Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-27
LUNLEY, THU PAINTER.
TContinued From Sirth Page. !

Mrs, Jocks Zone expressed volumes
Lumley went on eagerly. "But 1 am
perfectly sure OF Que thing, that l did
not leave her honse in anyway pledged
to her; in fact, had every intention in
in spite of what had said, in very
bad temper, to you, Of asking We're
again before very long. 1 really don't
think Mrs. Hope could have given her
to understand that. She must have
mistaken something I said since then.
Anyway, shall get up and go down to
the Fish Ponds and stop her going
away.
''You will do nothing of the sort,
George" Mrs. Jock cried.
"Ohl yes, l shall. You'll go with me,
won't you, and l daresay Jock will be
goOd-natured and go too. And then
there'l be Blackwood, who is host in
himself"
Il won't answer for the conse-
ouences, ~ Mrs. Jock said in scared
tone.
But Lumley did not mind. He made
a remark ia a perfectly quiet and UNI
moved tone such as made Mrs. Jock feel
more assured than anything else could
have done, as to his state Of health, for
he said, o. the consequences" and
then he looked up at her with laugh
and said, ''Really, Mrs. Jock, beg your
pardon, how exceedinly rude Of me-"
But he was firm, all the same; neither
friends or nurse nor doctor made the
smallest impression on his resolution.
He had made up his mind to go down to
the Fish Ponds to put everything right
with the girl he loved, and all their ar
guments were simply as so many words
uttered to the winds.
Blackwood alone, who had gathered
a very fair idea of the position Of affairs,
encouraged him in his purpose. "Pn
telegraph to the groom to meet US, Sir, F."
he said suggestively.
Eyes; and tell him to say nothing In
the house about it," said LumleY
promptly.
Eventually Mrs. Jock agreed that
Lsmley and Blackwood and the nurse
left in charge Of the case should go
down by the twelve o'clock train and
that she and Jock would follow two
hours later; and In due course, feeling
thoroughly shattered and with a split
ting headache, Lumley and his attend
ants arrived at the station for the Fish
Ponds.
To ease his matters mind Blackwood
at once made inQuiries-Gnd through
him Lumley learned that Miss Nugent
had arrived in the early morning. that
she had hired a rough spring cart which
was generally used for conveying lug
gage and parcels about the country, and
had reached the Fish Ponds looking
very pale and weary. Lumley knew
that cart, having used it on several oc-
casions himself, and did not wonder
at it. He also gathered, however, that
Miss Nugent was very busy packing her
things with the help Of her maid, and
that she had told the groom that she
should want him to drive her down to
Parkeston that evening so as to be In
time for the Antwerp boat.
And 1t was wonderful how coolly
Tmmley took il, perhaps because his
moor battered head was aching so badly.
They drove up to the house by the
hack way, and stopped at the side en-
trance instead OF going round TO the
front door. miss Nugent is at lunch,
sir" the parlor-maid said in reply TO his
questions.
So Lumley walked, tottered, I ought
more correctly to say, to the dining
room and there distinguished himself
nv fainting dead away.
ST was afraid it would be too much
for him" was Blackwood's comment,
while in his heart he thought that es-
cane from Mrs. Hope was worth little
suffering and over-fatigue OF body,
mo. don't get Hurried, Miss Nugent-a
little brandy and water, not too weak.
YES. that's it. He'll be all right in a
minute or two"
Lumley was lying on the sofa in the
drawing-room when he came to himself
again and We're was bending anxiously
over him with all her heart in her eyes.
"Its all right-don't be frightened,
he was able to say. :.
aOhl but you oughtn't to have come,
she cried reproachfully.
Neither ought you," ne retorteo
But he was. soon almost himself