Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-10-15

"Welll How do you like all thisl'
asked Houghton, smiling down at her.
"Oh, its lovely" she fastened to
aver.
ado you really find it soa"
She looked up quickly, and in his
down-bent glance she found a complete
comprehension of the situation. She
blushed slowly, in pale, delicate re-
ticent fashion, which seemed to Hough-
ton to SAVIOR of all manner of quaint, old
time breedings which superb young
women of the world never had nowadays
if, indeed, they had ever had them.
"Of course | am not one Of them,"
Felicia remarked simply. "They talk
OF things don't understand. don't
know the people they know. So-it's
natural"
"Natural you should be left out in the
cold2"
She looked a little frightened. He
seemed to be accusing these animated,
fluent, bright-eye young women.
"Take my arm" he commanded.
"But Mrs. Chomley said l ought not
10 leave bue OOOtu'
"For all you will succeed in selling,
my dear child" he laughed.
She put her hand docilely upon his
coat -sleeve.
Within fortnight Mrs. Branscombe
returned.
II have to speak with you" she OBJ
served to Houshton the first time they
met.
~ warn you that l know quite well
what you are going to say" he rejoined,
meeting her glance with one in which
she read something that made her tighten
her lips little.
"You have not kept your promise to
me"
~ might tell you that did not make
a promise. But that would only be true
in the letter, after all"
''rm glad you're honest, at least. I'ts
all can say for you. What has become
of your Wanted common e Use? Your
prudeucel Your long .headeIne You
know very we'll that you will be making
the greatest mistake of yoIr life if you
allow this Irritation to go on to its final
consummation. Felicia is the best little
creature in the world, but she suits you
about as well as dove an eagle" His
silence exasperated her into adding, with
some violence: ''What can you, with
your temperament, see in her anyway"
/ Houghton hssitated moment.
81 don't know" he said.
"Well, what do you propose to do2 |
can't allow you to daugle about the
child, giving her possible interest in
you which is not likely to eliminate ia
anything. She is not the sort of woman
care much for-as type. Yielding,
capable of limp heroisms but never
self-assertiou.- no, it is a type that stirs
one to no enthusiasm. But / shall not
see her trifed with. Come, what shall
you do2 In either case you see that your
self-interest and duty-if you care for
such an old fashioned coercion as the
last-are to 60"
81 have been telling myself that for
three weeks past. .
"Then in heavens name act upon 1t
Go to Mrs Chomley to-day and put
yourself beyond the possibility of COM
hitting any follies."
Women are astonishing. You propose
that should"
"Not offer yourself without prellmi-
naries no. But begin pursuit in that
direction in a way which eau leave no
room foe equivocation. Yon know she
would marry you Aud, logically, that
is the sort of marriage you should
make
Mrs. Blanscombe followed her guest
as he walked toward the door.
''Shall you go to Mrs. Chomley1" she
/ inquired, finally.
He stood for moment in the high
cool, dark room, with his hat ia his
hand, looking down.
/ eyes"
Mrs. Brauscombe reflected after he had
gone that he was the only man she had
known who could have said that without
being ignoble.
''Feiicial My poor child! Run for
the doctor, some one! Quick Quick !
There is no time to lose. There put
her down gently. Ny dear Mime. Cloze
you are not hurt, are you2 How
how did this happena"
! But the poor old French lady, with a
vanished front piece and shaken nerves,
was utterly unable to tell lucid story.
Mrs. Branscombe pieced such information
together as might be from her historic
phrases, between the sobs, and the short,
pertinent answers of the footman, who
stood, very white, before her, with the
sleeve of his coat torn.
The coachman had been instantly
killed.
"Who shall go for, madam DR..
Houghton?" asked one of the servants
voices out of the confusion.
Felicia, when Houghton arrived, half
an hour later, had not yet opened her
eyes, After an agony of suspense in the
silent room he raised his head with white
lips.
"a complicated fracture. An opera.
ton may be necessary.
"Oh, DOCTOR"
| Mrs. Branscombe felt as though ven.
geauce from Heaven had descended upon
her for her disloyalty to the daughter of
a,relative not so far removed.
She walked w md down her room,
refusing sedativr shuddering at every
step, at every ling and shutting of
doors. When could stand it no
longer she wen Town to the drawing
room, where + had been laid when
she was cafrlC inanimate, into the