Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-07-18
SENTENCE OF DEATH.


had another frightful scene with father
this morning. He got into terrible pas
sion simply because l happened to mention
your name in the most innocent way. He ac-
tually wanted me to promise never to see you
again. When refused, his rage was simply
nwful. I am sure he is going mad. have not
been allowed to leave my bedroom all day.
Isn't it too absurd? But l cannot endure this
tyranny any longer. have quite made up my
mind to leave him. l shall go and live with
Aunt Mary, who has often promised me
home. l must see you first however, and
this is my plan. All the fearful strain and
worry about you with father has made me so
irritable and uncertain tempered lately that
he is sure there is something wrong with me,
and am to go tomorrow morning at IL O'Clock
to see DR.. Keith-Jefferies, the great nerve doc
tor. Father says he shall drive me there HIM
self and call for me again in about an hour.
This is to make sure that hold no commune
cation with you. Did you ever hear anything
SO childish? 1t serves him right to hoist him
with his own petard, so you must be in the
doctors waiting room at little before H. and
then we can have three-quarters Of an hours
quiet conversation. My maid who Is very
good girl and who is to accompany me to my
Aunt Mary's, is to post this. Yours ever,
SYLVIA BULPETT.
P. S.-Keith-Jefferies' address is No. = Har-
ley street. Don't be late.
This was Sydney first glimpse of the
tragedy of life i'll the shape of parental
barbarism. 1t overcame him for mo-
ment my poor Sylvia" he muir
INJURED. Then he pulled out his watch.
Nine twenty y-seven. He swallowed a
cup of scalding coffee without milk and
sugar, and looked at his watch again.
Nine twenty-eight. '"The old bruteG'
he muttered, walking up and down the
room 81 always said it would'come to
this. I should like to- Ont came the
watch once more. Nine twenty nine.
He seized his hat and rushed from the
room.
The hat was o concession to custom,
but the morning was warm. It was
much too soon to go to her, SO he ran
three times to and from the park to
quiet his nerves. Then he slackened his
pace and fell to reviewing the position
more calmly.
'After all, it's perhaps the best thing
that could happen, % was his conclusion.
"Aunt Mary is not friendly with the
old wretch. Aunt Mary will help me.
We will be married from Aunt Mary's.
/ suppose I shall have to arrange the
running away. and it will be good fun,
for old Bulpett would show fight if we
came across him. He would crafty his
bloodthirsty instincts and shoot me like
dog. What should do? Lcould not
strike her father.
He proceeded to develop the situation
in various ways and succeeded in Great
ing for himself very fine role indeed in
which he should be the maiden's S savior
from brutal parent rage and at the
same time spare the old mans gray
hairs. At 1890 he hastened to the great
doctors and rang the bell. A man serv
ant, presenting the usual combination
of butler and undertaken, opened the
door.
''Have you an appointment, sir?"
'No l must take my chance.
81 am afraid you will ha--- to wait
some time, sir. There are already a
good many here"
''It doesn't matter. l am i'll no
hurry" replied Sydney incoherently.
He was shown into the waiting room,
where a dozen Or so fellow creatures
We're collected. \ vt of them were
young ladies, for D ,ith-Jefferies was
favorite with the SEX and they all had
that air Of dreary self absorption pecul-
lar tc the self centered invalid. They
turned cold, listless glances upon the
newcomer and then resumed their refec-
tions upon their own real or fancied all
ments, masked by an unread Punch or
a Nineteenth Century held before their
faces.
''Oh, it is so annoying" said one
vivacious lady, obviously malade i'm
aginaire, ''and it always happens for
get all the most serious symptoms the |
moment get into the DOCTORS consult
ing room. This time I have written |
them all out on a sheet of paper. Dear,
dear! Which pocket did L Oh, how
very unfortunate! l have left it ON my
dressing table. I thought I must see it |
there. How extremely irritating"
The>door opened, and the undertaken |
crooked ghostly finger in her direction.
She arose and rustled out, giddily mur-
muring that it was really too provok-
ing. And the others smiled bitterly a
smile which plainly said, 'There's
nothing the matter with that old goose,
but she will keep Dr.. Jefferies a terrible |
time
But i'll less than five minutes she re- |
appeared, pale and fearful, with one
hand pressed against her side, bleating |
to her astonished friend: ooh, take me |
away, dear, take me away! Oh, it is
dreadful, though have always suspect
ed it from the firstl'' 4 deeper gloom d.
settled upon the remaining patients, and !
Sydney could not repress a glow Of sat
isfaction as he reflected upon his own !
excellent health.
Presently Sylvia glided i'll, looking :
the picture Of health and spirits She |
was very young, almost too young to /
be martyr to the SORROWS she described !
to Sydney as they took possession Of
remote window embrasure. She told
him that she really could not bear it.
Her resolution was unshaken. She had
written to her Aunt Mary to expect her
that night Sydney must have a car ;,
riage at the garden gate at o'clock in
the evening, when she and her aunt
would be waiting. Her stern Iarent
would by this time, she surmised, have
dined mot wisely, but too WELL" and
would be in no condition to detect their
flight. They were then to drive to Pad
dington and catch the last train for Ex-
eter, where Aunt Mary lived. /
So far Sylvia, who was clear head
ed, managing young lady, had arranged,
and her plan Of campaign seemed to
Sydney quite excellent. He promised
readily to fulfill his share of the bust
ness and then took occasion to urge that
as he was both able and anxious to pre-
pare home for her the sojourn at her
aunt's need be only temporary one.
Sylvia listened, reflected and shook
her head. ''One thing at once, J." said
she wisely. "When am safe at Aunt
Mary's, there will be time to talk about
the future. Don't forget, 8 o'clock this
evening. I depend upon you. Oh,
must go! The doctor is at liberty" And
at the funereal beck of the undertaken