The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-09-12

I
ness. and requires constant watchfulness
end attention Fortunately my brother
Is physician, and he resides with
us. and travels with us and takes
every possible care of Mr.. Hamilton OF
course, assist him as much as pos
sible. but Edgar's condition is so very pre-
carious and causes me so much anxiety,
that should never know moments
peace if | did not have a medical adviser
constantly al hand. We never go into
society and receive few visits for | am
not very ST. z myself and my husband
needs ~ tive and attention | can
devote TO him. He seldom comes down
stairs, but | wish he would do so this
evening, for | should like to introduce
him to you. Perhaps he has decided to
dine with us this evening, and then that
would by very pleasant.
She called to a servant. who had come
to remove the tray Jules, go upstairs
and see if Mr. Hamilton will be able to
come down this evening"
The servant, an elderly grave looking
man. vanished, and speedily returned
with the message that DR.. Somers did
not consider it prudent for Mr.. Hamilton
to leave his room.
"Ah, we'll. said Mrs. Hamilton with
smile. lit would not do for him to be inn
prudent. But should have been so
pleased to present Edgar to you-he is so
handsome and so intelligent, and such
brilliant conversationalist. However,
here is his picture and you can judge
from that how very good looking he is,
apart from my conjugal prejudices she
added, with blush as swift and vivid as
though she We're a newly betrothed
maiden instead of wife of many years
standing
The picture that she put into my hand
was beautiful photograph on ivory col
ored and finished as a miniature It re-
presented a singularly fine looking man,
with blue eyes and blonde hair and mus
tache, but the eyes had sinister CLEAN
in their depths, and the full, red lips were
sensual and coarse in outline and in ex-
preston. Moreover, the face was that of
a much younger man than had expected
to see. Mrs. Hamilton, charming as she
was was evidently not far from 40 years
of age, and the photograph of her hus-
bAiid was Ncl tsiilllg LldO VI u llldu ullueT
30. There was no trace of i'll health Wis
IDLE in the high colored. handsome face of
the picture; so, after inspecting it for
some moments, l asked: is this re-
Gently taken likeness. Mrs. Hamilton? 1t
does not look like the portrait of any one
who had ever been ILL.,
mo; that is true" She took the pho
tograph from my hand and seemed
troubled, and also, to my establishment,
little bewildered. 1T was taken before
we were married-twenty years ago. He
has never had any other photograph
taken since, and he will not sit to an
artist. cannot tell why for to me he is
always the same. Edgarl my Edgarl"
And she pressed the picture to her lips,
the tears streaming down her cheeks as
she did so
was infinitely amazed at her emotion,
which seemed to me so needless, and |
was distressed at having unwittingly
caused it. especially as | had not the
faintest idea of how to proceed in order to
soothe her. Just then, to my infinite re-
lief the door opened and DR.. Somers en-
tered. Taking the miniature from Mrs.
Hamilton's hand. he said to her, gravely:
MY dear Dora, You are very foolish to
let yourself become nervous and hyster-
ical. You will be unable to sing to Edgar
this evening if you do not cease sobbing
and try to recover your voice.
1T was very foolish of me- Mark, re-
piled Mrs. Hamilton, smiling up at him
through her tears, land Mrs. Graves
must consider me a very absurd person,
but you know whenever | think of poor
Edgar's precarious health l am apt to
break down utterly. Are you sure he is
no worse than usual this evening""
mot particle-rather better, in fact;
but you can come and see for yourself,
presently. Mrs. Graves will excuse you
for a few moments, am sure"
Just at that moment my carriage was
announced, and gladly availed myself of
that excuse for taking leave at once, re-
sisting all the hospitable entreaties of
Mrs. Hamilton that | would stay and
dine, if not remain all night for could
not but feel that | was in the way, as in
deed any guest, It seemed to me, would
have been under the roof that sheltered
so beloved and all absorbing an invalid as
Mr. Hamilton evidently was.
called few days later to return
thanks to my kind hostess for her hospi-
table care, and also to restore to her the
numerous wraps and rugs in which she
had insisted on envelOping me for my
homeward drive. | did not see Mrs.
Hamilton, however Dr. Somers received
me in her stead, and excused his sister on
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