The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-16
Nor First Pabiished.l
DIR. COLLECTS
BY WILLIAM WESTALL,
AUTHOR OF RED RYyINGToN," birch DENE.n ETC.
Copyright. 1898. By the Aufhor.l

he took occasional trips to America and the
continent. But whether OH land or sea. ct
thoughts. Beatrice's treachery had
perverted his originally fine nature.
and turned into q morbid misan-
thrope a man who beforetime had
never harbored IN evil thought against
O fellow creature, and in happier circum.
stances might have won fame. and been
eminent for goodness. Now no hated Be-
atrlce more than he had once loved her.
and dwelt continually on the thought OF
revenge. Yet though TO this end no re-
volyed in his mind many sehemes. he took
no active eteps towards their accomplish
ment. in part. perhaps. because his ener-
gies were impaired by the nervous shock
which he had sustained. and by drink. In
which he sometimes INDUCED TO success.
Moreover. the Darnleys lived In q world
so remote from his own that 1t was unlike
]y their paths would ever cross. Mover
theless. Collet firmly believed he should
meet them again, and that the opportunity
for which he Ion Red with savage eagerness
would come.
Some four years after what he called his
betrayal he accepted an invitation from an
old fellow student, with whom he had kept
up a desultory correspondence, To visit
hin at his country place 10 the French
Jura. Dr. LaDfrey. the gentleman In ques-
tiOn, lived in Paris, and had won fame and
fortune. Every autumn he made a long
sojourn in q beautiful chalet which he had
built for himself on q breezy height over
looking the valley of the Rbone.
Collet met with q warm welcome. and in
charming wife. ceased for a while his
morbid broodiDgs; his health, physical and
moral. greatly improved. and he became
more like his old self than he had been
since he left Clay bury.
His host. who was a good fellow, had
taken charge of the village doctors prac-
tice during his temporary absence. and
Collett accompanied Lanfrey on his
ROUNDS. but the mountain air was so pure
and the people SO hardy that there was
little for them to do.
One wet afternoon the two friends were
smoking their cigars and talking over old
times, when O servant entered the room
and said that Monsieur le Docteur was
urgently requested TO see An English
MILFORD, who was lying seriously i'll at a
village inn some three miles down the
valley.
"Who brings this message. Mariei" asked
DIR. Lanfrey.
"A man in a char-a-banc. and he wants
Monsieur TO return with him."
"A rough evening to turn out in" OBJ
served Lanfrey. obviously, 1T rains CONNIE
the matter with this gentleman.n
Let me 60" put in Collet. He is En-
glish. and You don't know English"
That is true. Very well-if you will be
SO good. And &c isn't far. You will drive
there in fifteen minutes. INT back in fifty;
and / can lend you o very excellent water
proof"
Collet put q small medicine case and a
case OF surgical lnstru ments into his pock-
ct. donned his friends very excellent wa
t~erDrOof and set out.
The man with the char-a-banc, who ad
been promised q pour-boire of ten francs il
he brought the doctor quickly. drove like
Jehu. the son of Nimshi, and they were at
the inn ten minutes after leaving the
chalet.
where is the sick manf" asked Collet.
as be dotted his dripping hat and Invested
himself of the waterproof.
This way. Will you give yourself the
trouble to come mp stairs. Monsieur 10 Doc
teurf' answered milord's courier, who was
lounging in the vestibule.
Collet followed the man, who ushered
him into a salon on the first floor. bowed
and withdrew. The mex moment q door
on the opposite side of the room opened
and admitted n lady.
"Yous etes Monsieur 10 D%ooteur" she OK.
planned, eagerly.
Collet recognized her at the first glance.
though as he had greatly altered and wore
a beard. and the room was dimiy lighted,
she did not recognise him..
Yes. i understand English" said be.
speaking thickly to disguise his voice.
so good of you to come. My husband,
Sir Guy Darnley. Is terribly i'll. He is bet
ter now. though a little while ago I
thought he would have died. We were on
our way to Divonne, but he was suffering
0O VIII Ou HCo I'LL
She opened the door by which she had
come in and led the way into the bedroom
adjoining the salon.
SIR Guy Darnley lay on a couch; his face
pale and drawn. his eyes hagqard and anx-
ious. his lips twItchinG.
Are You IN painf' asked Collet, taking
his hand and intently regarding him..
Not so much just now; but n few min
ntes since l thought | was dying. and If it
had lasted many seconds longer | sbould
have died. felt as though / were being
stabbed TO the heart; | could not breathe.
Can you do anything Doctorf Will it come
agsinF
81 hope not"
CoIlet made a gesture signifying that he
wanted TO have a word with Lady Darnley,
and returned with her TO the salon.
Were you aware that your husband
had organic heart diseased" asked Collet.
"Yes. SIR Dyce Dimsdale said SO two
years ago. He o~ver-exerted himself in O
rowing match"
And has he over-exerted himself to-
day"
helped to raise It-against my entreatiess
lie was always so proud of his strength"
We'll. his pride in this instance has
brought on On attack of angina p~ectoris.
one OF the worst msladies known. How
many paroxysms has he hadf"
Three"
"Yes.D
Aud ne Will have more"
"Oh. my poor Guy! But you don't mean
that he must def"
Unless something ia done ne will"
And you will do 70. Doctor, AT oncef"
"Why should | do III"
"Because-wbat do you meant"
Look at me-. Lady Darnley," said COLLECT.
In his natural voice. as he threw back the
hair which had fallen over his brow.
God help me- DIR. Collets"
~ es, i all the man whom You Tilted and
betrayed. TO whom you plighted your trotb,
and. in the presence of his rival. gave him
the lie"
but it could not have been. My father
wonld never have consented"
All. had that been all. Or If you had said
You had changed your mind; that you no
longer loved me. / could have borne it. But
TO be fooled and deceived, 10 De left in the
belief that you loved me. while you loved
another. and then to be told that l was
labcring under an illusion. which meant
thas i was lying"
"Oh. yes. / was very cruel and wicked
and did you a great wrong. admit il and
entreat Your forgiveness. But my has
band has done you no wrong"
"Ee was my successful rival. and grossly
insulted me-you remember the words-and
threatened me with personal violence"
They were spoken In anger. He did not
know. 1t was my fault. oh, John, forgive
me-"
Il told you the time would come. 1t is
come"
'fou don't want TO break my hearth
"lOu broke mine and wrecked nv life. |
would rather you had killed me outright
"0h. what can / dot see, / 60 down on
my knees TO Won. Must ha die3 Ia thera