Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-20

crossed his path and changed so speedily
into hideous specter.
No, he would never marry now. So he
had told Barbara more than once of late,
and "a smile had for moment lighted up
| her wrinkled, soured face at his words.
| Toward the end of October q change
came to the everyday routine of Heathfeld
| Cottage. Barbara fell ill. Seized with a
paralytic stroke, she lay SPECIFICS and
| powerless. The grand doctor Trevor sent
| for from London said she might rally, but
| it was doubtful at all events she would
never be the same again.
The solicitude and devotion Trevor
showed her was rather that of a son than q
cousin, forsaking even his beloved painting
to remain at her bedside and minister to
| her every want. If ever woman ought to
have been happy and at peace, Cousin Bar
bara was that woman But content was
not one of her requirements, and she kept
up her character for frettulness 10 the eI-
tent of trying Trevor's patience not little
There was evidently something she wished
TO saw and that her loss of speech pre-
vented, and Trevors repeated recommends
ton that she should remain quiet until she
was better only served to annoy her.
He was sitting with her at the wane Of
the day, the room only lighted by feeble
CLEAN of departing twilight, and an OCca-
sional flicker from a wood fire. Cousin
Barbara made a strange, unearthly sound,
and pointed with the forelinger of her left
hand TO an old bureau which stood in the
corner. Trevor took little notice at first,
but she was so persistent that at last he rose
and unfastcned the bureau. lis carved
doors shut in rows OF small drawers,
one after another He opened several of
them, but found nothing, and was begin
ming to think that he was merely the vic
tim of a sick woman's caprice, when on
sudden he uttered cry. There, in one Of
them. was the bundle Of documents marked
Wilrid Lane.
He turned and glared on the woman who
lay in the bed looking at him almost pite-
ously 1t was the first time Barbara had
ever seen anger against herself expressed i'll
Trevor's eyes, and she covered beneath It,
closing her own, and pulling the bedclothes
over her face.
He did not attempt to speak to her, but
taking the letters walked out Of the room,
called the little maid Of the establishment,
and babe her go to her mistress. Then,
the letters still in his hand, he put on his
hat and went out.
Poor, wretched Barbara; her punish
ment, when they told her he was gone,
was almost more than she could bear. He
had never forgiven Madge Craigie when lie
believed her to be the thief how then could
Barbara hope TO be forgiven.
All that night he did not return, and
during the next day there was no sign from
him; the servants and neighbors did the
best they could for Barbara, who was SO
quiet and enduring and patient that they
all believed the end must be very near,
since no one had ever seen her so subdued
before.
Twenty-four hours had passed since Ire
Yor Lane went away with the letters when
London hanson drove up 10 the garden
gate, and he himself got out, accom- panied
10y Madge Craigie.
She looked very i'll and wan, and was by
no means the handsome Madge she had
been five months ago; still there was &
bright expression in her eyes which looked
like returning happiness.
Trevor led her straight up stairs to Bar
bara, whose agitation on behOlding her was
painful to witness, but Madge went down
beside the bed. and taking the old woman's
hand, she kissed it gently.
You loved him so well you grudged
him to me, did you not, poor cousin? Well
he has pr missed for my sake 10 forgive you,
and together we will try and nurse you
back 10 health, and you will on your part
try TO love me just little
Barbara nodded her head in assent, and
the doctor coming in ut that moment or
dered no more talking, SO the lovers, re-
stored to bliss in each others society, went
down stairs into the studio, and the old
lady, with u load taken off her mind, was
left, by means of one of the doctors
draughts, to have a few hours Of quiet
sleep. Nor did cousin Barbara die. She
fought vigorously with death for day or
two, and for while she succeeded. She
would never be able to speak quickly or
sharply again, but she managed to make
herself understood, and in expressing her
deep contrition for the past she kept her
word when she said she would always be
gracious and pleasant to her new cousin in
the future.
So Trevor and Madge were married. OF
course Barbara had to give up the house
keeping to the young wife; but she still
kept her place in the studio window,
though the white work was no longer on
her lap but instead of it the poor, power
less right hand lay on her knee as though
seeking strength in the sunshine.-L From
the Argosy.