Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-06-21

earnestly. s'Come with me. | am the
nurse from Mr.. Edgars 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 too late.''
whats the matter?" said DR..
Browne. 1--we got pocket medicine
case here; shall bring it?''
Nurse Harcourt leaned on the gate
and said something in scarcely au-
dible voice; then she took out the bottle
from her pocket and held it up for his
inspection.
''Impossiblel'' he exclaimed.
.Come and save her, said Ada, sol
EMMY. DR.. Browne turned, hurried
INTO the cottage, and in little more than
minute reappeared with small case
in his hand Seeing him ready to fol-
low 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 very good walker said
DIR. Browne, when he had got up with
her.
81 believe 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 any one who
could have seen them. Both We're very
pale; DIR. 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 knew
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 pre-
sently, ..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 thing?"
II can't say sir,n said Ada; ''but
don't think [ am mistaken
DIR. Browne was so bewildered by the
unwonted manner of her introduction
to him that he forgot that this vision of
the morning was nurse; but Ada re-
membered her position, and addressed
him with the manner she used in 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. DR.. Browne
covertly observed his companion very
earnestly.
AS they reached the gates THE Hall
the stable clock struck five, and the
gray mist was beginning to lift 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 other for
years. The house was not awake vet;
all was just as Ada had left it. She
gently pushed open the front door and
led the way into the dark interior. Up
the dark staircase the two crept, like
thieves The blinds were all closed,
and only faint glimmer of light came
through the chinks here and there. AS
the gray figure and the white figure
came noiselessly up the staircase, sud
denly something started from the door
of Mrs. Mertoun's room, and, with a
horrible cry, rushed across the landing.
1t was the cry of most awful fear. 1t
made Ada feel sick. and she longed to
sit down on the stairs, for her legs gave
way beneath her. But she would not.
She remembered her patient, and, get
ting out the key of the room, opened
the door and let Dir. Browne in; then
closed it behind them and locked it.
Agatha Mertoun lay rigid, like lovely
statue, ON the bed. Her eyes were star
ing and fixed, and on her lips was
foam. Nurse Harcourt looked at her
with sinking heart. Was it too late?
But she quickly threw aside her cloak,
and prepared to wait upon DR.. Browne,
who soon became absorbed in his task.
He used strong measures, and
watched their effect with anxiety.
Nurse Harcourt saw, with 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 impossible nov. For
two hours this fixed attention continued
neither left the bedside.
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"
II believe | am rather tired" she
said; ''but | was right, wasn't I?h
"Quite right he said; ''and you
have saved her life by your pluck
Thus comforted, Ada went away in
search of the servants On the landing
outside the door she found the man
,,fx -l,o hnI hn
before. He was standing still, with q
face full of perplexity.
Nurse he said, Il believe masters
gone out of his mind. He has been
queer for some time past, but not like
this
"What is itP" asked Ada.
HE is sitting on the bed laughing;
and then every now and then he stops,
and shrieks out suddenly that the house
is full of gray and white ghosts. | don't
like tits awfulp'
Then Ada remembered that cry of
fear. ''He must have seen me bring
in DIR. Browne early this morning." she
said; he is in his boating flannels. Mrs.
Mertoun was much worse in the night
and | went for doctor. DIR. Brown
had better see your master.
The man looked q good deal bewild-
cred, but recovered himself sufficiently
to agree, and DR.. Brown heard his tale
While the servant was gone he turned
to Ada and began-"You know the
house better than | do-perhaps you
can tell me-
Better than you DOR exclaimed Ada,
mot much. | only got here last night
at H."
Last night at IT. repeated DR..
Browne. "Why, what a night of adj
venture you have had! No wonder YOU
look worn out Well, can you tell me
who to send to, because there is evident
ly something very wrong here?n
Eyes, can tell you that, she an
swered. II have the address of Mrs.
Mertoun's sister, who sent me down,
and to whom / was to telegraph if
necessary.
THAT is all right, said DR.. Brown;
''have you ordered any breakfast
mot yet she answered.
II will send the man to see that it is
got ready for you, and brought to your
room. Now go straight to bed. =
Thank you, sir" said Ada, ''but
how can leave Mrs Mertoun.
II am not going away just yet; you
know | did not travel from town yester-
day. will have her attended TO; and
you shall be called in four hours.
Thank you, sir, said Ada again;
and went away down the now sunlit