The Delta independent., 1888-04-03
ELFIE.
BY j. s. l..

She had expected opposition, and was
relieved to find he did not object to her
wishes.
BY an afternoon train he followed her
to town, and there was considerable
at the Rainsford's when
he did not return.
He had been so much better that Mary
had hesita.ed not to consent when he
had told her he could manage to walk
alone, and now his absence greatly
alarmed them.
1t was dull evening, and the dark
ness had settled around his pretty little
home as he entered his own gate, gently
closing it behind him without sound.
"Five O'clock" he muttered, "that
was his hour. Am too lateP II is near
er six
His heart beat with a fierce anger,
and he crept round to the back of the
house.
They will be in her boudoir," he
said; sit was there they used to meet.
Ihave heard their muffled voices beneath
me when in my own room. Heaven
help mel"
He was right.
His wife was there; and there was
hlc "ltAlu, "ulCA Cu5G 1Ol Ill
bright and titful rays, and by its light
he saw her in Cecil Rainsford's arms,
and he appeared to be pleading with
her with all the strength of wild
passion.
Suddenly they started assunder, the
door opened, and the maid appeared
with tiny tea-table, lighted the gas,
and laid out the dainty cups and saucers.
Then she drew down the blind and
he saw no more.
He turned and staggered, rather than
walked, from the home which had been
so dear to him, away from the woman
he loved.
"False-falser' he muttered between
his clenched teeth.
And ever again he repeated that one
word, "Falseh'
He wandered aimlessly on, and as
the light of street-lamp fell upon his
haggard face, passer-by stopped and
addressed him.
''Why, L'Estrange, is that your Not
at your work?"
"Ah, l see," returned Paul, "you are
Lord Cranburn. No, am not at my
work. I shall never work again"
"You are ill.," returned his lordship.
"Let me escort you home"
II have no homer'
Lord Cranburn hailed a passing
hanson, and helped his friend in.
Paul asked no questions, but just did
as he was told, as any child might do;
and Lord Cranburn drove him to his
own lodging, and having got him to
bed, started off to inform Ellie of his
safety; but he was seriously alarmed.
for he appeared to be in high fever,
and his head was wandering.
Mary Rainsford, however, had arrived
before him, and was telling Ellie of the
disappearance of her hus band.
They had traced him to the station
and she had followed him by the next
up-train, which was an express.
They were both thankful to hear of
his safety from Lord Cranburn, and
not for one moment did they dream of
what had occurred, and the fatally fool
ish mistake he had made.
They merely imagined that delirium
had again set in, and that his visit to
London had been as aimless as his
wanderings seemed to have been, when
good fortune threw him in the way of
Lord Cranburn.
Mrs. L'Estrange sent Immediately for
the medical man, who looked very
grave, and the four drove off in the
doctors carriage to Lord Cranburn's
lodgings, where they found Paul raving
and the sight of Ellie seemed to driYe
him into state of frenzy.
So much so, that the doctor led her
from the room, and begged her to
refrain from entering il again until he
gave her permission to do SO II; and
painful as it was to her, she promised
to obey him.
Subsequently. he took Ellie home in
his carriage, leaving Mary to resume
the care Of her patient.
Lord Cranburn willingly gave up his
rooms to the sick man and his nurse,
and went to others on higher floor;
but he offered his help to her in her ar
duous duties, which she gladly accepted
for Paul was very violent and she feared
she might not be able to manage him,
and he had promised the doctor to be
at hand in case of her needing his
assistance.
He came quietly in and out many
times during the night, and looked with
surprise and admiration at the moral
influnce which the gentle young girl
exercised over the strong and delirious
man.
1t was time of sad anxiety and bit
ter sorrow to Ellie.
She could in no way understand her
husband sudden relapse, nor his appar-
ent dislike to her.
The doctor assured her that in many
instances of brain affection the sufferers
could not bear the sight of the faces
of those they loved most when in sane
state, and his assurance comforted her.
She wanted her husband under her
own roof, but the doctor was obdurate,
and protested that he must on no
account be moved; and Ellie fretted at
her hard fate in being SO parted from
the husband of her love.
1t was almost more than she could
do to attend rehersals night after night
with her heavy lead-weighted heart; but
she felt she was doing it all for Paul's
sake.
More than ever it seemed to her necss-