Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-04-19
CONDEMNED BY THE DEAD.

pretty in spite OF her travel-staineC
garments, her extreme pallor and the
dark rings round her lovely eyes
yet there was something eerie in hel
expression. something inexplicably
sad, since knew CT nothing in the
circumstances Of her life that wa:
grief inspiring. or that could in any
way account for the distrsssful, half.
frightened look that was perceptible
for a moment, then Immediately dis
appeared. as with outstretched hands
and smiling lips she warmly greeted
Georges friend"
1t was the first time we had met
|, George Anstruther's friend she,
his wife, for though it was now nearly
six years ago since he had married
the penniless daughter Of a brother
officer in in his own regiment of Pun
jab cavalry, and we had been almost
inseperables before, chance had after
ward kept us apart. was in the
Civil Service and had only lately been
promoted to Deputy Commissioner,
which fact, verify believe Though a
cause for INSTRUMENTATION, as had
been hoisted over the heads of several
senIors}, sunk into comparative insig.
nlficance when / discovered that the
move attendant on my change of po-
sition would bring me into the near
neighbOrhood of my old companion.
Directly I was settled down in my
new quarters l organized a shooting
party, and wrote to George to join us
and bring his wife and little girl, to
whom | was godfather. 1t was
great disappointment when the CHEEKY
letter OF acceptance that came by re-
turn of post was incontinently can
celed by a telegram regretting that
the sudden illness of some one they
knew very well would prevent their
visit. The illness turned out to be
typhoid, and seemed to me to drag
out its slow length to most unreason-
able proportions, for again and again
wrote and each time was met with
the reply that it was still impossible
to leave that though the crisis was
supposed to be past. their patient was
still unaccountably weak, and so much
depended on good nursing. Perhaps
| was selfish in my desire to see cold
George" again and too impoItunate
In my entreaties, for the last rather
irritable letter l dispatched had elic-
tied wire to the effect that they
would arrive the following day; and
now here they were in my large roomy
tent, George warming his hands at the
stove and rattling on in his vented
happy, light hearted style, while lit.
tie Beryl, his four-ysar-old daughter,
danced about in childish delight with
her new surroundings.
After the first responsive warmth
at my welcome had faded from her
face, was struck anew by the intense
depression noticeable in Mrs. Anstru.
theirs manner, even her attitude.
She had sunk into a low camp chair,
and her hands, from which she had
drawn her gloves, lay white and ring
less on the ground at either side Of
her, while now and again her heavy
eyeiids dropped, not apparently from
fatigue-more as though to shut out
some painful sight; and the dark
lshes that momentarily swept her
cheeks seemed to accentuate their
pallor. could not help drawing at
tsntion to her state by offering her
glass of wine, which she hurriedly re-
fused, directing nervous glance at
her husband as she spoke. He laid
his hand kindly on her shoulder.
Poor Nora is completely knocked
up. She has been indefatigabls in
nursing, and really deserves much
credit for pulling him through. The
doctors thought there was no hope for
him at first"
He is not out Of danger yet" she
said. in low and thrilling voice.
1t somehow flashed into my mind,
how wonderfully sweet such a voice
would sound in the ears of any one
who loved the speaker, how precious
it might become-ay, perilously so.
Undoubtedly George Anstruther
had shown good taste in his choice
she was a woman all must find at.
tractive, though she evidently made
no attempt 10 charm. She had that
helpless, appealing way with her that
men find very difficult to resist; her
movements were so graceful. her man
ner 50 gentle and winning; while I
could well imagine that in q sick
room she would be just perfect,
moi doing less than necessary for the