Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-02-14

for the toy cannon was on the floor, and q
box of matches beside it. Probably Rolf
had not seen Reggie beside him, and had
thrown the lighted match aside in his ex'
element Mrs. Markham sighed deeply
as she listened. She had sustained a
severe shock; her face looked very dark
and rigid as she left the room. | was
afraid she meant to punish Rolf severely.
and begged Gay TO follow her and plead
for mercy.
'RoIf has had fright that will last him
for life; his terror has been punishment
enough" But Gay shook her head.
1T is 40 use interfering with Adelaide;
she will take her own way. | am sorry
for Rolf; but he deserves any punishment
he gets. Reggie would have been burned
to death but for your presence of mind,
Merle; none Of US could have reached the
nursery in time. Mr.. Hawtry said SO at
once F."
Reggie burned to DEATH and then my
mistress would have died, too; she could
not have survived the horror of that
sh ock. begged Gay family not TO say
such things: the bare mention of it turned
me sick. | suppose she was alarmed by
my CHASTITY look, for she kissed me, and
y L
myself so; we could only be thankful that
Reggie was safe.
DR.. Staples came soon after that. He
was benevoleDt-looking old man, and
was very kind and gentle He said one
of my arms, the left one, was severely
burned, and that it would be some little
time before it was healed. "These things
depend a great deal on the constitution;
but You seem strong and healthy. Miss
Fer ton, so / hope you will soon be right
again: but you must not expect to lose the
scars"
i was sorry to hear that for / knew the
scars would remind me Of terrible hour
in my life. The dressing was very pain
full, and when it was finished / was com
PEELED to follow DR.. Staples advice and
go to bed. / was suffering from the shock,
and knew my arms would be useless to
me for week to come. l felt shaken
and sick, and unable to bear the childish
voices.
Gay followed me into the night nursery,
and gave me all the help she could, and
she did not leave me until my head was
on the lavender-scented pillow In spite
of pain and dizziness. it was nice to lie
there and hear the birds twittering under
the caves and the bees humming about the
flowers, and to look out on the sunshine
and feel great mercy had been vouch-
safed to me, that | had not been suffered
to fail in the hour of peril.
Gay hung up her cage of canaries in the
window, to divert my mind. and laid a
bunch of dark Glove carnations, with o
late rose or two among them, on the quilt.
"Mr. Hawtry is still here, Merle; he is
very anxious to know if you are in less
pain, and whether there is anything he
can do Tor you. He seems quite grieved
because DR.. Staples says your arm is bad
ly burned"
sent IA civil message of thanks to Mr.
Hawtry, and then / detained Gay mo-
ment
Miss Gay, you mnst write to Mr. Nor
ton yourself have promised your sister
to tell her ever, thing; but it will shock
her too much, and l think Mr. Morton
should know first"
Gay looked distressed.
Need we tell them, Merle? Violet is
not Mt all well; Alick said so in his letter
this morning. Scotland does not seem to
suit her, aud he thinks they will soon
come home"
'And they have not been away a month
yet, observed, regretfully; mot more
than three weeks and two days; and Mr..
Morton is SO fond of Scotland"
"Alick thinks more of vi than deer.
stalking II she be not well he will bring
her home without u wotd of grumbling.
In some respects Alick Is Il very good hug
band Why need we say anything about
the accident, Merle? Reggie is scarcely
l.;
right"
1T is not fair to keep everything from
them. promised would tcll everything
and my mistress must know am invalid
ed and cannot do my duty"
'You need not fret about that" she re
turned. chccrfully- Susan shall help
Hannah, and will bc here rs much as
possible. ! anu famous nurse. We viii
make Mrs Rumble wait on Judson. Very
well, Merle, | will write to AIick; but l
would much rather not"
had forgotten poor Judson, but | did
not forget Rolf; asked several times after
him, but Gay had not seen him. Rolf
was in disgrace and close prisoner to
his room. He had had his dinner sent up
TO him; but Adelaide was lying down in
her own room all the afternoon with n
bad headache, and, rs Rolfs commune
Gated with hers, no one could visit him
unperceived.
l wondered If Mrs. Markham's eyes
were ut last opened To the danger of Rolt's
dis0bedience and her own faulty manage
meut. She was To blame as much as the
child. She had given me her word to re-
main in the nursery, and no visitors
should have tempted her from her post.
II was no surprise to me to hear she WAS
i'll with worry: her conscience must have
reproaChcd her for her breach of trust. If
Reggie had been killed. his death would
have been owing to her carelessness
Later on in the evening, just as it was
getting dusk, Gay came to me for a minute
with a plate of fine fruit in her hand.
They had tempted me all dav long with
delicacics, but had felt too i'll to eat. The
fruit Just suited me, for | was feverish
with pain.
Adelaide has Just come downstairs, "
she said, with droll little laugh. MIR.
Rossiter had heard of the accident, and
had dropped in to inquire, so father
kept him to dinner. When Adelaide
heard that, she came down rs soon as pos
sible; and there she sits, looking like a
ghost, until Mr.. Rosster takes his depar-
ture"
And Rolf"
"Oh, | suppose Rolf is asleep" she re
turned, carelessly; and rs she was evident.
lv in hurry to return to the drawing
room, would not keep her; but as soon
as she had closed the door n sudden idea
came into my head. l would go and see
Rolf myself; was not easy with him.
know hi: 1unthpr cnuld ha too saypre evan
with ner idolized boy on occasions, but I
never could bear child to be Ioug IN
happy. l rose very quietly, So as not to
disturb the children. and threw on my
dressing l was rather afraid my
white face and handaged arms would
brighten Rolf, until remembered 1t was
dusk, and he could not see me distinctly.
Mrs MaUkham's suite OF rooms lay in
the west corridor l knew no one would
be about, poor Judson was in bed; so l
reached Rolls room without interruption.
l though | heard him sobbinG softly to
himself as l opened the door. When l
spoke TO him, making my way through
the summer twilight to his little bed, he
started mp and held out his arms
"Oh, Feuny, is that really you, dear
Fenuy' Do come close and let me feel
you. have been thinking of such horrld
things"
told him gently that l was in great
pain, and that he must not touch me, but
that would sit down for little while be-
side him aud talk to him.
But l may hold your hand2" he plead
al. SIS YOUR hand burned. too. Fenuy
or don't you like to touch me because 1
am such a wicked boy, as mother says,