Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-10-09
P Y.

'eElI
She uns standing up, n~erpously playing
tctth her rings.
The room seemed strangely quiet after
the stormy interview in the sick cham
Der which we had just left. The pale
winter sunlight was stealing In aslant
through the low windows. The fire had
sunk to a deep red glow, and in an arm
chair drawn up in front of it, newspaper
in hand, was Carr, evidently fast asleep.
"Oh, my prophetic soul!' whispered
Charles, nudging Marston, and then he
went forward and shouted, "Luncheon."
In a voice that would have walked the
dead.
Carr started up and rubbed his eyes.
why, | believe you have been here
ever since / left you here. hours ago."
said Charles, in a surprised tone, though
really under the circumstances it did not
require a great stretch of the magma
ton to suppose any such thing.
eyes," said Carr, still rubbing his
eyes. ''Have you been gone long? /
expect l fell asleep"
II rather thought you We're inclined
for a nap when l left you," replied
Charles, airily; land now let us go to
luncheon"
It was a very dismal meal. Lady Mary
did not come down to it, and Aurelia sat
with red eyes. fearful and silent. Ralph
was evidently out Of favor, for she hardly
spoke to him, and snubbed him decidedly
when he humbly rendered q peace offer
ing in the form Of a potato. Evelyn, too.
was silent, or made spasmodic attempts
at conversation with Mrs. Marston. the
only unconstrained person of the party.
Evelyn and Aurelia had appeared to-
gether, and it was evident from Evelyns
expression that Aurelia had told her.
upon Sir Georges illness.
I'VE must go by the afternoon train,
my DEAR" said Marston down the table
to his wife. "In Sir Georges present
state all visitors are an incubus"
Carr looked up. 81 think I ought to
60 too" he said. II wished to arrange
to do 30 this morning, but Mr.. Dan
vers," glancing at Charles, would not
hear Of it. am sure when there is IL
ness in a house strangers are always in
the way"
II have seen my father since them
replied Charles, "nnd / fear his illness IL
much more serious than I had any ide,
Of. That being the case, I feel it woult
be wrong to press any one, eve Middle
ton, to stay and share the tedium of
sick house."
After a few more civil speeches it wa
arranged that Carr should, after all
leave by the train which he had propose,
in the morning. It was found chat Their
was still time for him to do 80, but tina
was all. He was evidently as anxiou
to be off a the Danversss were that b
should 60. The dog cart was ordered,
servant despatched to the lodge In no
haste to pack his portmanteau and i,
half an hour he was bidding us good-by
evidently glad to say it. Poor fellow
He little guessed, as he shook hand
with Us. how shamefully he had bee,
suspected, how ULainously he had beel
traduoed behind hk back.
Somehow OF other / had not had
moment Of conversation with him sine
the morning, o. a single chance Of telling
him how I had stood up for him in hi
absence. Either Charles or Marsto,
was always at hand, and when he tool
leave Of me I could only shake his hant
warmly, and tell him to come and Sc
me again in town. I watched him spin
ming down the drive In the dog-cart
little thinking how soon / should Sc
him again, Inc in what circumstances.
1--WE shall have more snow" sail
Ralph, coming indoors. II feel it Il
the air."
General and Mrs. Marston were tn
next to leave, starting an hour later an
going In the opposite direction. l say
Marston turn aside when his wife wa
taking leave of the others and go up t
Charles. The old hand and the youn;
n met and were locked tight.
"Good-by, my dear boy" said Mars
ton.
Don't go" said Charles, without look
ing up.
II must" said Marston. II am due a
Kimberley tonight, on business; but,
in O lower tone, 81 shall come back to
morrow, in cas- I can be of any USE"
They were gone, and | was the onl,
n remaining. 1t has occurred to m
since that perhaps they expected me t.
go, too, but l never thought Of it at tn
time. I had been asked for a week, an
to 20 before the end Of 1t neve SO nue.
as entered my head.
There was no chance of going out. TIL
early winter afternoon was already clos
ing in, and a few fakes of snow wer
drifting like feathers in the heavy air
promising to come. Every ON
seemed to have dispersed-Ralph u,
stairs to his father, Charles out OF door
somewhere in spite Of the weather.
remembered that / had not written t
Jane since I left London, and went int
the library to do SO.
As / came in / saw Evelyn sitting in
low chair by the fire, gazing distracted
ly into it. She started when she saw me
and on my saying I wished to write som
letters, showed me q writing table nea
the fire, with pens, ink and paper.
"You will find it very cold at the bi
table window" she said, looking at |
with its broken drawer, a chink open
with q visible shudder.
l installed myself near the fire. talk
ing ch~eerfully the while, for it struc'
me she was a little low In her spirit:
She did not make much response, and
was settling down to my letters whe
she suddenly said:
''Col. MiddletonI"
Eyes, Miss Derrick"
Il am afraid I am interrupting you
writing, but
looked round. . She was standing ~
nervously playing with hsr rings. "Bu
II know / am not supposed to-but
know what happened last night; Aureii
told me-"
'.It is very sad, isn't itT' / said. "Bu
cheer up I dare say We may get the1
back yet And I nodded CONFIDENTIAL
at her. "Tn the meantime, you know
you must not talk Of 1t to any n
do you suspect any one In partict
Lxq' she asked very earnestly. coming
step nearer.
hardly knew what to say. Carr,
need hardly mention. I had never SUI
pecssdf for amoment; but Charles-Mar'
ton had evidently believed what Charlie
had said. but am BY nature more cat