The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-06
COpYRIGHTED. lsa8 81 TILLoTsoN 3 soN.
CHAPTER XXI.

shrunk-shrmk 20 literally skin and bone.
His face, which had always been small,
was smaller and thinner than ever but in
exact proportion as his body dwindled his
spirit. ever too large and absorbing for
the cramped tenement in which it tempo
rarily dwe!t, expanded and shone.
Langley had arrived the evening before,
and had never since left him. He recog-
nized with deep grief that the brother
who had been SO dcar-dearer than one
who had euErosscd less attention and
care-was fast slipping away into the I'M
seen world. and that no aid nor skill could
retain him many days. Mrs. Bruce had
been induced to rest and nature, over
wearied, was taking its revenge. Though
nearly eleven she had not descended.
Il wish. Hugh you would try and take
this little drop of beef tea said Lang
lev. turning the contents of a saucepan
into a small cup. DO, dear, if only TO
please me-
Hugh drew back and motioned his
brother-gentle in manner as any woman
though Langley had n-impatiently
aside
Il can't take it; don't worry me, Lang
ley l will have peace from trying to
swallow food 1 detest till die. o, Lang
lev, why did you not find Nelly-my
Nellyi'' he cried, with sudden OutburSt.
"If had Your strength, your power, do
YOU suppose I would dave slept day or
night until I had unearthcd herr There
has always been my hideOus defOrmity to
burden and keep me back, but that will
be dropped soon and | shall know, too,
where she has been
Would to God. dear Hughie, that any
exertions of mine could have unraveled
the mystery that shrouds our darling
your love and mine. -
Then, Langley. you-you don't know a
word really of where our Nelly isN' burst
IN Hugh, with his shrill piping II al
ways said you did not. Lots of the peO-
pie in Slackaby will have il that Nelly
was with you.'
"A baser SANDER was never uttered
How could people so misiudge met Nelly
did not even care for me that way.
=
Have you had anything to do with
Leah Dawsons disappearance asked
Hugh, curiously.
Has she disappeared, too2" asked
langley in surprise.
she has gone, but her parents know
where she is They had a letter the
other week. and she told them she was
married TO you. Clara Boyd came here
ABOUT it. She cried and so did mother
too but laughed at them, and said ii was
a tale
LAS it was dear Hughie Slackaby
seems TO give me an invincible character
for attractiveness and charm with its
ladies' | can truly say | was quite unpre-
pared for this stupid gauche old fellow
that am. never loved but Nelly, and
since ! lost her-Or rather never won
her-I have stuck to my business assidu-
ously with hardly thought beyond.
did try to trace Nellys disappearance for
a few months, but had nothing TO go on,
anC gave up hope"
You should not, Langley She is
alive and needs help somewhere"
Hugh spoke with a startling assurance
that had its effect on Langley. He nearly
divulged the encounter he had had in
Lodon with Mark on the previous day
One look az Hugh's unduly excited coun-
tenance checked him.
suppose, dear boy, we talk of other
things and forget Nelly just now, as our
conversation cannot restore her. | will
read you your favorite chapter in St.
John, and"
No no; l must talk of Nelly Don't
you see it's the uncertainty of her fate,
added TO that nasty attack of bronchitis l
alone-that has killed me Not but what
am willing to die if mother would not
take on so about il, and If | could hear
positively where my Nelly is. No,
should be glad TO 20 then, because | shall
be as straight and upright as you Lang
ley, and as true, too, as l now know you
are"
"A great deal better than I, my poor,
long-sutfering Hugh said Langley, try
/, Ii
ton.
u want to be exactly like you. Per-
haps ! shall be But, oh it is hard to die
and not know where Nelly has been all
this long, long time I'm sure she would
not have forgiven me and kept me in ig-
norance Tiff she could have helped
itn
you said yourself, dear Hughie, that
you would know all about her-sOon, -
said Langley. soothingly.
Yes, but l should like to tell all of YOU
If could only have another dream-a
vlSiOn-One of my revelations as l call
them I should be satisfied
Once more il occurred to Langley S
brain to disclose to Hugh the conversa-
tion he had had with Mark Boyd the pre-
vious day-but though he was on the
wings of Impotence to trace up the clue
he had but little expectation of discover
ing Nelly in the dying inmate of a hos
pital. Still, sad as it would be. it was in
the range of possibility that it might be
she. Should he tell Hue3 He conquered
the inclination. Had his information
been definite he would have felt justified
in rufliiug his brothers. uncertainty by
disclosure. What was the use of rousing
an agitation which ne had no authority L
queQ
Perhaps if you would try and get a
little slumber, Hugh, you might dream, 3
suggested Langley. 1t seems more than
likely TO me that you will have your
wish IN respeat to Nelly satisfied be
fore-the end"
ooh, ] wish l might" said the poor
cripple. wistfully Il am very tircd-sC
ry-and l ache all over l think viii
try
langley moved him gently, arranged
his position more comfortably, saw that
he was at ease. and left him. He meant
10 take watch thatno one disturbed HIM
He stole back on tip-tOe to place a LITTLE
hdnd-bell near Hugh side-saw that he
was asleep already-and then returned L
the front parlor
He was buried in his thoughts-grici
at Hugh's approaching end disturbing
him very little more than the news he had
just heard-the blight on his reputation
it had been his intention to return to
town as quickly as possible on the earliest
opportunity, and search into Mark Boyd s
report. None were more anxious than he
to recover Nelly-as much for Hugh s
sake perhaps as his Own-nOt that ne