Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-12-22


you, and afraid even yet that you may
be brought in on litter" i
He laughed as he followed her toward \
the door of one of the charming apart
ments surrounding the gallery, and
paused in the sitting room while she
opened the door of the spacious chamber
beyond and said gayly: Dear cousin.
here is your truant, Come and scold
him."
The next instant Derwent saw the
slender, black clad form and pale, lovely
face of his mother, with a wistful look
in the deep blue eyes, as she said, My
boyl is it really you at lastP'
After the first eager questions had
been answered and Mrs. Derwent's anx-
iety somewhat treasured, Derwent found
another surprise in store for him.
You had no trouble in the journey, /
hopper" he said st was too bad your
having had to take it without mascu-
line attendant; for that is something
you at least are not accustomed to,
mamma. Sibyl now, belongs to the new
order of independent young ladies-she
would start out with a maid to go
around the world-but you are of the
ancien regime, and fear that it was
very disagreeable to you
'Oh, has Sibyl not told your" said
Mrs. Derwent 1--WE did not come
alone. confess | should have disliked
that very much; though of course, my
dearest boy, | would have done that or
anything else to reach you. But Frank
Halbert came with US. 1t was very kind
of him"
II noI ~,
surprise Then he threw back his head
and laughed uncontrollably. why
you organized a regular relief expedi-
tionP he said What a picture you
would have made coming to storm Mira
| forest
You are very ungrateful, Godfrey, !"
said Miss Lenox. ut may be laughing
matter to you now, but it was not laugh
ing matter when we thought we might
find you dying or dead. What could two
women in a strange country have done
in that case? One had to think of these
things, So it was exceedingly kind of
Mr.. Halbert to accompany us"
''It certainly was, uncommonly kind, u
said Derwent, recovering his gravity.
land | beg your pardon for laughing.
Halbert is very good fellow always.
Where is he?"
II parted with him near the Office just
before | met you. He went in to make
some inquiries. All, here he isl"
A handsome man of about thirty, well
set up, with keen eyes looking out of q
refined face, appeared at the partly open
door as Miss Lenox spoke. $50 here you
are!" he said, holding out cordial hand
to Derwent. st is satisfaction to see
you still living, and upon my word
young man, begin to fear this thing
has been hoax. You are looking very
we'll"
"Oh, Frank said Mrs. Derwent re
proachfully, 81 do not think so. He ii
pale and thin"
II ought to be looking we'll, said Der
went, ''if the best of care could make me
SO. have been doing nothing but en-
| joying an ideal life and recovering my
strength. My wound, however, is no
yet healed, and gives me some trouble.
you must have the best medical ad
vice at once" said Mrs. Derwent, whil'
Halbert looked at Sibyl and laughed
This is pleasant, is it not?" he said
Think of our anxiety to reach the suf
ferer, our hurried journey without pause
our eager desire to relieve him from tn
discomforts he was supposed to be en-
during-while all the time he was 'en
joying an ideal life and recovering hi
strength in the most satisfactory man
ner! | don't know what you may thinl
of our journey to the land of the Monte
zumas, Miss Lenox, but feel rather ri
diculous."
81 do not" replied Miss Lenox, loftily
I'VE came to relieve Cousin Margaret
anxiety and to help her in any need tina
she might have for us, OF course, Incl
dentally, we should have been glad t
have relieved Godfrey also"-
"But, since Godfrey has behaved S
shamefully as not to need relief, you ar
ready to put him aside severely" sal
that gentleman smiling Come, now
is that quite fair? am extremely sorr
that you have taken such long journe
for such an insufficient reason, but l fee
your kindness to my mother more than
,, can possibly express. And now that 20
are here, don't you think you may fin
something to enjoyT'
81 am sure of it," replied Sibyl franz
Iy. "Since our anxiety about you was re
ieved by Mr.. Morell's visit yesterday
| hhNO OhJOS ONOAy SAShG ol1A oOoA4S
Yes, on the whole, we will magnan
mously forgive you for getting well b.
fore we came. And now tell us all abor
your ideal hacienda"
~ have only one improvement to sut
gest," said Halbert "The hacienda
. chapter second. Let us have chapte
{ first-the whole authentic account of til
= shooting, with the cause thereof"
Derwent hesitated for a momen
= Should he tell the whole or only part {
- that story? Nothing would have induce
him to mention Dona Zarifa's name
= connection with the final tragedy whe
u speaking of it to Morell, but these wei
- his nearest friends and relatives. W.
8 it not right that he should let them kno
h the full greatness of his obligations
- he told the whole story, and never WI
~ narrative listened to with more rapt a
I, tention. Three pairs of widening ey
: were fastened on his face as he spok
and when he finished Mrs. Derwent fair