The Columbus journal., 1883-06-27

"Yes," answered Ada.
81 didn't suppose you I'D get here
tonight. Well, come in.
The coachman whippec y his horses
in the familiar style. and a, tied away.
A servant who looked like . groom
| came out and lifted Ada's box into the
hall. A lamp stood on q table there.
and by its light Ada tried TO discover
| what sort of house she was in. She
was standing in . big, old-fashioned
hall or house-place. Opposite her. his
hands deeply buried in his pockets.
| stood the man who was evidently
| master.
Il told the maid to get room ready
for you," he said. The man shall
light you up there, and you can see my
wife in the morning. Shall he bring
you some SUPPER?
If You please" said Ada First
I'll take off my hat. and if you will
allow me I'll 90 to my patient at once. ;"
sNonsenseH said Mr.. Mertoun; '.yOu
must sleep after journey"
But it is my duty to see her first. it
you please, sir"
Ada followed the man-servant up
stairs to little bedroom, where he
left her, saying he would bring her
some supper. She washed her hands
and combed out her bright hair. When
he came back she said: ''Shall l lind
Mr.. MertOun down Stairs?"
Hes gone TO his Own ROOM" said
the groom. land he says missus is
asleep, and not to be disturbed. -. g..
Which is her room?" asked Ada.
Il must know. because I've come down
% nurse her."
"In show you the door," said the
man. He led her little way along .
corridor, and pointed up a short stair
case. 1.-The door on the left, he said.
and Immediately hurried of, carrying
his light with him.
.This is . queer house." thought
Ada. However, she found her way
back to her own room by the glimmer
Of light from its doorway. Then. tax
ing her candle, she went straight 70 the
door of the room the man hsd shown
her. She knocked gently; there was
no answer. so she quietly turned the
handle and looked in. A solitary can
die Lit q largo room; she could but
dimly perceive that ON the bed lay .
woman, who, seeing her. started up as
if in terror. and, then fell helplessly
back again. Evidently this was the
sick-roOm. Ada shut the door, put
down her candle. and approached the
bed.
Don't be frightened" she said; Il
am q nurse your sister has sent down
to take care of you"
khnnUht a CnSPIf w CAlh
Agatha Mertoun; '.Ihave had strange
visions to-day" Then she relapsed intoa
silence, and seemed to forget Ads's pres
ence. After awhile she spoke again.
&" am dying" she said.
Ada went close to her bed and looked
into her eys. They were very strange.
Suddenly the unhappy woman was
seized with violent sickness. Ada.
| with her quick wits. noticed some things
which made her wonder. When her
patient, weary and exhausted. lay back
again on her pillow she began to make
q tour OF the room. There were great
| many bottles In different places. She
took out all the corks and smslled the
| contents. Suddenly. while thus en-
gagged. she happened to look toward
the bed and met Agaths's eyes fixed On
her with gaze full of some extraos-
dinsry meaning or intelligence. It a.
most frightened even the brave Ada.
She put down the bottle quickly and
went to the bedside. But Agatha had
closed her eyes, rs if too weak to keep
them open. Looking earnestly at her.
Nurse Hsrcourt realized how wonder
fully lovely she WAS in spite Of the dead
iy pallor which lay on her face. Sud-
denly the sickness came again, and then
q violent spasm.
This is queer sort Of ansmis,"
said Ada to herself. and, after long
look at her patient began to smell st
the physic bottles. Just then she heard
a faint sound at the door. Hastily sp-
preaching it and opening it she saw Mr..
Mertoun disappearing. through the OPP
posite door. !" He wanted to watch
me-" she thought. ''Now. what can
this mean?" She looked the door in
side and continued her investigations.
Suddenly she came upon bottle Inside
a cupboard nearly empty. the smell
from which almost made her cry out.
But she remembered her patient and
refrained. She merely put the bottle in
her pocket, and then. without hunting
about any more. went back to watch
poor Agatha. The color of her face
grew steadily worse, and her weakness
was rapidly increasing.
What on earth am l to dor' ex-
claimed Nurse HarcOurt at last, " In
this out Of the-way place? l can't SEQ
her die before my eyes. II l could only
get the dOctOr!'
She had spoken out loud. thinking
Agatha quite unconscious. But she
was not. She opened her eyes and sp-
peared to express something by their
earnest gaze. 1t seemed rs If she
understood Ada's words.
Its the only thing to be done. be-
lieve." said Ada to herself; land I'll do
it," She took out her watch and looked
at it-hslf-past three. Going to the
window she drew the curtain q little
aside. There was faint gray haze all
over the world; but the light would bs
enough to find ones way BY. and every
moment brought the dawn nearer. II
l did but knew the way" she thought
well. must wake up some one and
ask it."
Having made up her mind she no
longer hesitated. She took final sur
: vey of her patient and then left the
room. She locked the door on the out
side and took the key with her.
Quickly entering her own room she
; caught up her gray cloak and travelling
! hat, and put them ON as she hurried
, down stairs. If I only knew where
the servants Sleep" she thought; ''bu,
, I'm so afraid Of rousing Mr.. Mertoun.
: I'll wake up some cottage people"'
With some considerable difficulty she
} opened the front door. and then drew Il
! close behind her without absolutely
shutting it. To her delight she found
, it would stay 50 without moving; THU
would enable her to enter the house
again quietly. As quickly ss swift fssl
, would carry her she hurried out Of the
t grounds. She saw no cottages; 50 shl
went on along the widest road. hoping
to reach some habitation In time TC
> her delight she saw At last ahsdger and