Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-20
CHAPTER XII.

II so happened On the night of Curly's
debut that there was produced at Cov9nb
Garden theatre new sensational drama,
with real waterfall, real elephants, and
real horses.
AT the Haymarket there was a now com.
ely and as at that time critics were scare.
and penny papers were not in being, ths
mere debut of n provincial come ian in an
old comedy escaped notice, and therefore
there was no public mention Of thu scene
recorded in the last chapter.
1t romans to he explained why Flora sent
the paper which had such disastrous results.
Poor GIRL She hal meant it for a peace
Offering, helicvin, in her inmost heart that
Curly would accept it as release from a
promise which she felt convinced had bc,l
as UNANIMOUSLY extorted as it had been un-
willingly given. She timel the arrival o.
the parcel to take place on the occasion of
his opening in town, hoping, in the limo
cencn of her heart, TO lend additional sig
niflcance to this token of her forgiveness
She orderel all the London papers, expect
ing to see some notice of har lover, first
appearance There was not n line. She
showed the papers to Jameson. He was us
disappointed as herself
Disappointment gave way to astonishmont
when they found Curly's namo withdrawn
altogether from the advertisements At
this time the electric wire was not in exist
enco Day succeeded day, vet there was no
recognition of her communications lltter
for Wiliel Weeks-months-pas He
wrote again, and yet again in vain. His lot
ters came back from the deal letter office
HIS own troubles were as nothing now com
parcd To his anxiety for Curly and Fora.
Ha could not bear to contemplate her suffer
'ings. To-day she was in fever tomorrow
in an ague; one moment chatting with impa-
tioucc, the next freezing with the apathy Of
despair All mt once it occurred to him to
write direct TO the manager of Drury LHno
The post in those days took long time b.
tween London and L linburgh, and fort
night or more elapsed before be received Il
reply. 1t was sympathetic but brief, and
related in as few words as possible the tragic
story told in the last chapter.
1t appears that there were two or three
aminont medical men in the theatre, who
came bchinl the scenes AMI held hurriel
con ultation. There was no doubt as to
Curly's condition. IL was dangerous to
himself and Others for him to remain at
large A certificate to this effect was then
and there prepared and duly attestei
Three or four men were detailed to mount
guard over him in his dressing-room untl
the morrow, Early in tn, day the man
ager, with the accustomed generosity of ms
class arranged with the proprietor of a
famous private lunatic asylum at Kew to
lake charga OF the poor creature for throe
months paying the sum stipulated in al
vance
At mig tall the keepers came to take him
away. VIII they arrived at Kew thu doc
ter diagnosed the cas-, and had his wretched
patient rempv'l 10 tn, dangerous ward
where after time the rawlings Of despair
gave place 10 blank Oblivion.
Jamiesons difficulty was to break the
mater to Flora, bus there was no Leip Tor
it.
She bore tn, intelligence letter THAI be
cNp'c,ct-aly hing was better than silence
anu uncertainty. Shs even found me
shadow Of cuiolauon in the news. She
knew, at any rae that the silence OF her
lover was not occasiounl by perhdy or
neglect When Willie had finished reading
the manager letter she said abruptly:
81 am going 10 London tomorrow.
"AionaF te inquired.
''No; Jea ne will accompany me-
az you could only wait few days /
might get leave Of absence to 60 with you,
he slii.
gu arr very gooi, sne feplicd' wv
nv place /. BY his side. | cannot wait n
day-rn hour. My God! my Go1H she
cried, why can't 1y straight 10 him nc
+ Gle. ThPrrl thersl l know / am only
] ma ~
o. the morrow Jameson was at the coach
/ office TO sec her off. Sha looked more hope
! iui than she had done for many day, an !
as the coach was about to start she even
smile and said:
Don't Look so sal, be sure shall brin :
/ him Iac'; with me-
Heaven grant you may he replied, and
so they parted.
Upon her arrival ia town she took up her
! quarters at the Bedford hotel An hour
utterward, accompanied by her faithful
Jeanuie she was on her way 10 the asylum
at Kew. Upon explaining her business the
doctor was most atfahle, but regretted he
could be Of no service, her friend having
left his charge week ago.
The news stunned her, she staggered aud
must have fallen had not JEANNE caught
her in her arms The doctor assisted her tl
i a seat and forced glass of wine upon her
Gradually she began to recover, then she