The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-12-22
CHAPTER V.

Two years elapsed and there was no news
Of the missing Mr. Munro Letters arrived
frequently from different parts of America
from Mr.. Bob Sudden, who evidently found
his task to he moro difficult than he had sup
posed. America was n large continent, and
it WAS not so easy TO find 1ie particular man
lpon it, Poor Lucy amused herself by read
ing books and perusing maps. She liked to
wonder If George were Thereon there, and
what sort OF place it was. She arranged all
Mr.. Bob Studden's letters OF Intelligence in
chronological order and compared them with
tho books and tho maps, and so traced his
progrsR. She always knew when an Ameri-
oan letter arrived by an instinct for which
sho was al loss to account herself; but for
all these sources of consolation, for all her
mothers and fathers solicitude, she grew
weaker and weaker. She took no air but in
an invalid chair. Her father walked by hsr
side grave and detected. Stealthy shsd-
sws took possession of tho bankers house
They fitted on the windows, fingered on the
staircases and hung about the passages; and
tho good folks of Bramlingdon looked sad as
they passed the bankers, over which, as over
those 1t contained, there hun. the sanctity of
great sorrow.
Two long, long years and two long, long
months Lucy waited and hoped, each day
her pale cheek growing paler, and her light
form lighter, and toward Christmas she was
unable to be lifted from her bed. Dr. Top
ham said that he had exhausted the resources
Of his science; and when tho poor girl turned
feverishly, and, with slight access OF de-
iirium, asked for the fiftieth time if there
were no novs, the doctor beckoned the banker
and his wife from the sick room and said:
'I'vs an idea This cannot last long-she
must DO quieted somehow. She keeps ask
klg for news; now news from America
would quiet her and she might sleep"
1--WE have 10 nsws." said the single minded
banker.
NO. replied the doctor, "but We can
mako some"
Make soms~
~Fabricats it-invont 1t. Don't you seer
go doctor!" remarked tho fearful mother,
ito deceive poor creature on the threshold
Of DEATH"
ITO snatch her from death" said Dr. Top
ham. at must be done. 1t is the last
chance. We must write letter from Stud
den this very night"
But-but-but-itis forgery! stammered
the banker.
Besides said Mrs. Dawharn, Lucy
knows Mr. Studden's hand and always ex-
amines the envelopes"
"Then," said the doctor, 1--WE must do it by
telegraph"
telegraph"
eyes In few minutes you wifi receive
a telegram from Mr.. Bob Sudden, saying
that he has just arrived at Liverpool with
with companion"
who'll send itT
II will, =" said the doctor.
But when-when she finds that StuddoR
huot in England-whst then"
''We must think Of something else" said
the undaunted Topham. THE case is des-
perate, and something desperate must be
tried Go and talk to her, Mrs, Dawbarn,
and III send tho telegram"
With strong feeling Of conscious guilt
Mr. and Mrs. Dawbarn put into their daugh
ter's hand telegram containing these words:
"From Robert Sudden, Adslph Hotel, Liv-
erpool, to Charles Dawbarn, Bramlingdon.
81 have just arrived in Liverpool. | have
news of Mr. N. hopo so be in Bramiing
don by Thursday
Lucy read the telegram and sat up in her
bed.
"He's como. mammal she said, and her
eyes flashed and her cheeks flushed. He
landed in England this morning. felt he
did-about O'clock Ee will be hero soon,
George will very soon-very soon. Mamma,
please tell Eliza to put out my lilac frock He
liked lilac-and to come and do my hair
nd-and-and-tel Eliza to come to me
and can tell her what / want myself"
Tho fsther and mother exchanged glances
that said: Here is the consequence of our
decention What can be done nextp The
thought had hardly been interchanged be-
fore Il smart rap was heard at the street door,
and a servant came in with another tele-
graphic dispatch, which ran thus:
"From r. Sudden, Adelph Hotel Liver
pool. to c. Dawbam, Bramlingdon.
Gust arrived here with Mr. Munro. Shall
start by night train, leaving here at 1880.
NJ and self will bo at BramHngdon to-mor-
row Telegraph bac,,
"Hov absurd of Topham to send two teie-
gramsw said Mr.. Dawbarn, when he and his
wife were alone, las if one would not bring
mischief enough. lie must be mad"
Dr.. Topham entered the house, and in
CURED how his plan had succeeded
sob, Lucy is very much delighted and agi-
tated, " answered Lucy's father. what we
shall do with her when she finds the news
not true, do not know. But, Topham, why
the deuce did you send two telegramsr
''Twolr echoed Topham. Il only sent one"
eyes, you did,
20, didn't
"Yes, you did Here it Isl
The doctor looked at the second telegram,
and said Il didn't send this
'No Who thenp
"By Jovel He didl Sudden, mean.
Davbarn, he's comel he's comet | only an
ticipated the truth. 1t was medical inspi-
ration-and my patient will recover"
Mr. Dawbarn lost no time in telcgraphing
back to Liverpool At Lucy's express desire
Mr.. Sudden was instructed to telegraph at
every station, that she might know how
much nearer and nearer her George was to
her. The telegraph boys were up the whole
night, and Lucy kept the kilograms and read
them until she fell fast asleep.
When she awoke she found herself unable
to rise, so resolved to receive her future hus-
band in state; and when she had looked in
the mirror she begged her mamma in a
whisper TO let her have some rOuse-''not to
make me look better, but for fear my pale.
white. white cheeks should brighten George"
The heavy hours few by. George arrived,
md yv,s shown ,1YS+airs To his fai lful con-