Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-24

her mother and her husband felt anxious
| about her during these last few days in
| town; but Joan made no complaints. Then
the wedding party broke up, and Joan
and her husband started for Tyeford.
She felt so weary on the journey it wss
all she could do to keep herself awake in
the train. Her eyes closed involuntarily,
and she could scarcely hold up her head. It
was late in the day before they reached the
station nearest the Generals house. Then
came long drive in the dark, and by the
time they reached Tyeford Joan felt COM
pletely exhausted.
She sighed YEARLY as she entered her
comfortable and well-furnished home. The
General had taken Tyeford Hall when he
had been appointed to the Southern district
which he commanded, and he had brought
his young wife there as bride. It stood
in extensive and well-kept grounds, and
from the upper windows you had glimpse
of the sea. 1t was in these grounds that
the tragic death of Robert Conray had oc-
Cured, and Miriam had never visited her
sister since.
Joan thought of Robert Conway as they
drove up to the house; thought of him as
she entered the well-lighted hall, as she
walked up the broad staircase. To her the
whole place was haunted by his memory.
Yet she had never suggested to the General
any wish to leave it. He had taken it for q
term of years, and it was conveniently situ-
ated for bis command, being only about half
mile distant from the barracks.
A letter from Miriam, the bride, awaited
Joan. The General brought this up to her
after he had opened the letter-bag Joan put
out her hand languidly to receive it, and as
she did so her husband noticed how extreme
ly pale and tired she looked.
''You are quite done up, JOAN" he said;
'tall this business about the wedding had
been too much for you; you must have
good rest tonight"
"Yes," answered Joan, all the while de-
termined that she would take no
"well. what does the BRO sssy y? went on
the General.
Then Joan opened her letter, which was
from Paris Miriam wrote cheerfulIy and
there was no allusion in it to the past, whieh
both the sisters regarded with such shrink
ing dread. She mentioned her husbands
name once or twice, and told her sister what
lovely furs James had bought her. "He is
very good and kind to me, she added, "and
very unselfsh."
"She seems all right" said Joan, after
she had finished reading the letter, and then
she handed it to the General, who also read
it, and then laid it on the table beside his
wife.
'Well, I hope she will be happy" he
said. ''She has got, I believe, good hus-
band, and 1 trust she will make good
wife"
Joan did not speak, and then the General
laid his hand upon her shoulder.
"And you, poor little woman, he said,
s'must go to bed directly after dinner. You
are dead tired, and nothing but a sound
sleep Will refresh you"
He left the room after this, and Joan
then took some sal volatile to keep herself
up, and dressed for dinner And after din
ner the General insisted she should retire
for the night.
81 have a lot of papers to go through"
he said, ''and it will be IL or later before
have done. But you must go to bed at
once. Come, Joan, it is quite time you
were there"
And at this moment it passed through
Joan's mind she might indulge in the sleep
she so much required before her husband
came UP stairs. She was utterly exhausted
and her eyes heavy with drowsiness, and
she felt she would give almost anything for
an hours sleep.
every well," she said, 'T will go;" and
she rose and left the room, while her hus-
band went to the library to work.
Joan was so tired that three minutes
after she was in bed she was fast asleep.
Asleep when IL o'clock came, and the GEN
eral quietly entered the room. She was
sleeping the deep sleep of utter exhaustion,
and she never heard her husbands foot
steps, She looked worn and white, he
thought and he made as little noise as pos
sible, and very soon afterwards he also was
asleep.
When he awoke it was the morning. He
awoke with start, and glaneing quickly
round he heard Joan's voice speaking in
loud and unnatural tones He looked at
her attentively, and saw by the dim light
she was still asleep. She was dreaming,
but her features wore an expression OF
great suffering, even anguish.
"Don't look like that-Roberti Robertr'
she cried. ''Speak, speak to me-say one
wordp'
She stretched ont her arms as she spoke,
as If entreatingly; her voice was full Of in
tense pain, and the General drew back in
sudden dread and listened with batsd
breath.
"Robertt' she walled out once more;
Robert" and then her expression changed.
"Why did YOU do it?' she asked, with
startling suddenness, as if addressing some
invisible presence. she did you no wrong;
he was mine, not Miriam 's-only mineP'
There was silence in the room after this;
a silence that the sleeping woman broke no
more. But the gray haired man by her
side rose and crept away; the iron had en-
tered into his soul.
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