The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-07-21
mystery must be cleared and the baby

have conceived.
"Of course her husband is q msd-
man who will murder her as soon as he
gets her into his hands. You know,
John, that husbands are always murder
ing their wives"
"Middle-aged wives, dear, or elderly,
whose lives are heavily insured. l shall
telegraph at once"
"Then her death will be at your door,
sir-mind thatp And too indignant to
waste npon me more words, away went
Mary to take q last peep at our own
sleeping babes, at the dead baby about
which there was so much mystery and
the poor young mother whom she had
doomed to violent death.
She was still bending over her, and
had called me up to the bedside to no.
tice the extraordinary length of the
lashes and the beauty of the face in re-
pose, when we were startled by knock
at the front door.
cts the husband, know it is. Oh,
John, don't betray her, don't give her
up; you wouldn't be so cruel"
"Nonsense, child; watch by her till
/ return. If she awakes say nothing
about"
"Her husband As if l should"
Our household having long since re-
tired, long, indeed, before my return, I
myself opened the door.
The street lamp lighted dimly two
figures; one tall, stout and muffled.
"Mr. Merton p
answered in the affirmative.
"You have kindly given shelter to
lady?"
"Just So"
The speaker nodded to his companion,
who touched his hat and vanished.
The other stranger had now entered
the hall, and grasped my hand.
"Mr. Tremayne?" asked, hesitatingly.
"Captain Tremayne. How is she?"
"Asleep, under my wife's care sleep
ing as peacefully as o child"
"Thank God So young-at such
an hour-in such state"
saw long shudder run through the
tall, powerful frame.
"And the child?" he added, after a
pause, in q horror-stricken whisper.
"She had it with her?"
I hardly knew what to answer but he
! had thrown off his heavy ulster and
travelling cap, and now stood before
me, as handsome, as pleasant and honest
looking young fellow as I ever saw,
and my heart warmed to him. He was
no assassin, or rufian, or cowardly
bully, whatever Mary might say. The
shadow of o great horror, that lay in the
| blue, mellow eyes, had been laid there
| by terror, not crime.
"The child is dead" I said, softly.
at died two weeks ago, died sud
denly in commissions in her arms, and
the shock turned her brain. She was
doing so we'll, poor little thing; but
afterward she grew delirious, and in
her rawlings she accused herself and me.
| could do nothing she would not have
me near her, but beat me off with her
hands, as if she could not bear the sight
OF me. And I was so fond of her and
she of me- !" Here the man broke down.
He walked to the window, then turned
and asked. abruptly "May go to her %
/ thought of Mary and hesitated.
"She is sleeping so peacefully just
now; and if she awoke suddenly and
saw YOU"
"She shall not see me-" he broke in,
eagerly. 81 will be so quiet ; but !
must see her. I nursed her through o
long illn' SIS year ago, and she would
have no one near her but me; and now
Under the heavy military mustaehe ]
saw his lip culver he paused, then
added: 81 must go to her !" not il
command, but in yearning appeal, botl
in voice and eyes.
"Will you wait here minute? ]
will see whether she still sleeps"
She still slept, the heavy peaceful.
sleep OF a tired child, Mary keeping
stern watch and guard over her.
beckoned her out of the room.
"Well % with fretful impatient eager
ness. "You have seen him? What il
he like? Is he horrid?"
"Judge for yourself he is in tn,
dining-room. He says he must see he
he must come ill.,"
"That he shan't, the cruel wretch
or it will be over my PROSTATE body 7
tragically.
"Well, 60 and tell him So"
81 will" And away, nothing daunt
ed, went Mary. I smiled. She will NJ
more resist the pleading of those hand
some blue eyes than did her husband
He will win her over with a look"
was right she soon returned, and no
alone.
: "He will be very quiet, and she nee
not see him. I thought it would b
better all this apologetically.
, He crossed the room as noiselessly a
woman, stopped over the bed il
silence, then sat down beside it. Mar
shaded the lamp so that the room wa
in twilight, and so we all three sa
, down to wait.
, For more than an hour We waited
then Mary stole out. Captain TremayD
} looked up as the door opened an
: closed /; then, with quick sigh, lai
, the brown curly head down upon tn
} pillow as close as possible to that {
( the poor young wife without touchin
it, and his hand moved up toward her
? where it lay on the coverlet, but witt
out touching that either, for fear {
4 waking or disturbing her.
1t was not until the first gray streal
of daylight were struggling in throug
l the window beside which L sat, an
: there was slight stir she was awakin
4 at last.
e "Hughl" she breathed-dreamily
first, then urgently-"HughP
}, eyes, dear"
She turned her face toward his whe
it lay beside her. She Was only partial
d awake as yet, her eyes were still close
/, but the hand on the coverlet crept I
s softly toward him, futtered over
n fooa raefad ona roopoant oarelasslv ,