered
his own door. She was a prettier girl
than he had thought, that over-inde-
pendent Miss Ralston ; and, with more
of the household light, than the stage
meteor, in her appearance he would
really like to know some more of her,
thought Mr.. Elmering, inconsistently
enough.
But he was "not at home," when
the two ladies, from the other side of
the house, called, next day. So Mrs.
Ralston sent him a note, rather inco-
herent, but full of gratitude and re-
ceived, later, polite message, inquir-
ing for Fanny. Nh. Elmering's in
trenchments Of reserve appeared i'm
pregnable Mrs. RalstOn conjectured
that he was a hero of the Jarndyce
type-too sensitive to bear any allusion
to the service he had done them but,
Margaret thought, {" He doesn't want
to have anything to do with US, and so
he keeps out of our way - and hid her
modification in silence.
Neither of them was right. Mr..
Elmering had been feeling tired and
depressed for several days and, on the
morning after his adventure in the
water, he awoke with racking head
ache. After sending away his break
fast untasted, and trying in vain to sit
up at his desk, where all the manu-
scripts looked crazed, he threw himself
down on a sofa, and admitted the
agreeable conviction that he must be
really i'll. twas fine, bright, summer
day ; but Mr.. Elmering felt chilled to
the bone. Even the cheerful wood
fire, which Paul kindled, at his mas
ter's desire, failed to impart its warmth
to his shivering frame; and he lay,
languidly looking at it, for hours to-
gether, too apathetic to change his po-
sition. Evening came, and Mr.. Elmer
ing was no better.
am afraid I must see DOCTOR
he said, to Paul, later. Il don't know
one in Fairweather, but you may bring
the nearest daresay he'll do"
"And if the doctor should be asking
me, sir, what you think was the matter
with you,'' suggested Paul, the pru-
dent, should 1 say cold or a fever,
now ?''
Il don't care you can say small
pox, if you like,'' said Mr.. Elmering,
shutting his eyes, in weary Indifference
to all things, himself included. 81
was in a house, where there was case
of it, not long ago.
Mr.. Elmering had no idea that this
speech would be taken for anything
more than idle words. If he had but
seen the horror-stricken countenance,
which Paul took out of his room, and
into the kitchen
"What on earth is the matter with
you, man And what are you snatch
ing at your hat like that for? is the
master worse ?'' inquired Mary Ann.
i" Worse he couldn't be worse. He
thinks he's got the smallpox. There's
train leaves for New York, in thirty
minutes-I've just got time to reach
the depot. 1 didn't engage to be
hospital nurse; not much 1 didn't.
You'd better get him DOCTOR" cried
Paul, vanishing out Of the back door,
into the twilight.
Smallpox! And me girl, with
complexion to ruin The heathens
there are in this world y shrieked
Mary Ann and, Drawing danger far
enough to run up to her room, and Sc
cure her parasol and best bonnet, she
also vanished from the house, as her
fellow-servant had done.
A little later, Mr.. Elmering heard,
as in half-dream, the distant whistle
of the locomotive, on its way to New
York, quite unconscious that it was
bearing away his two faithless domes-
tics behind it. It was only after he
had rung his bell, and called their
names, many times in vain, that he
began to suspect he was deserted, and
allowed himself to get angry. Hour
after hour passed away, and no one
came. Restless, and in pain, doing at
intervals, and awaking himself, with a