The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-17
CHAPTER III.


When Leonard stated his suddenly form
ed determination of a solitary three weeks
walking tour in Yorkshire, he was careful
to suggest to his wife that she should have
her sister with her for few days, as he
was afraid she might be lonely; but she
answered him with smile.
"Oh, no! have plenty to do, Leonard.
1 shall be all right, but am afraid you
will find it very dull"
She knew little of the companion which
tramped by her husbands side along the
sea cliffs and across the dreary Yorkshire
moors. A man must, when he finds him
self alone with nature, think out those per-
sonal problems he has been shirking or
avoiding; and Leonard, at the end of his
three weeks tour, was healthier in mind
and body than he had been before. He
wrote two or three times to his wife, but
he was careful to give her no address
where she could communicate with him
he was resolute in his. determination to be
alone.
When at the beginning of December he
let himself into his little hall in the
early twilight, his heart was full of the
many hours of suffering and endurance
which yet lay before him, but he did not
shrink from the future, for he was con-
scious of certain subdued pleasure in the
struggle, and, besides, he was resolved that
nothing should separate him finally and
entirely from Sydonie. He opened the
drawing-room door gently and looked in;
the fire was low in the CRATE, and for the
moment he was unable to distinguish his
wife; then he saw her leaning back in her
armchair, her felt hat on her lap, her head
thrown back, and her eyes closed. Some
thing in her attitude was unfamiliar to
him, and he said gently in startled voice.
Beatrice r'
She woke suddenly with a sound be-
tween sob and scream, and then sat
upright without speaking.
"Beatrice, dear, have startled you?
She rose to her feet as she answered
him;
"Oh no, no. Is it you, Leonard-have
you come back? Are you better for your
trip ?"
Was it only the surprise that made her
voice so unfamiliar to her husband?
Beatrice, what is wrong?" he asked as
he took her hand is his. 1t burned his
fingers as it lay there passively.
'Nothing, Leonard, nothing. You would
like some tea, would you not?'
As she spoke she moved toward the
bell, but before she reached it she swayed
and fell to the floor. Leonard was not in
time to catch her, but he knelt in an agony
of terror beside the PROSTATE and motion
less figure. How the servants and doctor
came he never knew, but he suddenly was
aware that the room was brilliantly lighted
and that busy hands were bringing Bea-
trice back to life
"a touch of low fever, caught in some
of her visits to the cottages, was the doc
tors verdict next morning. "Mrs. Dalzell
is so young and strong that the matter is
not likely to be a serious one"
But as the days went on his tone al
tered; he had never seen so little power of
rallying in any young patient; there
seemed to have been some terrible shock
to the nervous system-could Mr.. Dalzell
give him any information?
With sinking heart Mr.. Dalzell made
his inquiries of the servants, who were,
however, not able to give him any intelli-
gence, further than the fact that ever since
his departure Mrs. Dalzell had complained
of terrible neuralgia-had eaten little or
nothing, and had spent whole hours of the
night pacing up and down the room-"to
quiet the pain, sir, as she said, the re-
spectacle middle-aged housemaid had adj
ded with tears in her eyes; although it
stood to reason that she couldn't get better
as long as she didn't eat or sleep, and kept
taking those long walks, for she would go
out every day, and, judging by her boots,
,o,,st bova 1ua1Lad r,iiae -
Leonard's conscience left him no peace.
He sought anxiously for some token of
that which he dreaded to discover. He
questioned the servants as to his wife's
visitors and the letters she had received
the doctors inquiry justified him in the
closest inquisition-but he was unsuccess-
full in his work, although he gave up to it
every moment he could spare from the sick
room. He was most tender, watchful