The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-07-03

full morning. 1t was strange that he
should bear so calmly false charge,
which dealt such a blow to his pros
poets. She had resolved that when
her mother was sufficiently recovered
she would confess to her everything,
and absolve the young actor from the
charge But now as she pondered over
his conduct, she felt inclined to change
her resolution. 1t was plain he was
either glad of an excuse of breaking
off the engagement or was actually car
rying on an illicit correspondence, in
which he imagined he had been dscov-
cred. In either case, il would be a
small kindness to her mother to bring
him and her again together.
One day DR.. Killen, after he had ex-
amined his patient and pronounced her
to be progressing in the most satsfac-
tory manner on leaving The room mo
toned to Lady Mary to follow him
When she went out he said to her: II
suppose you have heard of Mr. Con
ingsby ?"
mo, doctor she answered eagerly.
"What is it ?"
"Wcll, he's engaged 10 Mrs. Blunt,
said the doctor.
"To Mrs. Blunt" exclaimed Lady
Mary.
eyes. Now, the reason / asked you
to come out was to caution you on no
account to mention this, or to let it be
referred to in the Countess hearing.
We did not know what the shock was
which caused her illness, but it was
clear from her remarks when delirious
that it was something about Mr.. Con.
ingsby."
"Yes," answered Lady Mary, but in
such an absent-minded manner that DR..
Killen, with an annoyed air, bade her
good day and went away.
When Lady Mary returned from the
sick-room the Countess had fallen
asleep, and so she had both time and
quietness for reflection. She now re-
membered that her mother, when she
received the forged letter; had written
both to Mr.. Coningsby and Mrs Blunt.
There was nothing in the letter she
sent TO indicate that it was written TO
Mrs. Bunt-in fact, it could hardly
seem to be. Was it merely by change
that her mother had set it down as in
tended for Mrs. Blunt? Or had she
some private information of the way
things were tending in that quarter ?
One thing was certain, the cause of
Mr.. Coningsby not replying to her
mothers charge was now evident; on
consideration, h. had doubtless con
cluded that Mrs. Blunt was a better
catch than tho Countess.
While Lady Mary was engaged in
these reflections, her mother awoke.
She had been free from delirium for
some days past, and had noticed, and
been greatly touched by, the devotion
of her daughter. All traces of their
quarrel was gone; and mother and
daughter were on more affectionate
and confidential terms than they had
been since Lady Mary was a child.
Though by the sad, regretful express
sion that occasionally passed over the
Countess face Lady Mary knew that
she was thinking of her lost lover and
of the letter which had caused her
such pain, neither had alluded once to
the subject. On this occasion, however,
the Coutess suddenly turned to her
daughter and said: "Have you heard
anything of Mr.. Coningsby lately9"
"Not much, mamma answered Lady
Mary, vaguely, and in an embarrassed
way.
Has his engagement with Mrs.
Blunt been announced yet,' asked the
Countess.
Lady Mary started. How did she
know of his engagement Was it
merely an inference from such infor
nation she had before her illness 7 On
was it delusion of her delirium still
with her? Lady Mary would have
given the world to have asked her one
or two questions; but, remembering
the doctors orders, she bent over hel
aud, kissing her, said: "Mamma, dear,
you should not think of these things
They are all the past now. Mr.. Con
ingsby will, I'm sure, be here before
long to see you"
"Nevcr!' exclaimed the Countess
with strong vehemence. "Never," with
my consent. He is mean adven turel
a fortune-hunter of the lowest kind.
always suspected as much, but will
fully blinded myself And / never
thought he would be so cold blooded
Mrs, Blunt may have him with all my
heart" Lady Mary was frightened al
her mothers passion. She endeavored
to calm her and to turn her thoughts tc
some other subject. For a time sh,
failed, and the Countess continued
talking in broken passionate phrases
but she was very weak, and soon be
came exhausted. Lady Mary, who fol-
some time feared that the fever had re
turned, breathed freely once more wher
she saw her sink back into sound anC
quiet sleep
That night Lady Mary went back tc
her own bedroom to sleep there for the
first time since she left it to nurse her
mother. The return TO her old ways
induced her to reflect on all she had re
Gently gone through. In the midst o.
her meditations she suddenly remem
uered that the letter she had stopped il
transmission lay in that room locked
up where she had placed it on the day
she perpetrated the fraud. She took i
out to destroy it, When she saw it
and thought of all the suffering it haC
caused, of the long days and sleeples,
nights Of fruitless repentance and pain
ful watching, of the weeks of sickness
when the shadow of death seemed t,
be over the house, and when she feared
every moment would make her a mat
ricide, she had hardly the courage t,
touch it. She had intended to tear j
up without looking at it, but a strang
curiosity possessed her to read the last
of her mothers love letters, and will
trembling hands she opened it, Whel
she glanaed at the contents she turne,
ghastly pale, and a moment afterwar,
burst into bitter and almost hysterica
laughter. The note she had stoppe,
was her own.
Dieula!ait has shown that boric aci,
is not al Ways of volcanic oripiD. bu