Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-05


While she stood looking at him, with
Clasped hands, his daughter rushed into
the room, and saw what had happened.
CHAPTER VII.
AS FROM \ DREAM OF MURDER"
Grace's shriekS rang through the silent
house The wife flung herself on the
ground by her husbands side, vOiceless,
/ i'll dumb agony, Clinging TO the pro
stratc form, kissing the pallid face, inn
ploring for a word, Il look.
/ He was loosely dressed in trousers and
velvet dressing gown, dressed like a man
/ who had risen hastily at a strange sound
prepared to meet a midnight intruder
His wife opened HIS dressing gown and
laid her ear against his breast. Yes, the
heart was beating still -feehly. as it
seemed 10 her, a beat which might
dwindle into silence at any moment IA
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 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 90 for the
doctor, said Clara. without lifting her
head, then. a. Stukely knelt on the other
side of his friends prostrate form, 90.
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 1T is nasty wound:
terrible loss of blood The bullet has hit
rather low. just below the ribs What
was he doing with that accursed re
Vulyrrs"
Il don't know. They were on the table.
He was looking AT their All hour ago, be
fore he went to bed"
You don't know" said the colonel.
wnnderingly- Weren't you i'll the room
when it happened"
No was in the corridor. had been
i'll Grace'S room"
~He was alone, them
II suppose So"
oh. my poor, poor brother" CALCULATED
Dora. To think that he should have lifted
his hand To take away his own life. He,
50 good a Christian; he, who used TO be 50
happy
How dare you say hat he tried TO take
his own life" said Clare. not loudly, but
with intense Indignation. You know that
he is happy: that he las never known a care
since he has been IN husband. except his
too thoughtful care for me. oh, my darl-
ling, what evil things will not be said of
me while your voice i silent To defend,
she added apoStrophizing her unconscious
husband with passionate love.
There will always be Il voice 10 defend
you-werr defense needed-while Allan's
friend is at your side" said the colonel,
quietly
Puriew, the old butler. was in the room
knerlng by his master He, too, had seen
gunshOt wounds, and he knew that this
WAS IA desperate one.
\ groom had ridden off for the doctor.
They heard the clatter of hoOfS just now
galloping along the avenue: but. let him
yallOp as he might, it must he more than
half an hour before the doctor could ar
rive The colonel and Purdcw did all that
could he done To stanCh the blood which
oozed slowly from Sir Allans side. 1t WAS
IL terrible half hour. a half-hou Of agony.
in which every moment might bring the
fatal end To their fainting hopes.
Glare Darnel crDuChed 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.
He will die" She kept saving 10 herself: |
"he will die hv the hand of my son. Oh. /
God, why did ever link my accursed life .
with his"
Ar last there came the sound Of horses.
Ioofs npain raIIupinp mn the avenue-two I
oorses this time. and sounding in the night .
silence like six-tben the ouening of doors .
h.Iovv and tb.n fnntsteps in the corridor.
and the doctor was amidst them, stout,
elderly man, commonplace but clever,
man to he relied on in calamity.
He nut them all aside and knelt down
on one knee To examine his patient: and
then. without expressing any opinion, he
ordered every one out of the room except
the colonel and Purlew.
~CiraCe. take care Of Lady Darnel." said
the colonel. and Grace put her arm around
her stepmuther and tried to lead her from
the room. the girl blinded by her tears, the
woman's : ewes dry and burning. She had
n"l !e' Siivu d car IL,