Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-19

A look of eager interest passed over
Dare's face.
"And she is ill2" he said.
eyes, a sort of nervous breakdown n. I
fancy she's been terribly upset by some
thing"
Again Dare sighed.
Doctor" he began, and then he
paused, "will you tell met is-a great
favor am going to ask-but will you tell
me how she is, day by day?"
"Yes," answered DR.. Reed slowly. s'That
man has been her lover" he was thinking:
sis in love with her still Poor fellow, no
doubt he was her equal once
81 will send you some books of nv own"
he said, and then he turned away wonder
ing what romance lay hidden beneath the
soldiers rough red coat
CHAPTER VIII.
MIRIAM'S LETTEE.
Sir James MacKennon was greatly con-
cerned when he heard OF Miriam's illness,
though Mrs. Clyde made as light of it as
possible
''She has bad feverish cold, and has to
remain in bed for a few days" she told him,
when he called expecting to see Miriam
during the afternoon of the same day that
DR. Reed was called in to attend upon her;
II am very sorry, extremely sorry" said
Sir James, uneasily. 'T-hope, Mrs Clyde
that nothing has worried her?''
You mean was very angry with her for
wishing to defer her marriage for a month";"
answered Mrs. Clyde, smiling "Well,
was angry with her, and with you too, Sir
James, tor giving way to her girlish folly.
But Colonel Clyde was quite delighted I
believe at the cnance of having his daugh-
ter month longer with him, and by no
means took my advice on the subject" and
again Mrs. Clyde smiled.
Mrs. Clyde said this because she believed
now that Miriam was not we'll enough. at
present, to be lectured any more on the sub
ject of her marriage.
'tLet the child get well before you say
anything more to her." Colonel Clyde had
said to his wife alter the doctors visit
''You see Reed says she must not be excited,
and she certainly was very much excited
when 1 saw her."
Thus Mrs Clyde was forced to yield, and
like wise woman she made the best of it.
But Sir James felt still uneasy as to the
real cause of Miriam's illness. He asked
many questions, and when he returned to
Helstone, he dispatched the best flowers he
could find to her, and wrote for some to be
sent from town. He also sent fruit and
game, and when his offerings arrived at the
Commandments house on the following day,
Mrs. Clyde took them up (the flowers and
truit) to her daughters room with smile.
See what it is to be engaged to a rich
and generous man." she said, pleasantly.
"Are not the flowers lovely? And the fruit
is splendidr'
sit is very .kind of him." answered
Miriam, gently, and she suppressed sigh
'He is a nice fellow, and as have often
think you look a little better to-day, my
dear, and SO hope in few days you will
be able to thank Sir James himself for all
his kindness"
But DR.. Reed still considered Miriam
feverish, and impressed upon her mother
that she was to be kept very quiet And it
chanced while the doctor was in Miriam's
room that Mrs. CLYDE was called downstairs
on some household business which could
not be delayed.
"Will you excuse me-? will return in q
moment or two" she said to the doctor.
Miriam, my dear, will send Ford up to
you with your beef, tea;" tor Mrs Clyde
considered DR.. Reed too young a man to be
left alone with her daughter.
But for a moment or two they were alone,
ann then with q sudden blush and in q
tremulous voice Miriam inquired after the
wounded soldier
"How is the-the soldier-who was shot,
DR.. Reed?" she said
He is getting on very well, though he
had sort of fainting fif yesterday" an
swered Dr. Reed, interested.
IA fainting ftp" echoed Miriam, and her
color paled.
''Oh, nothing very seriouA I told him
you were Ill, which seemed to distress him
very much"
"Poor fellow. murmured Miriam in a
low tone. Doctor" she said the next
moment in more earnest voice, "when
will he be well enough to 60 out; TOTO
leave the hospital?"
'It will be week or more yet, am
afraid"
"a week or more" repeated Miriam,
thoughtfully..
''Yes, 1 think so; but dare say he may
get out in the open air before that"
At this moment Ford appeared with the
beef tea, but being discreet maiden and
seeing that her young mistress and DR..
Reed were apparently in earnest converse
tion, she merely put the beef tea on small