New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-03
MRS. KEATS BRADFORD.
XXI.
CONCLUSION.


Rowena occupied every moment. If there
came brief space of time that not crowded
full she was frightened at the gloomy intensity
of the feelings that came to her. But she was
perfectly calm.
She mended and sewcd for the boys constantly
When George Townshend demonstrated, the reply
was that mother would have done So"
One day the doctor called upon some pretence
He stood hesitating in the ROOM Finally he said :
Il don't often volunteer prescription. ven
ture TO do so now. Mrs. Bradford, go away. Go
away
Having said this he abruptly left the house.
Rowena needed such command The hour at
last came when she stood the step of her old
house She had just been through the empty
rooms. She had turned the key in the door and
held it in her hand
IL was the very last of April In the country
at such time there are many hints of the glory
and loneliness TO come The world is about to
be TRANSPORTED. Everything was sweet with
promise. Grief and troubles, and battle were no
more q part of the universe.
The woman as she stood there was asking her
self why she should leave it all. Why not stay
on? What should it matter to her where she was
George Townshend came hurrying down the
road with shawl on her head.
Jimll be right here" she said. 81 sh'll miss
M III be sure to send anything that comes from
Sarah Kimbal"
Presently Jim came along with his best horse
and carriage. lie had taken the trunks early IN
the morning.
Rowena gave her friend the key
Il mean to be here by July. when the boys VIII
have their vacation" she said.
The two women kissed each other. The horse
went smartly down the road.
When she was in the train Rowena took from
her satchel letter 1t was the last one she had
written TO Keats, the one which told OF her
mothers death She had found it in one of
Nathan Henry's pockets He had calculated TO
mail il but had entirely forgotten to do so. Then
he had begun to wear another jacket. and the
matter had entirely slipped by. Besides 1t was
only letter.
He does not know" repeated Rowena TO herself
as the train sped onward
Mrs Ferdinand Foster could mot bear TO wri'e
letters" She had told them at home that they
need not expect to hear often from her
Perhaps it was for this reason that those az
home did not know where to address her' Anu
nerhaps Rowena ought not TO have been so sur
prsed when as she was pushing open the door
~ the ladies room in the station at the foot OF
Summerst.. some one should seize her and kiss
her eXuberantly. :.
tunnvp We've Just this minute left the train from
NewYork. This is my husband, Roweny. guess
Won know him. with laugh. Then as the two
shook hands, she asked. And how did you leave
mother?' ,-.r
Put as the words left her lips, Sarah Kimball'
now noting her sisters face, paled with sudden ter
ror. She caught fierce hold of Rowenas arm
WHAT" she cried in a whisper
Mother is dead"
la p,ty it,-p aOnc
n her on the instant She put her arm around
Sarah Kimball. who seemed TO he COINS to fail.
We tried 10 find you" she said hurred!y.
Ferdinand Foster dropped his satchcl and his
cane. lie tried TO support his wife But she
pushed him away.
Don't make a scene here" sternly said Rowena.
She had never liked Fcrd Foster" so well as
now when she saw his face as he bent over Sarah
Kimball
Don't be hard on me- Rowena!' cried Mrs
Foster
At this moment a mans voice was heard caIiinS
ont Express train for New-York. stopping only
at -" go
Rowena started. Some resolutions came ike
flashes Of lightning, though they may have been
long on the way
Il am Going she exclaimed. mo! No! Dear
little sister, won't be hard on you"
She kissed the pretty but row contorted face
She walked swiftly down the platform AS She
won, she mechanically flung a fold Of her long
cloak over Marmaduke. who was under her arm
Refore five minutes were gone the conductor was
usherng her into a drawing-room car nhe BAT
down in a chair. The train pulled OUT OF lhe
station Rowena put her hand TO her hcau. one
was thinking that there was no reason why She
should not 20 70 New-York Still she knew II was
no, merely 10 that city that she was going. There
of
purpose shaped itself with perfect cearness within
ten minutes
Al the irst stopping place she telegraphcd BACK
m her bankers in Boston She might as well nave
remained and gone 10 ROyles before starting. buV
no she was glad she had not delayed She was
clad She had started There would be no harm III
waiting over a day or two in New-iork she "ouiu
buy few things for her journey. She "ouiu Se'
q basket apparently for lunch. nut really ioi -'i
,naduke She would need all her wits to ala her
in smuggling him through; and she might ho'
succeed The attempt would be somewhat e'i2io''
sing however. Other dogs might be pun III INV
bapoage car bnt this terrier was not merely uoe'
Yes she was thankful that she had something "
engross her.
She tried 70 look very noncbalant. bnp hci
heart beat uncomfortably. She wished 10 aPPo"i
10 her fellow-passengers if she had long Deeh
meditating upon TINS Journey u -'o"io
preparing for IT,
Did any one look at her suspiciously, as II eile
were doing anything strange? She put on sun
more careless expression. She gazed from the VIII
dow. not seeing anything She was really conscious
only of the pulses which beat all through her one
bought novel Of the first boy who came WIN tneh
piled upon his arm. She told him TO select Tor hei
one OF his best. She held it in her mana ana
occasionally turned its leaves But through "'e
entire journey that afternoon she did hoo eve"
know the title. Later, when she found the volume
in her satchcl a blush rose 10 her face that she
should have touched such thing. And yet they,
and such AZ they are piled high at every station