The Meeker herald., 1892-05-28

the open doorway OF n small osteria
or public-house. Possibly the same
reason had drawn thither two other
persons, for n moment after my arri'
val. oy.rheard-thonsh on account
o! the darkness | could see nobody
the following conversation. spoken
low and in pure Italian, very different
from the ordinary Gcnoese dia-
lect;-
"And ioes hc still sink slowly. Maria'
asked one whom. from her voice,
Judged TO be an old woman.
'Yes grandmother. his liic is ebbin:
by slow and sure degrees. He would
have sent to-day for doctor. but ]
had little difficulty in iissuadins him;
he still believes, you know. that his
own medicines are better than those
oi the fraternity. How long will |, be.
grandmother. before the end is reach
ci!"
/; wns evidently n child tina, spoke.
md something in her voice and utter.
Hncc hindrrrd me awhil. from reflect
Ing tina, had no rieh, thus TO over.
hear this dialogue. was not so much
impressed ty her pr-cocious reference
to my profession. nor yet by the
strnnscn-ss OF her concluding qi-s ton,
hr by her Intense seriousness and n
sound oi smo,hrr-,l passion strangely
In contrast with the unripc treble.
The person addressed n ..rRndmo,h.
ar replied Immediately.
A couple of months at most. my
chili. IN tho meantime s,ill follow
implicitly :ay directions. | thank
lI,aycn'-,h. raised her voice aud,
felt. lifted her hand cmotionnlly
nbove her h-ad-",hnt Fate has
thrown again in my way this .aithlcsr
husband, this --lh.h---'
Here somebody opened the public
house door. and !. rous-i from my
interest and ashamed OF hnvin: play.
al 80 thouelitl.,-ly the -ay-rdropp-r.
lei, my shelter. probably without bc-
IN. perceived. | can tru,h.ully aver
that In the business o! the ensuing
days ion,o, tho convcrsntion thus
overheard.
A few weeks later. Will, n, break.
4s'. my lnndlaay announced
,itor, lie was n youn. Erslishmnn.
hor-y" appearance. and. though
~int tim. lie wore no livery.
III j-a him easily n, "a g-n,l-mhns
- On -utrrin: my room lac
.,-d his lint. and. uiihou; any
prciiminaric-. began;
doctor. I wish you would come to
the Hotel i- I.ondrc- aud have look
n; my master. Mr.. Roland I.ntrain-.
Hes been e-;'in. worse these last
four months; but. for the III. OF me.
can, make out whni nils him."
Naturally. asked Tor Few par,ir.
uiars abou; Mr.. I-airain-. III, reply
taught me that he was n fellow
coun;rymnn. o! high position and
considerable fortune, who som. time
before had come on vi.it to Italy.
and who. shortly after his arrival.
had been struck down by n strange
Hines. or. | should rather say. slew
wns;in. away OF vitality. learned
also ;hnt he himself. prcfcrrin; TO
utilize his own medical knowledge. had
not called tue in. but ,ha, his servant.
much frightened n. the continued
progress OF the m,lady. had taken tn.
responsibility OF so doing.
S,rnightwhy accompanying my visit
or. ! found Mr.. Lasrninc in bed a;
Hotel dc f.ondrc-. iIc mus. have
been ordinarily. n handsome. robust
man. but his incc was now heightened.
his color hectic. and his body cmncia-
ci-sympi oms evidently due to n lin
gcfinr disorder. Unexpected ns was
my visit. he submitted with good grace
TO hc examined and prescribed for.
But here came tho difficulty.
diagnosed him carefully, yet could find
no real seat OF disorder. inspected
the medicine lac had himself prepared;
i, was drau.ht composed principal.
ly oi herbs, utterly innocent II not
beneficial. The cause OF this mys'cr-
ious wnsting away bniilcd my closest
investigation. I thought 1t necessary
30 inquire into his surrounding.
Have you any friends in Genon,
Mr.. Lntrainc1" asked.
None was the reply. II came
hi,hcr. accompanied by my servant,
some siS months ngo. INV object being
business OF - private family nature.
Had not fallen Ill | should doubtlc-.
have made friends in pursuit of that
very business. My fret thought was
,hnt the change OF air had caused my
illness. and. naturally, took such
medicines ns believed capable OF for.
tifyinc me"
"rhcn you have nobody with you
but your scrvnnt2 Who is he?"
"Oh. John was born and brought up
on my estate. lie ia the honcs:est
fellow going but I have another
companion besides him-n little ftal'
inn maiden named Maria"
"Dd she also come over from Eng
lnnd?"
NO. no. me, her here, doctor. in
quite n romantic way. Hardly had ]
been n week Mt this hotel before little
Maria called on me. She has recently
been left nm orphan, you understand,
md stated herself to be quite des'i-
tutc and friendless; she possessed,
however. excellent testimonials from
the sisters OF n convent, and doubtless
thinking that was married. came to
SEQ III had n place for her in my
household. Struck byh quaint old.
fashioned courage and sclircliance.
engaged her Notwithstanding
my indefinitely determined marriage
and a treasure she has proved her.
self"
How old is she, Mr.. Latraine9" ]
asked.
"Not more than twelve"
"Now had reason for putting
these questions. n reason why my