Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-18

could not well refuse to comply with
Mr.. Rayner's wishes, and we rode 70
the station together. arriving great
deal too soon. Mr.. Rayner said to
me, az was standing by him:
'.If any thin. should happen while l
am away-lf Haidee should get worse,
or Mrs Rayner brighten you-telegraph
me at once to Charing Cross Hotel. 1
don't know that l shall stop there. but
it will reach me. just write the dis
patch without saying word to any
body and take it straight to Sam and
tell him to go to the station with it at
once. Mind to Sam; don't trust any
of the women servants" Then Mr..
Rayner walked up and down the plat
form telling every body he was going
to London.
Finally the train came up. He said
goodbye affectionately to his wife and
kindly to me; we saw him off and then
drove back to Goldman. Mrs. Rayner
only spoke once on our return and
that was in reply to my remark that it
was cold.
"Then you had better order them to
light the fire in your room early, Miss
Christie. MIR. Rayner will upset the
whole household if you take cold while
he is away
spent dull day. If I went to
Haidec's room Mrs. Rayner would leave
it. SO l was obliged to resist the sick
About seven o'clock in the evening
Jane came up to my room and said
uaidce was worse and had been cry
ing out for me.
II tnlnk she is going to die, miss-I
| do indeed" said kind little Jane, Sob
bing. II heard Haidee calling for
you miss. They ought to have a doc
tor but 1 don't suppose they will.
Sarah don't care and Mrs. Rayner don't
| dare-that's about it, miss"
Mr.. Rayner had given orders that
Mrs. Rayner, being an invalid, was not
| to be disturbed by sweepings and dust
| ings and noises in the passage leading to
| her room, and no member of tho house.
but Sarah, who had entire charge Of
the long corridor, bedroom, dressing
room and store-room which it con-
tanned, although it was shut out from
the rest of the house merely by heavy
haize-covered swing-door with only a
!, which was seldom, l believe,
{ GAVIN in the daytime. But felt that
h;idee's serious illness warranted my
| going to see, and went through the
passage shivering with cold. I tapped
at the dressing-room door. could
her Haidee's voice and Mrs. Rayncr
! sobbing and calling her by name.
went in softly, and with shrek the
mother started up from her knees; she
had been on the floor beside the bed.
Haidee knew me, though her check.
fever. and she wandered in her talk.
| cnf no haI frin fN O. o
her lie down and keep the clothes over
her, for the room was as cold as the
corridor. Mrs. Raynor was clinging
to the rail at the bottom of the little
bed and watched me with eyes as gilt
terng as the child's. felt little ire
NOR of fear. Had I trusted myself
alone with sick child and madwom-
an on the verge of an outbreak of fury?
Her bosom heaved and her hand
clutched the rail tightly as she said:
''What right nave you 10 come here?
Are you not snug and warm upstairs
in your turret? Why must you come
and exult over me? You We're welcon g
to my husband. Then You took my
child. Can you not spare her to ME
now she is dying?'
l had heard that one must always
talk to mad people as if one thought
them sane; SO l said:
Not dying, Mrs. Rayncr; don't say
that. l came down just to see if could
be of any use. Why don't you take
her into your ROOM? 1t is so cold in
here And wouldn't it be better tc
send in for Doctor Maitland? Oh,
forgot! He is away. But YOU might
send Sam to Beaconsburgh for Doctor
Love-"
Her manner changed. AS she looked
at me, all the anger, all the little gust
of defiance faded out of her great eyes
and she fell to sobbing and whisper.
ing:
II dare mott dare mott"
"May ! take her into your room, Mrs
Rayner?'
'"Then, if you win allow me, will
take her up into mine. You know il
if she does throw the, clothes off her. >
Mrs. Rayner stared at me helpless
Twill you darep" she asked, fear
fully.
Certainly, with your permission. ,
'You know very well that my per
mission is nothing sobbed she.
l was rather frightened myself a
giving orders to Sarah, and just as
was debating the matter she entered
. the room. attacked her a
, once and told her 1 had de
cided it would be better to remove
Haidec to my room, and directed he
to see that the bed was taken there a
: once. She inquired in an insolent man
ner by whose authority l gave such or
> ders, and replied by Mrs. Rayner's.
, ''Is that all the authority you have
miss?''
:. No." said I, boldly; ''more thai
= that-Mr. Rayner's!'
She stared, and then without wore
took up the bed and walked out of tn
room. I turned to Mrs. Rayner.
don't be alarmed about Haidee,"
, said, gently. 'l'll take great care o
= her. And if you will just give YOU
consent, 1 will send for doctor on m.
own raSnoncibil;ty :,