The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-02

pls.s>i q know hat J ~ Growing
Viser with : slightly eegri1vcd ar.
II Il Wisdomf i could alnoet doubt
It. But after III that 4 question Tor
your own consideration. Do YOU think
Miss Featherstone win accept you,
Charlie -
"she has accepted me, or at least i'm
piled a. much.r
Severn creased over to his sons side
and laid his hand on his shoulder with :
kindly pressure.
Forgive me II ] seemed unsympathetic.
At my age thought travels more slowly
than at yours, and found IL dinicuIt at
once TO reconcile the state Of affairs now
With that which existed when / went
away. But believe me. / have your
happiness at heart, and think you will
be- happy. Mary Featherstone Is too
sweet and true woman not to make a
good wife and shall welcome her very
gladly a. my daughter"
Charlie looked up with q pleased
smile; II he had noticed want Of cor
duality in his fathers tones at first, he
had not attributed 1t to any cause. and,
now that 1t had disappeared, was not in
clined TO look any further into The
matter.
When do you think Of being married 2"
asked the colonel, abruptly, thinking to
himself. with some good-natured scora
sc- tault that he had never shared, that,
II the girl really valued her lovers al
legiance, she had better make 1t legally
her own at once, before his tickle fancy
ranged in new directions.
Charlie looked grave at once.
That is just what don't know. ]
have not seen her for nearly three weeks
and it may BIO another month before we
meet. Why? All, / forget--you did
not know that typhoid fever was In the
village. Mary has been nursing some OF
the people, and is put in quarantine In
consequence"
Has 1t been very bad ?n
Nine or ten cases at present.
Only one has died besides the wretched
woman who brought the sickness here. "
And that was-2" carelessly inter.
ested in the reply.
Mr.. Bowyer's house-maid"
A sudden light flashed from George
Severn's eyes, sudden dread kept him
mute, though his very soul seemed to
hang on the next few words spoken.
Mr.. Bowyer has 1t now" went on
Charlie, quite unconscious Of the emo
ton seething in his Nfather's heart
rather badly, am afraid"
And-and Miss Warden
She IL nursing him." -
Then she Is well 2"-with q reined-in
anxiety that must have been apparent to
one less self.absorbed than Charlie.
quite we'll but she must be terribly
worn out Mr.. Bowyer has positive
horror Of strange faces about him, 30
she IL doing everything for him herself"
Have you seen her since he was
taksp III y -~cES
Th5 young man shook his head in
some surprise.
:" How could / do SOP You forget
that the whole house is placed out OF
bounds-is forbidden district. Where
are you going, sirs"
am going to see II can be Of any
use" was the calm reply.
You don't mean that as d feproach
TO mei You don't think l was afraid
Of the Infections ?"
Ny dear boy, no. For you to have
gone would have been merelya senseless
risk, and could only have added to her
anxiety. Mr.. Bowyer knows me, and
would let me help to nurse him, / fancy.
At any rate, shall try 1t. /: ] am not
back before night, send my man with
some things, will you ?"
4 Scarcely waiting for the answer, Colo
mel Severn snatched up his hat and went
out quickly, passing through the hall,
but quite forgetting to take an extra
coat, though there was hard frost and
q keen east wind blowing.
He did not feel the cold-he did not
once give thought to the danger there
might be in going to the house where the
sickness was raging. Nothing could
have kept him from Elaine's side; he had
hungered for her presence too long, his
patience and endurance seemed failing
him at last.
The last few PAGES seemed miles to his
hurrying feet; he could scarce restrain
his impotence, and, when he found the
outer door was open, he walked straight
In, not waiting to summon any servant.
Without hesitation he turned into the
sitting-room, feeling sure that he should
find her there. Nor was he mistaken.
She was kneeling in front Of the fire, as
much for rest as warmth, 1t struck the
man who watched her SO yearningly, for
every line Of her figure had fallen into an
attitude Of repose, and her head was
leaning against the side OF the mantel-
piece as though too heavy, too weary to
hold itself erect.
For few moments he stood there,
silently taking in every detail Of herself
and her surroundings, content for the
time to know that she was near, not in
clined to be prodigal Of the pleasure
that had been withheld from him SO long.
No longer able to resist the longing
to clasp her to his heart and with kiss
f, x1i,1x, a y,,o :, -, a -, r.,