Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-06-29
CHAPTER XVIII.

Lord Carlswood looked up in dismay.
He had been dining out, and Mrs. Wal
dron had given orders that she was not at
home to anyone. He was pleased to find
her alone; the dinner had fatigued him,
and he was glad Of the prospect OF a quiet
evening. He had drawn his chair to the
window, making some careless remark to
her about the warmth and beauty of the
night. There was no reply, and the old
lore thought she had not heard him. At
ter IA time he spoke TO her again, and again
there came no reply. She was standing
by the open window, her face hidden from
him.
"lsmay, what are you thinking OFF" he
asked.
Then she turned to him. aud her face
frightened him, it was SO white, with col
orless lips and Swallowed eyes-the face of
one who had received a mortal blow; she
seemed almost unconscious of his presence,
unable TO understand his words. He was
shocked and terrified-he went to her aud
took both her hands in his. =
"Ismay," he said, what is the matter.
my dear child?"
The eyes she raised to his were dazed
and heavy with grief,
what has happened to your" he cried.
You look so i'll, you brighten me; you look
as though you were dying. What Is the
matter?"
II have seen Paul" she replied, and the
tone Of her voice was so changed, SO
hoarse, so altered that he did not know 1t.
II have seen Paul" she repeated, land /
asked him TO take me back-to take The
back because love him so-because ! am
NJ guilty. so wretched-and he would
not. He said ! had broken his heart years
| ago, and the thought is killing me-"
The white face dropped; the hands fell
%nervously; the words died away on her
colorless lips, and the next minute lsmay
Waldron, the beautiful woman, the I'M
happy wife, lay white and senseless at the
old mans feet.
He moaned as he bent over her.
~ nave killed her!" he said. "She is the
victim. not of her vanity but OF my pride.
| | have slain herl"
Some hours afterward Lord CarlswOOd
sat by Ismay's bedside. A grave-faced
| doctor was there, and he looked as though
he had no very favorable verdict TO give.
Ismay lay quite unconscious. No word
| that was uttered fell on her ears.
"YOus say" repeated the old lord, that
she has had some great shock?"
Yes" was the grave reply; "this illness
comes from the mind, not the body: there
has been n strain upon the mind, and that,
followed by a shock, has been too much
for a not over-strong brain"
Lord Carlswood looked at him.
"She is in danger. you thinks"
"She lies in the very shadow Of DEATH"
said the doctor: human skill can avail
her but very little"
Days passed, and the shadow Of death
did not pass from the house. 1t seemed to
those who watched Ismay SO %anxiously
that she was conscious mt times, but even
| then she lay with closed eyes, needless OF
| everything and everyone arcund her.
A fortnight had elapsed, and one even
| ing she looked at the nurse who stood by
her bedside.
"Will you tell Lord Carlswood l want
| himi" she said; and the old lord fastened
to obey the call.
Are you quite alone'" she asked. II
want to speak to you"
He kissed the worn face, he held fondly
In his own the thin, white hands.
"My darling, what can l do for your" he
asked.
Grandfather" she said, ~ have not
long to live. / rave never been what peo-
pie call religious; but | am going 70 die.
/ shall ave to face the great Judge.
What shall l answer about my duty as q
wife?"
"You will get better, Ismay; do not de-
spair."
"But some time or other ! must die.
What am l TO say? You tempted me
what shall | say?"
do you wish it all undone, IsmaYs" he
asked.
! ito be o~ontiaued.)