The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-08-12
CHAPTER XNVI.


return. and Mary's term Of eighteen
baths was accomplished: but she would
not leave Pcrdita till all the arrange
ments were over, and news had come
that the sad unattended funeral had
taken place at Stafford.
Mr. Lowell was in no condition to
travel quickly. and DR.. Schafhaus
strongly urged that he should not be
disturbed in any way until he had
somewhat recovered from the StupOr
into which de seemed to have sunk.
1t was Jack who made every arrange
mCnt-to whom Perdita appealed for
help as she would have done to Il
brother.
jacques was travelling in Spain, and
it seemed probable that the letters
were following him from place to
place.
Lady Amino was consolcd in lcav-
inn Pcrdita by her assurance that he
would come to Rcdicld the very mo-
mcnt he heard Of what had happened
Dita drove down to the station to see
them off, and on the way she could
hardly suppress her tears. They had
nearly half an hour To wait in the new.
highly-varnishcd sale d'attente. and
1he felt as If every moment were d re-
prieve. Lady Almine made her prom
Use To write often. and to let them know
her plans. and how poor Andrew went
on: and the three girls kissed and en-
braced each other warmly.
The little tinkling bell began at last =.
and the large German train rolled into
the station.
II have never thanked YOU. | have
not known how 10 thank YOU, said
Perdita. a. Lady Armine pressed her
in her arms
God bless you, my dear child.
Good-by."
They were hurried of TO take their
places, and she could no longer see
Jack waving his hat out oft he window
Then she went sadly back tothe chalet
Andrew was always sitting in the
veranda among the OleanderS. Per-
dita used 10 light his little carved pipe
and give il to him. but it always went
out and he laid il down. She was
frightened at hi, apathy. and longed
eagerly for Iaqucs to come.
Then about the end of August the
weather changed. one night Pcrdita
was awakened by the roar of the wind
which came rushing through the val
ley: it was 50 wild and loud that she
rose up and stole in Andrews room to
soc if he also was awake. No. he was
sleeping heavily without movements:
and sho wont back to her room and
with some difficulty succeeded in clos
ing the shutters firmly.
The next morning the valley was full
Of clouds which lay in white solid
masses along the sides of the hills. and
the trees were bending almost double
in the storm. All the gayly-drcssed
people disappeared from garden and
balconies, the band sounded family
from within the kurhaus, and the
shattered flowers Of the oleanders
@trCwed the walks
Andrew was driven indoors, and sat
bending over his desk, vainly trying
to write letters.
For two days the wind blew and the
valley was thick with clouds, then it
went down suddenly. and Il thick pelt-
ING rain began 10 fall necessarily. They
were chilled with the damp; and Bad
field was 50 completely summer place
that there were no means Of warming
the rooms.
NJ last Andrew. to Dita's great de
light. said that he wished to 90 home
The very fact of his expressing wish
was something gained. Jacques had not
been heard of. but Dita knew that he
often travelled without leaving his adj
dress, and though distressed she was
not surprised. She made every ar
IangCment: and on one day. still more
wet and dreary than usual. they babe
adieu to Badfcld. and started on their
long Journey to Bale.
Dita felt her spirits rise as they
emerged from the valley into the open
country. gradually. as they left the
mountains behind them. getting into
finer weather. They did not reach
Bale till night. and Andrew was so tired
and worn out that Dita was afraid to
push on their journey as she had in
tended, and devised with the courier a
rOut 10y which they would best shorten
the travelling for each day. The first
day to TroyeS, the second to Sens. the
third to Paris.
They reached Troyes late on Satur-
day night, and Andrew went at once
to bed. Dita hoped that by resting
thcrc on Sunday he would be able to
20 on Monday. but she was disappointed.
The next morning he was unable TO
rI~" from his bod, and suffered from
violent pains in the head and limbs
The hotci was but an od-fashiOned
inn, the upstairs rooms opening into
an opcn-air gallery on wooden pillars
which ran all round the little square
courtyard. The rooms were quiet
and clean. but very few travellers seemed
to pass through Troycs; and Dita felt il
would he terribly lonely ii Andrews
indiepoeition increased to a severe
illness
She sent for the doctor. who had
nothing to recommend but a soothing
pri~an" and patience. And she could
only sit by Andrew. bathing his brow.
and soothing him, and feeling very
helpless and discOn.Olatc.
ON saturday afternoon. two DAYS
after the Loveis had left Badfcld. Sir
Edward Norton arrived there with
Lady Norton and Miss Grey They
had heard from Jack Lee Aston of
poor Nannie's death. and Lady Norton
had come to Badfcld full Of kind inten-
tions toward Pordita. and they were
all disappointed To find that they had
gone. DR.. Schafhaus told them that
he thought they would go very slowly
home. for that Mr. Lowell was in very
low. weak state. And in hope of over
taking them, they pursued their jour
nry to Bale
Sir Edward found out privately from
the hotel manager that the Lovels had
gone on 10 TroyeS; and as his mother
and cousin wished to see the sights of
Bale he professcd an extreme desire
10 visit the old churches at Troyes and
went oft by himself. and promising to
rejoin them at Paris or at Fontaine-
hleau, which they had also wished to
include in their tour.
He travelled AL Monday afternoon.
and arrived at the hotel. walking from
the station with a porter 10 carry his
portmanteau. 1t was a beautiful moon
light night. and as he came into the
little courtyard, he found all the serv-
ants of the inn sitting round a table
eating a savOry potage aux croutons.
He began by asking for a room, and
was taken into the open gallery up
stairs bv the tussy landlady, who never