Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-09-22
CHAPTER X,


Lucy had been i'll for fortnight; and
more than once the doctor had looked so
grave, and had shaken his head so omin-
ously, that all feared she would not re-
cover. She herself did not expect to do
so, and had asked to be buried on the
Grand Bey. Few were the words she
spoke during this illness, but once a day
when Philip returned from seeing him she
asked how Hugh Richmond was. He,
too, was suffering from what he had un-
dergone on that terrible night, and very
anxious she would have been on his ac-
count had she not always received areas
suring reply. "Thank God!' said she,
more than once, ''thank God that you can
tell me that he is nearly we'll! If he had
been really i'll after that night 1 never
could have been happy again, for it was
my fault that he was there; he came back
to help me when he was safely off the is
land. In every way have been fatal to
him."
."Nonsense, Lucy; he is all right : said
Lettice; but as she spoke she did not look
so cheerful as she might have done, only
Lucy's head was turned away and she did
not see her.
At last Lucy was we'll enough to be car
ried on deck, and from that day she raj
lied. Nevertheless, she was intensely
weak, and could neither read, nor speak,
nor do anything but breathe in the balmy
air.
She was lying on deck as usual-it was
the fourth afternoon since she had first
left her cabin-when Philip came on board
he had been on shore to inquire how
Hugh Richmond was. Philip did not ap-
proach Lucy; in her present state Of
weakness she was not allowed to speak to
more than one person at once, and Aunt
Esther was sitting by her. Lettice drew
him away to the other end of the vessel,
and there they talked earnestly.
go to him, dear Aunt Esther" said
Lucy, land ask how Mr.. Richmond is to-
day"
Aunt Esther rose and went, but just
then Lettice came past and answered the
question she read in Lucy's anxious eyes
saying. Don't be uneasy, Lucy, Philip
says he is going on very we'll"
II wonder he does not come to see me
if he is so WELL" said the weary, weak
girl. and sank back on her cushions.
Aunt esther looked eagerly in Lettice's
face. Lettice went below, but made Aunt
Esther sign to follow her. Lucy did
not mini icing left alone. She liked look
ing into the sky, OF watching the sailors,
and occasionally saying few words to
the captain, who came day after day and
gazed rityingly down on her. She had a
great regard for the captain, and it had
grown greater during her illness, for he
was a perfect gentleman in his quiet
thoughtfulness. Aunt Esther went below
but she made the mistake frequently
made on board yacht-she forgot how
difficult it is to say anything in any part
of it without being overheard. Lettice
did the same thing. She had summoned
her aunt to follow her in order that they
might have secret conversation, and she
chose for the scene of it cabin with a
| skylight close beside the cushion on
which Lucy's head was resting. Lucy
could not have avoided hearing every
word they said, except by moving away,
a resource not easy to one who was scarce
| ly able to stand. But the first words she
heard aroused her attention so painfully
that she had no thought of moving,
"How is he really, Lettice asked Aunt
Esther. . 4
Lettice burst into tears, and said, ssThey
say he cannot outlive the: night tPhilir
saw the doctor"
"Poor young man. How dreadfulr' said
| Aunt Esther when she could speak What
shock it will be to Lucy when she hears
| of itw
"That is the very thing we shall have
to be SO careful about! She must moi
hear it until she is much strongerY'
ut is almost wrong to keep it from
her!"
at would kill her il she knew. She
suffered quite enough when she had real
ly done nothing to injure him. This
would hurt her terribly-for mind, he has
lost his life for herr
"But is there no hope2"
''Oh, no, there is none! Is it not strange
| Aunt Esther, he has made the same re-