Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-10-03

gently along Tue paul lie ndu jus
descended into the house, layin
him down without interference
from it's guardian in the dim oil
parlor Immediately beneath th
portraitofl the lady with the sleeves
The hustle of their entrance still
red from her solitude upstairs til
other dweller in this silent man
sion. Gliding down like a wraitl
came tall woman dressed in gray
with melancholy eyes and chill lip
that seemingly had never known
smile.
''Open the window and give hin
air." cried Caroline, unheeding TIN
approach of the mistress OF TIN
house.
"Who gives orders for me-" sh,
said, in monotonons voice. sit il
years since those front window
have been opened"
Kit is a matter of life and death,
answered the girl, imperiously,an'
without further opposition the stiff
blinds were thrown back, letting il
flood of afternoon sunlight tina
flowed in a golden stream across
the sufferers temporary COUCH
Barclays face thus revealed tt
view was untouched by wound o.
stain. He seemed quietly asleep
"Jf the doctor would only GOMEZ
began Caroline, interlacing her colo
hands. There Was an interruption
to the quiet of the room, a strange
sound, half sob, half laughter, com
ing from the ghostly mistress o
the house. Caroline looked up tt
see the old woman kneeling Al
Barclays side, her dull eyes kin
died into sudden rapture ofrecOg
milton.
ut is Margaret's son. 1 knew
should see one of them before | die
Oh, my poor wronged sister! AT
ter so MANY years! Thank God
thank God!"
'Y ,u'd better coax the old lady
to go up stairs again." said one Of
the workmen to the servant, touch
ing his forehead significantly. 1t
was evident that allpresent agreed
in his estimate OF her mental equi
Iibrium. But until the arrival of the
doctor the gray old woman held the
unconscious sufferers hand in hers
from time to time fondlngitagainst
her cheek, and grooming over ii
words of tenderness. When the
surgeon came, Caroline, passing heI
arm around her shoulders, led heI
from the room.
An hour later, Mr.. Barclay, &C
companied by Edgar's stepmother
answered the summons sent them
by telephone in the neighborhood
appearing to swell the anxious lit
tie group waiting in the dusky hal
outside the sick room. Edgar had
returned to CONSCIOUSNESS, but the
injury to his leg was exquiSitely
painful, requiring incest treatment
Until Uhe arrival of their own fam
lily physician, tile doctor in charge
refused to take the responsibility
of sanctioning the removal Of his
patient. The distressed father
walked to and fro in moody silence
and when twilight brought DR.
Gray, urged him to say that Ed
gar might be carried in ambulance
to his home.
"On no account" said the doc
tor. ~ can't imagine anything
more foolish. Unless these people
positively turn you out, he should
stay here. His situation is eX
tremely critical. | cannot answer
for the consequences Of a CHANGE
"Here, in this old rattle-trap,with
a mad woman for keeper" the
impatient father wanted to say,
but he substituted for it the milder
suggestion that they had no claim
upon the owner Of the house.
s'The child of Margaret Lothror
has every claim" said the same
hollow voice that had Startled all
little while before. At his elbow
stood the ghost-like gray lady.
"Hallo!n said Mr.. Barclay, aston
ished. "That's an odd coincidence.
NV first wife's mother was married
twice, | believe, and her first hus
baud's name was surely Lothrop.-
Edgar's grandmother came from
the East, too, though she talked
very little about her early home.'
And so it was that, by strange
guidance of fate's leading.strngs,
Margaret Lothrop's grandson was
brought into intimate relations
with his sole surviving relative up
on his mothers side; one who thro
half century Of alienation and OF
silence had brooded over the i'm
age of her best loved sister with
ever-increasing intensity. Between
the handsome lad who for days lay
there beneath bis grlndmOthcr's
portrait, uncertain whether death
or life would claim him as her prize
and the pallid sllalle of what once
was handsome Lois Stlllman, Caro-
line was the link of warm humani
ty.
Until the young mans extremity
had given place 10 the joyful prom
ise OF convalescense, Carry made
daily pilgrimages to the hilltop
Then her visits ceased altogether
until one afternoon, when June