Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-17

4
wives, | might have been disgraced ten
times oyer-T should not have cared.
Hours went by, and then ! heard his
eager voice outside the door talking to
the maid. Presently she came in softly.
"Sir George has come, my lady. He
is SO dreadfully grieved that you are III.
lie says may he come in?"
"No," l moaned. "Oh, my head
my head !" She went out. l heard
the ring Of disappointment in his voice;
then more talking. did not care;
everything but my own pain was indii-
ferent to me. Another long interval,
and she came in again and whispered
1.-THE doctor is here, my lady"
She drew back the window-curtains,
and some one took my hand and asked
questions of her in low voice. Twas
past speaking myself. Then he went
out, and another person came in on tip
toe and stood beside the bed and looked
down at me, rttering incoherent words
of tenderness. i knew that it was
George, but | did not unclose my eyes.
felt gentle kiss on my brow; more
kisses on my hand. They gave me
neither sensation Of anger nor pain
that maddening pain absorbed every
thought.
"You will soon be better, my
own darling" l heard him murmur
but turned away my head and went
on moaning to myself.
Presently Seaton came back and
brought me something to drink. Then
she put cold bandages on my head, and
after time the pain grew less intense,
and / fell asleep. When / awoke nv
head was infinitely better, but | had
dazed, drowsy feeling. / was able to
drink some tea and eat piece of toast,
and by this time it was 7 o'clock. ]
had the windows thrown wide open.
Would l see George now? He was
so anxious, and Seaton put on her most
pleading, persuasive tones. The blood
rushed to my face. | turned away to
hide it, and said that my head was
aching again, and that l would rather
not be disturbed.
She gave me draught, and de-
lightful sense of well-being overcame
me, and slept-slept on till late next
morning, when floods Of sunshine were
pouring in at the open window, and
Seaton was standing uneasily over me.
"Oh, dear, my lady, am so glad
you are awake" she said; "Sir
George has been fidgeting about the
last two hours. must 60 and tell
him."
My headache was gone, but still
felt drowsy and apathetic, utterly in
capable of forming any plans; and
when / tried to rise | was as weak as
baby and staggered about. l ate my
breakfast, and Seaton apparelled me as
she thought fit, choosing the loveliest
tea gown from my wardrobe, and was
too Indifferent to oppose her. My face
was very white, my eyes looked unnatu-
rally large. | had to lean on her and
even to crawl as far as the sitting-room.
George was there; he uttered a cry of
delight. Unrestrained by the pre-
sence Of the sympathetic Seaton, he
embraced me and led me to the sofa.
My heart was beating wildly, but had
a strange, confused feeling in my head,
as though if / spoke should swoOn. |
said nothing, made no resistance, but
lay on the sofa as he placed me, and
closed my eyes.
He uttered a thousand endearing
words, to which / made no sort Of re-
spouse; and yet my heart thrilled in
answer to them shame smote me that
| loved him.
"What made you i'll. my darling?"
he asked and then, with a sudden in
stinct, | Enclosed my eyes and looked
fxedly at him. 1t was his turn to
vince and redden; he had to avert his
face. Then my heart hardened.
"Some news | had upset me-" said,
in a measured voice and he did not
dare to ask me any further question.
"Will you be well enough to drive
this afternoon ," he inquired present
ly; "the air would do you good"
And assented.
After this he seemed to have lost his
tongue. Every now and then he look
ed at me in humble, half.frightened
sort of way, and as he grew weak |
grew strong, and desire to be cruel to
him came over me.
He drove me in his phaeton through
lovely hedge-bound lanes, under ave-
nues Of trees, across breezy hills. Very
few words were exchanged between us.
Now and then | cast sidelong glance
at his handsome face, which looked so
carewOrn and miserable. Ny heart
melted toward him; but then / would
recall my wrongs, and it grew cold and
bitter again. How careful he was Of
my comfort There was such love
and tenderness in every line Of his face
when he looked at me | could not but
believe, in spite Of what had happened,
that his heart was mine.
All through dinner l scarcely spoke,
and remarked that he, who had
usually SuCu u nv, uodilhl dppobllVi
ate scarcely anything. Afterward he
lighted a cigar and went out, and |
could hear his footsteps crunehing the
gravel as he paced up and down. The
influence of the narcotic was still upon
me, and | dozed off. When awoke
he was sitting beside me.
What time is it?" / asked, affect
ing to yawn.
'Halfpast g." he answered. "You
are tired, are you not, love?"
Goodnight !" / said, resolutely.
Then, looking up at him and speaking
with a GOODNESS that astonished me,
added " Will you make arrangements
70 take me home tomorrow?
"Take you home." he echoed, his
face growing deathly white. what
do you mean?"
II mean that | wish to 90 home"
I answered, in the same cold, cruel
tone.
"And-and what is to become of
me?" he said.
II dare say your sick friend still
needs your care" / replied, and with
that left him like one stunned.
aWoke perfectly we'll next morning.