Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-04-25
CHATTER XVI.
MY WIFE AND MY FRIEND.


That am not endowed with a super
abundance of GOODNESS and patience the
reader, doubtless. has already discovered;
but also that the position in which
found myself was trying one cannot be
denied. Barely touching the supper that
had been brought for me, 1 paced the
little room IN a fever Of Impotence IN
til Tom returned. The moment he came
I was struck by the change in his eX-
pressive face. There was an OminOus
Tightening about the corners of his
mouth, and an evident desire to avoid
looking at me.
sat down again beside the fire; he
also dropped into the chair he had occu-
pied before.
"Now, sir, I can 60 on with my story.
But, after all, there is not much more to
tell Let me see. Where was II"
He spoke with some embarrassment,
quite at variance with his manner before
he left the room. I was silent. I would
not assist him by word or look. That
something had occurred to alter his first
determination of telling me the whole
truth I felt convinced. Possibly the
strong emotion I had shown was the
cause. I would manifest less interest:
by this means perhaps might learn most.
He resumed:
"The poor squire was carried home
He only recovered consciousness an hour
or so before he died. And what made
matters the more painful, you see, sir,
was this-he knew very we'll it was that
kick from his daughters horse that had
done for him. Immediately after the
funeral, Mrs. Hargreave and her STEP
daughter left the Park; everything about
the place was sold, and I've been told the
ladies went travelling on the Continent. "
as that alp" I asked.
Well, yes, sir, that's about all.
"YOu had, in point Of fact, finished the
story before you left the rOOm?"
IF there IS anything more you would
like to know that I can tell you, I'll do so,
sir. Clearly the answer was evasiye.
you said that Miss Hargreave rode on.
| Would you mind explaining what YOU
! meant more fully?" I inquired.
Il said she rode on, and that all the
| field could testify to it. suppose the ex-
element of finding herself on horeback
| once more caused her to lose her head. I
can give no further explanation on that
| point, sir. Is there anything more you'd
| like to knOW?"
| Whet had come over the man knew
not, but felt it would be useless to pursue
/ the subject. IwOuld try him on another
| track.
-Doyou know the name of Gascoigne?"
! asked, abruptly.
@Gascoigne?" he repeated, and seemed
| considering. NO, there's never been any
| one of that name hereabouts to my knowl-
! edge, and I've been in this part over six
/ years now"
You never heard of DR.. Gascoi gne.
! then?"
mo, sir.
WHO was attending Mr.. Hargreave
4 when he died?"
@Dr. Wilson, from c.; and a great
| London doctor came dOwn-when it was
too late"
Where is Dr.. Wilson now? Posi-
bly, I could hear Of Gascoigne through
him.
He's dead, sir.
did he attend Miss Hargreave? You
see I'm taking you at your word, and ask
| ing plenty of questions"
If Miss HargreaYe needed doctor, he
! would attend her, naturally, as he was
you may say, the family doctor. But tht
young lady was never i'll enough to re
( quire medical attendance. She'd one o,
the grandest constitutions going"
But after that terrible tragedy, for in
stance, was she not i'll? Did no medica
man attend her on that occasiOn?" in
quired, wildly recalling to mind wha
Mrs. HargreaTe had told me of her daugh
ters attack of brain fever, of the shocl
her nerves had undergone, Of the doctor
advice concerning her.
You give me credit for more knoWl
edge than possess, sir, answered Little
Il told you Mrs. HargreaYe and her step
daughter left the Park Immediately afte
the funeral. I wonder what's got then
nOW2" he said, looking at me keenIy.