Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-02-21

as good as he was wise. She always felt
her inferiority while in his presence, and
this often embarrassed her so that
she shrank within herself and ceased
to shine with the full glow OF
her vivacious womanhood Possibly
the doctor understood more than his i'm
movable countenance revealed. He always
treated Lura as a child-with grave Sc
robustness that awed without chilling.
It was late one afternoon of a cold day in
autumn that Lura Joyce dismounted from
the stage at Lone Hollow. Three weeks had
elapsed since she left by the same convey
ance, and during that time not a word had
reached her from tho inmates.
''They might all be dead for all the stir
they make,' unused the girl, as she glanced
up at the curtalned windows and solemn
gray walls of the old house. 81 wrote, but
not one had the courtesy to answer. 1t
seems to me that Grace ought to be out be-
fore now"
The girl tripped swiftly around to spot
where she could view the window of
Grace's room. She saw nothing of her
cousin, and at once retraced her steps,
strange misgiving at her heart.
"Of course, nothing very bad has hap
pened or 1 should have heard of It," de-
clared Lura to herself, by way of stllling the
rising premonitions of evil
She tried the front door to find it yielding
gliding along the wide hall. The room oc-
cupied by Grace during her illness was on
the ground floor. Here Lura passed quick
ly, only to find the chamber empty.
"She must be well and IN her own coy
chamber" thought the girl, going at once
up the stairs to the room where she had
passed many happy hours with her fair
cousin.
A tiny rap on the door was answered by
in hay IN a
Scarcely had Lura Joyce crossed the
threshold of the room than she came to a
halt and stood regarding the low couch,
with it's wealth of covering, in amazement.
At the bedside sat the colored maid Lucy,
whilo among the pillows was face so thin,
so faded, so CHASTITY as to quite startle Lura
Joyce.
Could it be possible that this was Grace
Penroy, whom she had left but three weeks
since almost restored to healths
After q moment of hesitancy Lura ad-
vanced swiftly and stood by the bedside,
gazing into the corpse-like countenance on
the pillow. 1t was Grace, surely, but oh,
how changed! To Lura it seemed that a
harsh touch or breath of air would break
the brittle thread of life.
''What does this means' the young girl
found voice to articulate at length.
Lucy did not seem to comprehend.
as so glad you'S come" she said.
''Young missus been wantln' you so bad all
de time"
Eyes, indeed" articulated the sick girl,
family Il feared 1 should never see you
again in this world"
''You may go for the present." Lura said
to Lucy; then, after the girl had departed,
she locked the door and seated herself be-
side the sick couch.
"Now, Grace, have you strength to tell
me what this means!"
1T means that we were all deceived,
Lura. am going to die. For myself l
would not mind, but,-but poor Austin-'
She broke down then and began to cry in
a way that showed utter exhaustion.
"Don't trouble yourself about AUSTIN
soothed Lura. HE is well, and l will try
| to get him on here to see you if you promise
| to be good and not worry. Now, tell me how
ithappens that you are so i'll. When left
you the glow of returning health was on
/ your cheek
''And this is why you did not comet"
NO. indeed. met with an accident that
4 laid me up in Stoncfield. I've been with
! you in thought all these weeks"
"And he told me you were tired of con-
| slant waiting ON me, and would come no
| more"
"Her
| ''Mr. Starbright."
! 1.-THE miserable scoundrel!"
Lura was too indignant TO keep back the
/ hot words, although regretting them the
next moment.
Grace could not command her feelings to
! speak for long time, but lay white and ST.
/ lent, with hot tears raining over her hollow
: checks.
''Never mind, Grace, DEAR" soothed Lura.
'You shall tell me at another time. You
are not strong enough now
Then Lura Joyce came to her feet and
turned to adjust the clothing about the sick
one as the door was tried by a hand with
out. Going thither Lura turned the key
and admitted Captain Starbright.