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


very dear" she was thinking, rs she held
her sisters letter in her hand. Mrs Clyde
asked to see the letter and thought it was a
nice letter, though somewhat lachrymose.
'.That is the worst of JOAN" she said to
Miriam, smiling; ''she always looks on the
dark side of everything; from nsr letter
anyone would think you had been danger
ously i'll and not suffering from . slight
ailment."
''Yes," said Miriam, absently.
II wonder what she will wear at the
wedding?" continued Mrs. Clyde II
think, Miriam, we ought not put off going
to town longer than we can help now; we
must begin to prepare quite month before
the time"
Miriam did not speak.
SIT just wants Eve weeks to-day to your
wedding day, and I've written for various
patterns from town. wrote yesterday, and
I expect they will arrive tomorrow"
But Miriam, to Mrs Clyde's great annoy
ance, did not look interested. She sat with
eyes cast down and her hands clasped, and
when her mother left her, with certain
uneasiness at heart she could not suppress,
again Miriam sighed YEARLY.
"Five weeksi" she reflected, thinking of
her mothers words; 'just five weeks-then
he must know. I must warm him, cost
what IL may"
She went upstairs to her bedroom after
this, and having locked the door, she sat
down to write letter in haste and secrecy
"Hugh, dear Hugh" she penned with a
trembling hand, 81 must see you; are you
well enough to see me now? 1 am going
away from here soon, and I must see you
before 1 so. If you are well enough, will
you 20 out tomorrow night on the west
rampant at the back of our house about II
o'clock? I will use the old signal if I am
able to come, and at II o'clock will place q
is at the back Of the house. If this light is
extinguished, you will know it Is impossi-
BILE for me to see you that night; but come
the next, if this is so. 1 will inclose this
to DR.. Reed; and if you ask him am sure
he will give yon leave to so out; and when
you reply to this, address it to my maid,
Ford. If you are able and we'll enough to
meet me, just write I will be there, and I
shall understand. If you are not well
enough, write Not well enough but I
must see you before go. IN"
This letter she inclosed in one to Dr.
Reed. and addressed it to Private Dare,
And then, in q few guarded words, she
asked DIR. Reed to deliver it, and thanked
him for all his kindness She sealed the
letter to DR.. Reed, and then was again
compelled to intrust her letter to Ford.
She therefore rang for her, and Ford soon
appeared in her usual sprightly fashion.
Ford, want you to post another letter
for me, +" she said, nervously.
ITO DR.. Reed?" smiled Ford.
eyes," answered Miriam with sudden
blush, "and-and-Ford, when the an
swer comes it will be addressed to you, and
sdd!,y will you bring it to me quietly and at
''Of course, Miss Miriam," said Ford, de-
murely.
Now intrigue was dear to the soul of
Ford, but still that willy damsel considered
1t was not quite prudent for Miss Miriam to
be writing 10 the doctor when she (Ford)
had just been discussing the future Lady
wedding dress with Mrs
Clyde. It was "too committing" Ford
thought, but still, it was Miss Miriam's at
fair, not hers, and it would certainly give
her (Ford) a certain influence and power
over the future Lady MacKennon.
"And have to bring the answer to you,
Miss Miriam?" she said after a moments
"But how shall know the
letter.
'Do you get many?" asked Miriam
'T do get letters sometimes.
''Let me zee the addresses of those you
get during the next few days. and-and
will know the handwriting on the one that
is for me-" said Miriam.
eyes, that will be best. Oh, yes. I can
quite manage that, and if you will give me
the letter you want posted now, Miss
Miriam, I'll just slip out with it while you
are at dinner, Is I did the last time
'Thank you very much" said Miriam,
and the letter was at once transferred to
Ford's handy pocket, but Miriam was so
orI ba pdor
of the day that more than once Mrs. Clyde
looked at her with some anxiety.
Ford duly posted the letter, and it was
to Dr.. Reed on the following
morning, who carried it with him to the
hospital, and he then placed the inclosure
for Dare in his hand. The soldier, who
was up, slightly started and bit his lips as
he recognized the handwriting.
Excuse me, sir. he said, as he opened
The envelope. and the doctor turned away
TO allow him to read the letter in private.
But when he glanced at him again he saw
that Dare was greatly agitated. His face
had paled and his hands tremblsd, and he
was nervously gnawing his under lip, be-
"Sir," he began, addressing the doctor,
'swould you give me leave to quit the hos
pital today"
Today" repeated Dr. Reed, in sur
prise.
"Yes, to-day; want to be out for short |
time tonight, but late" v
"What do you call Iate?"
'tFrom II to r."
The doctor stared at him almost incredu- |
lously.
Sand do you mean to say that the young
adv wishes this?"
II cannot tell you, sir; please do not ask |
ne-but, but-the young lady says in this
letter that if am we'll enough she is sure |
hat you will give me leave to go out?"
"At II o'clock at night? You are we'll |
enough I dare say, but wish some trouble |
nay not come to the young lady about |
his"
'God knows trouble enough has come to |
her already" said Dare, impetuously. ooh! |
10 give me leave, sir-there are strong rea-
IONS am sure that should CO."
The doctor was silent for moment or
;wo, then he said slowly:
"Well, will give you leave, but you had
better make some e1cuse-say some rela-
ion has come to the place you are going to
Iee."
nuch-this must all seem very strange to |
you, doctor, butt cannot explain it.
"Of course you cannot. You knew the |
young lady in different circumstances, and |
The is generous enough not to forget this;
,ut you must be very careful for her sake"
II will try to be, sir"
The doctor then gaveDare leave to quit
he hospital, and lett, whistling softly to
himself
Poor Sir James 'MacKennonr' he was
thinking, as he had thought before; "poor
Sir James!'
He began to think also, could Miriam
Clyde intend to elope with the soldier?
That they had been and were lovers he was