The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-05-31

quiet lane. The laughter still went on
ahead, like a hooking spirit, as a will
o'-the-wisp. But suddenly Ada found
herself close to a little cottage, every
window of which was brilliantly illu-
minated from within. The lower win
dows reached to the ground and stood
open, exhibiting all the signs of a late
revel. Empty decanters and bottles,
innumerable glasses, some packs of
cards on the f1oor-these things caught
Ada's quick eye and made her wonder;
while leaning on the gate of the cot
tage was an extremely handsome young
man dressed in white fiannels. He
looked at Ada with the steady gaze of
astonishment. He was immensely sur
prised at the sight of a young lady in
gray, with an extremely charming face,
taking a walk at four o'clock on a misty
morning. Without a seconds hesita-
ton she approached him.
"Can you tell me where. I can find
the doctors houseP" she said. ga
man l met told me to come this way"
Her earnest tone seemed to rouse
him and make him understand that she
was out on business.
"Dr. Frere is the nearest resident
DOCTOR" he said, sand he lives about
six miles off, over there" pointing the
way Ada had come. But if there's
anything I can do, let me help you. I
am a doctor"
"YouP" said Ada, her gaze wander
ing from. his sunburned face, which had
on it the unmistakable up-all-night ex-
preston, to his white flannel-clad fig
ure, and then to the cottage beyond,
which looked so absurd, in the growing
daylight, with a quantity of dying can
dies burning on the tables.
ats all right" he said, seeming to
understand her perplexity. "Tm Alan
Browne, of Wimpole Street. I'm down
here for the boating, and I've been
having a bachelor party. Didn't you
hear that fellow laughing as he went off
just nowP 1 had to get four of the 9TH
ers to take him away"
earnestly. "Come with me. 1 am a
nurse from Mr.. Edgar's Home. I'm in
charge of Mrs. Mertoun up at the Hall,
and she's dying. If you don't come at
once, it may be tool late"
"What's the matter with herF' said
DIR. Browne. GIVE got a pocket medi-
cine-case here; shall I bring it?n
Nurse Harcourt leaned on the gate
and said something in a scarcely audi
BILE voice; then she took out the bottle
from her pocket and held it up for his
inspection.
"Impossibler he exclaimed.
"Come and save her," said Ada, SOL
EMMY. DR.. Browne turned, hurried
into the cottage, and in a little more
than a minute reappeared with a small
case in his hand. Seeing him ready to
follow her, Ada immediately started off
as quickly as possible on her return
road. Alan Browne hurried after her,
leaving the little cottage with all its
windows open and its candles burning
to show its disorder to any passer-by
who might chance to wander that way.
"You are a very good walker" said
DIR. Browne, wien he had got up to her.
81 believe l am" said Ada, and went
quickly On without any further remark.
These two, going swiftly through the
pale, ghost-like morning mist, would
have looked strange to anyone who
could have seen them. Both were very
pale; DR.. Browne had got rather bored
by his bachelor party, which had lasted
too late for his taste; and then he had
been somewhat startled by Ada and
what she had said. Nurse Harcourt
was white with excitement and fatigue,
although she did not know it, nor know
that she was weary. She was intent
upon returning to her charge; she was
full of anxiety as to what might have
happened in her absence.
"You know said DIR. Browne,
presently, ''this thing can't be possible.
She is a noted beauty; the men that
stay in Lostayvil go to church to look
at her. Who could do such a thingP"
81 can't say, sir" said Ada; s.but I do
not think / am mistaken"
DIR. Browne was so bewildered by the
unwonted name of her Introduction to
him that he forgot this vision of the
morning was a nurse; but Ada emem-
bered her position addressed him with
the manner she used in the sick rooms
quiet, but having in it an odd mixture
of defiance and Difference.
Very little more passed between them;
they walked so quickly that it was not
easy to talk. DIR. Browne covertly OBJ
served his companion very earnestly.
AS they reached the gates of the Hall
the stable clock struck five, and the
gray mist was beginning to lift a little
and glide away like the ghost of the
dawn. 1t had been a strange walk,
though neither thought of it at the
time; but it had the effect of making
them feel as if they had known each
awake yet; all was just as Ada had left
it. She gently pushed open the front
door and led the way into the dark in
SoriDr IT, @Lo lo-G- o@soooo A. 4-.z
crept, like thieves. The blinds were all
closed, and only a faint glimmer of
light came through the chinks here and
there. As the gray figure and the
white figure came noislessly up the
staircase, suddenly something started
for the door of Mrs. Mertoun's room,
and, with a horrible cry, rushed across
the landing. 1T was the cry of a most
awful fear. 1t made Ada feel sick, and
she .ouged to sit down on the stairs, for
her legs gave way beneath her. But
she would not. She remembered her
patient, and, getting out the key of the
ROOM, opened the door and let DR..
Browne in; then she closed it behind
them and locked it. Agatha Mertoun
lay rigid, like a lovely statue, on the
bed. Her eyes were staring and fixed
ana on her lips was a foam. Nurse
Harcourt looked at her with a sinking
heart-was it too late? But she quickly
threw aside her cloak and prepared to
wait upon DR.. Browne, who soon be-
came absorbed in his task. He used
strong measures, and watched their
effect with anxiety. Nurse Harcourt
saw, with a curious sort of satisfaction,
that he was acting upon the same idea
with regard to the case which she had
offered him. He did not reject it as i'm
possible now. For two hours this fixed
attention continued; neitherl left the bed
side.
At last DR.. Browne went to the win
dow and beckoned Ada to him.
1.-The servants will be up now," he
said; task them to get you some coffee.
You look perfectly worn out"
Il believe I am rather tired" she