The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-12

Inc three women wandered about the house
like three ghosts, so pale, and wan, and silent
were they all. Grace turned to Colonel Stukely
for her only comfort; Dora read her Bible at all
times and seasons Lady Darnel sought comfort
from no one. She paced with noiseless football
up and down the corridor outside her husbands
room for hours at stretch. She Intercepted
every body who came out-the neatly clad nurse
in her prim cap and spotless apron, Danvers, the
medical man, Purdew the old military servant
These were her only sources of comfort, and
such comfort as they could give was mixed with
gall.
1t was some relief to hear of her beloved to
know that he still lived. 1t was agony TO know
that the fever ragged fiercely that the delirium
continued without abatement. He could recog-
nize no one. What mattered who watched
beside his bed, what hireling hands ministered to
him.
He would know me- said Clare, piteously,
''but they will not let me 90 to him."
My dear soul. replied the Colonel soothingly
''he does not even know me, his old comrade of
many forced march. Why, he and have rid
den side by side over an Indian desert when we
WEAKNESS We were chums and companions for
quarter or q century, from Elton to Puniaub;
and yet he does not recognize me-"
He would know his wife," said Clara with
conviction.
AS the day wore on she could hardly be in
duced to leave the corridor. Lunch, dinner, all
conventional meals were scorned by those three
women; but it was only Lady Darnel who had
not broken her fast by much AS a biscuit since
the previous evening. But at last Grace beguiled
her step mother into her den, and made her sit
by the fire and take some tea and bread and
butter.
"Do you want to be ill., too and make US still
more unhappyW said Grace reproachfuly
She had insisted on giving Lady Darnel her
own bedroom, the door of which was opposite
the sick ROOM while she herself was to occupy
a little bed hastily put up in the dressing
room. This arrangement was deeply resented
by Dora.
II think if anybody has right to be near
Allan at such time, it is l. his sister," she said,
when she and Grace were alone.
But surely, Aunt Dora, wifes right is
above all others"
That depends upon the wife"
Then, If there can be any such distinction,
nobody can dispute my step mothers claim, for
she is the most devoted Of wives"
she has knack of seeming very devoted"
remarked Dora.
Seeming, and a knack" repeated Grace in
dignantly. How can you say such things Aunt
Dora! How dare you insinuate that my fathers
wife is not true!"
81 insinuate nothing, Grace | am not going
to be taken to task by school girl. [ can only
say that Lady Darnel is a mystery to me, just
as she is mystery to the county. Indeed, I
may say that you are the only person who ap-
pears to understand her and believe in her"
my father believes in her. retorted Grace
more and more indignant. THAT is enough for
me-"
Your father is under the spell of potent
fascination my dear Have YOU never heard of
middle aged widower subjugateG by the ma
neuvers of a handsome widow-a widow whose
antecedents are wrapped in profound darkness"
~ on are talking most unjustly, Aunt Dora
and what is more, you know that you are unjust
| wonder you don't expect something to crawl
out of your Bible and sting you. | wouldn't sit
with my Bible on my lap and spit venom at in
nOcent people"
IF you cannot control your tongue Grace,
shall go to my own ROOM said Dora closing ner
Bible, and rising as if to depart
II shall be very much behoden to my tongue
if it drives you there retorted Grace, upon
which Miss Darnel had no option, ard was
obliged to carry out her threat; more especially
as the room was Graces own particular den and
she was only visitor there
She departed, carrying her Bible and large
assortment of angry feelings with her
But she did not retire to the solitude of her
own apartments in the north wing. Solitude is
apt TO be intolerable in these periods of suspense
and anxiety. Miss Darnel went down to the
drawing room, and on her way met servant
who was going upstairs to announce Mr. Col
chester
He was in the drawing room the man said,
and wanted to see Lady Darnel, Miss Grace,
anybody
Dora felt that she came under the head any
body; so she hurried to the drawing room eager
to be en- rapport with the county though, indeed,
in spite of his splendid position, she always
looked upon Edward Colchester as in somewise
an outsider. He was so good natured, so hail
feloW-well-met with all the world so little
governed by the Draconian laws of county So
ciety.
She found him in the drawing room, in hunt
ing clothes, fdgeting about with crop in his
hand, just as if he had that moment dismounted
to rest his hunters back during a pause in the
mornings work.
My dear Miss Darnel" he cried Selling her
hand, what dreadful thing this is. Been out
with Colonel Thorpe's barriers; only just heard
how c1,D III
before. How did it happen? Is he very badl
How is Grace?
He forgot himself in his agitation, and said
Grace tout court.
1T is long story, Mr. Colchester, and it is
profound mystery. We none of US know what
it all means yet. Ny poor brother is in most
precarious state l fear may lose him"
Here the tears rushed to her eyes; and they
were not crocodile tears If she hated her
brothers wife, she loved her brother and
though she could not bear to see HIM happy in
his second marriage, nay, resented that second
marriage as If it were deadly wrong done to
herself, she could not calmly contemplate the
possibility Of losing him.
Don't cry" said Colchester, very much in
clined to be fearful himself. Things are never
SO bad as they look. Doctors are such regular
Old ravens, don't you know? They like to
brighten us out Of our wits. in order to take
credit for their wonderful cleverness when the
patient pulls through. we pulled him through
they say. and then we poor fools pay their big
bills without blinking. But for goodness sake
tell me how it happened Sir Allan shot him
self, they say, late last night, after you had ali
gone to bed"
mot ALL" said Dora Lady Darnel sat up
late to write letters. She was still up at the
time it happened"
Then she must know all about it,"
'She appears to know nothing She had been
to Graces room. She was in the corridor when
she heard the pistol go Off"
And Sir Allan was alone in his room?'
IN II bod IoJ
before. He must have got up and gone back to
Lady Darneis morning room where he had left
the case of revolvers the table Why he
should have got up and half dressed himself, and
gone back to get those pistols is an unfathom-
able mystery"
He may have heard burglars-or fancied he
heard them, suggested Colchester Some men
are always on the qui vive for burSlars-sleep