Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-20
Continued from Tsesday. Sept. IA
ENGAGED IN HASTE.
II xIss n. z. BRADDoH.
CHAPTER VII.

His wife opened his dressing gown ana
laid her ear against his breast. Yes, the
heart was beating still-feebly, as it
seemed to her, beat which might
dwindle into silence at any moment.
thread Of life that might snap while she
listened.
Servants came, sleepy, confused, all
talking at once. Then, Dora Darnel, very
delicate and dainty in a flowing white
garment with pale pink ribbons; then the
colonel, in an old red velvet dressing
gown, which made him look like a
wizard.
For Gods sake, let some one go for the
doctor" said Clara, without lifting her
head; then, as Stukely knelt on the other
side OF his friends PROSTATE form, 20.
colonel, you can help us. You will know.
Is it dangerous wound, Does it mean
DEATH"
"Not death, no, no. God Forbid said
the colonel at is nasty wound;
terrible loss of blood. The bullet has hit
rather low, just below the ribs. What
was he doing with that accused re-
volverf"
~ don't know. They were on the table.
He was looking at them an hour ago, be-
fore he went to bed"
"You don't know" said the colonel,
wonderingly- Weren't you in the room
when it happened?"
mo. | was in the corridor. l had been
in Grace's room"
ale was alone, them"
IL suppose So"
"Oh, my poor, poor brotherl" CALCULATED
Dora. ITO think that he should have lifted
his hand to take away his own life. He,
80 good Christian; he, who used to be so
happy"
How dare you say that he tried to take
his own life?" said Clare, not loudly, but
with intense indignation. "You know that
he Is happy that he has never known care
since he has been my husband, except his
too thoughtful care for me. Oh my darl-
ling, what evil things will not be said OF
me while your voice is silent to defend"
she added, apostrophizing her unconscious
husband with passionate love.
There will always be a voice to defend
you-were defense needed-while Adams
friend is at your side" said the colonel,
quietly.
Purdew, the old butler, was in the room
kneeling by his master. He, too had seen
gunshot wounds, and he knew that this
was desperate one.
A groom had ridden off for the doctor
They heard the CHATTER of hoofs just now
galloping along the avenue; but, let him
gallop as he might, it must be more than
half an hour before the doctor could ar
rive. The colonel and Purdew did all that
could be done to stanch the blood which
oozed slowly from Sir Allan's side. 1t was
terrible half hour, a half-hOur OF agony,
In which every moment might bring the
fatal end to their fainting hopes.
Glare Darnel crouched upon the ground
beside her husband, hanging over him with
white lips and despairing eyes, watching
his CHASTITY face with countenance that
was almost as death-like.
ale will die" she kept saying to herself;
"he will die by the hand of my son. Oh,
God why did ever link my accursed life
with his?"
AT last there came the sound of horses,
hoofs again, galloping up the avenue-two
horses this time, and sounding IN the night
silence like sx-then the opening of doors
below, and then footsteps in the corridor,
and the doctor was amidst them, stout,
elderly man, commonplace, but clever,
man to be relied on in calamity.
He put them all aside and knelt down
on one knee to examine his patient; and
ordered every one out of the room except
the colonel and Purdew.
"Grace take care of Lady Darnel," said
the colonel, and Grace put her arm around
her stepmother and tried to lead her from
the room, the girl blinded by her tears, the
woman's eyes dry and burning. She had
not yet shed a tear.
"No, Grace" she said; Il will not go
I CT nv in |
will wait in the corridor. will not go far
from Allan"
At the mere mention of her husbands
name she burst into q flood of tears, the
first relief that had come to her since that
first shock of her reprobate sons entrance.
1t was In vain that Grace pleaded,
In vain that Dora lectured Clare OAR
mel would not move beyond the out
side of the morning room door. She knelt
with her ear against the key-hole knelt
there, listening, and praying dumbly now
and then. till the doctor came out, after
delay of an hour or more.
"will he dief" she asked, seizing the doc
tors arm.
Mr.. Danvers, the family doctor, looked
grave and shook his head.
at is a bad case, Lady Darnel"
"But not hopeless-oh, for Gods sake
say it is not hopelessl"
1--WE shall have Mr. Friedricson here to-
morrow morning" answered the doc
tor "He can tell you better than l."
"And my beloved may die in the night,
before help comes. Let me go to him-let
me be with him."
"No, Lady Darnel, that is impossible
He must be kept very quiet-there must
be no one in the room except Purdew and
me. ] shall stay here all night
"Thank God for that But it is cruel to
keep me away from him. Do you think
l am child, that l have no self-com-
mand?'
a think you are woman, and that you
love your husband. No Lady Darnel, you
must not enter into that room till Sir
Allan is in less precarious state. You
must obey me in this matter-for his sake.
/ am going to send one of your men with
message to my wife, and then l shall go
back to Sir Allan. We shall have a
couple of surgical nurses down tomorrow
morning"
Grace came from her room, where she