Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-04

rlght-please God snail But there is nc
knowing"
81 hope so. most fervently, /" Leyton cried.
"Indeed there is no doubt of it. Come,
George, you we're not wont to be hipped.
There is no good looking at the dark side Of
things, But why have you sold your prac-
tiee? You were doing well. were you not?
"Yes, l was doing we'll, so far as the prac-
tice was concerned. have sold it for good
long sum. But since | lost my wife II
months ago, the house, the work, the whole
thing, has grown hateful to me. Everything
reminds me of her. Imust 20 somewhere
do something-not to forget, for that is i'm
possible-but to ease the continual pain OF
remembrance" And his eyes grew misty as
he spoke, and for some moments silence
reigned in the room, while Osborne strove
with the feelings which nearly mastered
him. Presently be spoke again.
ST have made my will and appointed you
sole executor. Will you act?"
"Of course will, If the need should ever
arise" said Leyton. "But this is uncanny
talk. Cheer up, you will come back all
right"
II have premonition otherwise" said
Osborne, earnestly. Don't attempt to
argue about it. have presentlment that
evil will come Of it; 1 cannot define it; it is
too vague, but there it is"
"Then why go?" asked Leyton.
Because must. Say no more, old fell
low. don't expect you to understand me.
scarcely understand myself; only cannot
live on as have been living the past 12
months. Something impels me to 90 to the
war. There shall fnd-if not forgetful-
ness and peace-at least distraction, and I
may do some good. At the same time. I
cannot rid myself Of an uncomfortable feel
ing that something terrible is going to hap
pen if I go. Yet I must go. 1 don't feel as
if / were free agent. must go, and that
is all about il"
Leyton looked what he felt-astonished
and perplexed; but he knew his friend well
and how vain it would be to attempt to turn
him aside from his purpose.
"Only tell me in what way 1 can serve
you and send you away with an easv mind,
and it shall be done" he said, filling up a
pause in the conversation, as Osborne sat
with his gaze fixed on the glowing embers
in the crate and his mind abstracted from
his surroundings, wrapped in moody refec-
tions.
81 forgot to tell you" he said, suddenly
waking out of his trance, ''that 1 have
placed little Emily and my father in
pretty little cottage at Sonning. Poor old
gentleman! his mind is nearly gone. He
scarcely knows me nowI They will be two
children together. I want you, Leyton. if
you will, to keep an eye on them both while
am away. Will you 60 and see them
sometimes?"
Certainly will, /" replied Leyton, heart
lily. Command me in anything"
"God bless you, old fellow, . said Osborne,
grasping his friends hand, while the tears
rushed to his eyes.
viii you go to Sonning with me on
Monday? he asked again. 81 would like
to introduce little Emily to you myself
She will take to you better in that way."
Then he added. huskily, ''If anything should
happen, she will trust you as she would
me-"
Make no more words about it, will 90
with you with pleasure"
And Leyton kept his promise. When
N Monday came he accompanied his friend to
the quiet little village in Berkshire. stavinp
there two nights. On Wednesday he went
down with his friend Osborne to Portsmouth
and bade him farewell, and, after seeing the
deet sail from Spithead, he returned to
Chelderton.
For the first time since Saturday Leyton's
thoughts were now tree to return to Made |
line Robson. And yet with the mental
pictures he was weaving of the beautiful ST.
,en who had won his heart another face
would obtrude itself on his mind. It was
he face of George Osborne sfather-the face
# an old man who had entered on the last
tage of senile decay. Where had he seen
hat face before? His memory would not
erve to help him to an answer to the uues-
ion that persisted in forcing itself upon his
The face continued to haunt him
Until he reached home, where he found q
ainty little note awaiting him from Made
inc. He opened the missive with eager.
lmost trembling hands, as if he dreaded to
earn its contents But there was nothing
n the note to breed fresh alarm, or to give u
resh lease to the old fears 1t was couched
a Madeline's habitual style of restrained
fection, and simply announced her fathers
1tention to give harvest home supper,
'llowed by an impromptu dance, on Thurs
ay, and expressed Madeline's anxiety that
er lover would not fail to be there.
Ieyton thought that Madeline had never
'oked more ravishingly beautiful than she
ppeared on the nightoft the harvest supper,
nd though she seemed a little careworn,
lere was nothing in that circumstance to
xcite his fears; for with the sordid ankle
es that mingled with the menage Of the