San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-16

said Charles, really with unnecessary
earnestness. Mrs. Marston, pray do
not alter your plans. CART" in much
sterner tone, 81 must beg that you will
not think of leaving us today. Your
fried, Col Middleton, is staying on, and
we cannot allow you to desert us so sud-
denly"
1t was more like command than an
invitation; but Carr, usually SO quick to
take slight, did not seem to notice it,
and merely said that he should be happy
" ~ or stay, whichever was most in &C
cordance with the wishes Of others, and
took up the newspaper. He and Charles
did not seem to get on well. | could see
that Charles had not seemed to take
to him from the very first, and Carr GER
tainly did not appear at ease in the house.
Perhaps Charles felt that he had rather
failed in courtesy TO him, for during the
remainder of the morning he hardly let
him out of his sight. He took him to
see the stables, though Carr openly de-
clared that he did not understand horses
he showed him his collection of Zulu
weapons in the vestibule; he even started
a game OF billiards with him till the az
rival of the doctor. do not think Carr
took his affections in very good part,
though he was too well hammered to show
it; but he looked relieved when Charles
went upstairs with the doctor, and
pitched his cue into the rack at once,
and came to the hall fire, where was
sitting, and where Aurelia presently
Joined us, fresh and smiling, in the pref
tiest of morning gowns Everyone met
IN the hall. 1t was in the center of the
house, and everyone coming up or down
had to pass through it. Just now it was
not so tempting an abode as usual, for
the flowers and part of the stage had al
ready been removed, and the bare boards
with their wooden supports gave an air
Of discomfort to the whole place
Aurelia opened wide eyes of horror at
hearing Sir George was i'll. She even
got out tiny laced pocket handkerchief,
but before she had had time to weep
much into it and spoil her pretty eyes
the doctor reappeared, accompanied by
Charles and Ralph, and we all learned to
our great relief that Sir George, though
undoubtedly i'll, was not dangerously SO
at present, though the greatest care
would be necessary. Lady Mary had
updertaken the nursing of her brother
in-law, and in her the doctor expressed
the same confidence which parents are
wont to feel in a stern schoolmaster. In
the meantime the patient was to be kept
very quiet and on no account to be dis
turbed
When the doctor had left Ralph and
Aurelia, who had actually seen nothing
of each other that morning, sauntered
away together toward the library.
Charles challenged Carr to finish his
game of billiards; and Marston and /
retired upstairs to the smoking room,
where we could talk over our Indian
experiences and perhaps doze undis-
turbed We might have been so occu-
pied for half an hour or more when a
flying step came up the stairs, the door
was thrown open and Ralph rushed
into the room.
U6u. hldISIOD! SOl. hIuulSlOu! uc
gasped ont, breathing hard, will you
both of you come to my fathers room at
ohce? He has sent for you"
Good gracious! Is he worse?' l ex-
claimed.
mo. Hush! Don't ask anything, but
just come" and he turned and led the
way to Sir George Danvers' room.
We followed in wondering silence, and
after passing along numerous passages
were ushered into large oak paneled
room with a great carved bed in it, in
the middle of which, bolt upright, sat
Sir George Danvers, pale as ivory, his
light steel eyes $50 like Charles) seeming
to be the only living thing about him.
As we came in he looked at each of us
in turn.
"Whese is Charles?" he said, speaking
in a hoarse whisper.
Dear mel Sir George" said, sym
pathetically, chow you have lost your
voice.
He looked at me for moment, and
then turned to Ralph again.
Where is Charles?" he asked a second
time in the same tone.
"Herer' said a quiet voice. And
Charles came in and shut the door
CHAPTER *.
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