Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-08-11

"Why, went back TO mother after I had
been to wish Cynthia merry Christmas in
my night dress this morning, and told her
1 didn't know where your eyes had been for
the past three months not 10 have seen it
coming on. Whatever You do, don't say
anything to her about IT, She was quite
distressed because 1 told hsr she didn't
look well, and she forced such high spirits
all the rest of the time l was in the room
that could have cried over her.
Her unvarying cheeriulness before me
all this time must have been assumed,
Jem, You know l can't see her until af-
ter 4, because of this confOunded COVER
ness business. She doesn't leave Mel
fords until half-psst except on Satur-
days; and she asked me to leave>her that
afternoon for Horace, so have not seen
her by daylight for months unit this morn
ing. What's to be done?"
Jem looked round cautiously before she
answered.
1--WE have arranged it beautifully. The
mother is going to nave SYMPTOMS of scia-
tiea tomorrow morning, and DR.. Jennings
is to be sent for to apply the battery. OF
course, hearing Cynthia is here, he will
want to say How dye do?' and before he
sees her l shall tell him how anxious we
are about her. He'll manage 10 take her
measure pretty correctly, without letting
her into the secret.
That was not q very cheerful Christmas
day Tor me. We had decided. on account
of Cynthis's mourning, to make our party
strictly family affair; bat, even if the
great old house had been fall of guests,
| should have carried that dead wsight of
care in my beayt-a weight which increas-
ed with every glance at Oynthia'5 face
throughout the day.
After dinner, when Horace and l were
alone, tried TO sound him about his Sis
ter's nealth; he either would not or could
not give any information. Being c0l-
scious of a hostile bias in my judgment of
all Horace Dabenham's sayings and doings,
was always trying to counterbalance 1t by
giving him the benefit of thu doubt, when
there was room for doubt at all. So, when
lie told me he had not noticed any change
in Cynthia that she never complained,
never seemed i'll, and always in good
spirits, tried hard to believe he spoke as
he really thought, and that in very truth
he had no. noticed the alteration that had
so scared us all.
HE is such disgustingly selfish young
b ggar," told mysslf-''as long as the
poor girls illre did not prevent her from
attending TO his little wants be woald
let her DIE before his eyes, and never no
tic9 it.
TIE next day, when Jennings came, l
clntrived TO be in the library with Gym
thia. As this was not to be an acknOwl-
edge professional visit, l felt there could
be no improperly in my being present.
Jennings and Dr.. Debenbam had been old
friends, so there was considerable cordial
| ity on both sides when he and Cynthia
met. l stepped back few PAGES, watch
ing and listening; and through all the
medical mans chsttiness 1 could see how
keenly observant he was Of Cyntha's every
movement.
And how do you like the governess-
ine?" he asked presently. Do yOu find
it congenial work, OF is it rather against
the grain-eh? 4 little bit like going
back to the treaimill every morning, l ex-
pect."
Cynthia opaned her eyes widely at this
view OF her occupation.
ooh, no!p che cried. 81 quite enjoy
it; would not be without my work for
the world. Ny pupils are two OF the mo 1t
delightful little women you could meet
anywhere, and believe we are constant
source of pleasure to one another. Mrs
Melford wanted me to spend Christmas
with them, but of course"-
"Quite So" int5rposed Jennings jocular'
Iy-''here was metal more attractive-eh,
Ouinton?" He glanced at me swiftly, and
then turned his eyes to Cynthia's face, say
ing abruptly: Then it certainly is not
teaching that makes you 50 terribly wake
f1l at night"
At these words deep flushed suffused
her cheeks and forehead, and there was
sudden expression Of alarm In the glance
she gave Jennings. She at once suppress
ed sll signs of emotion, however, and
lauhged rather ne vjusly.
who told you l was wakefulP" she
asked, with a plAyfully defiant air, and
then, without giving him time to answer
the question, she broke eff into whole
string of inquiries concerning this, that
and the other person, ard completely
blocked the subject of her own health.
When Jennings went, / LEFT TIE room
With him, meaning 10 ask his opinion II
the hall; but Cynthia followed us witt
some forgotten question-remembere
believe, on the spur Of the moment, 10 pre-
vent Jennings from sayiSg anything to
me. She evidently did not suspect the
existence of orr plot, aud wanted to keep
him from importing his Judgment to any
OF rs.
was anxious to wait until my next
meeting with the doctor, 50 put on ms
hat, and walked to the gate with him.
"Well," said, as soon as we were ou'
of earshot, what do you think? ls there
anything really wrong with Cynthla
heslth?"
His answer, in the form Of another ques
tion, set me wondering.
"What is it that il worrying her,"
Nothing that l know CT, or can guess
at"
"And yet she hiss a worry Of some sort
Oainlon-a worry that ia ever present
with her. Cau't you get her to tell yor
what it is?"
low CAD IL Du teW JNN--~--A
she SHE'D the moment you spoke OF mel
health"
"Ob, her health, from a purely phys'ca
point of view, is right euought! mear
she would be perfect in health but f'l
this mental disturbance. She has one o
the soundest constitutions l have known
I wish you could find out what tits that
is bOtheiing her 60"
'T'n try" returned rather hOpelessly
''but Pm afraid it it will be of no use. /
she had meant me to know she would have
told me voluntarily. But, if she does mo-
mean me to know, it is not OF mucT
use my trying to find out"
well, something ought to be done, " NJ
said, with an emphasis which convinced
me he thought rather seriously of the mat
ter. "She has evidently had a heavy