The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-06-01
Rainforth's Case.
By WILL LIsENBEE.

"Thank heaven she is recovering!'
came from the woman beside the couch
1 turned to the girl.
II shall remain till after the docto
arrives, said. II should like to know
the extent of her injuries before return
to the CITY," l strolled out upon tn,
porch, leaving the two to care for thu
patient. l felt bewildered and dizzy
but the cool night air revived me.
It seemed like an age till the doctor
arrived, but when he at last came hi
found the patient fully restored to con.
seriousness. He remained half hour,
and when he came out said:
''She is asleep now and resting quiet
ly. She is not seriously hurt and will
recover in few days."
The woman who had admitted me to
the house came out as the doctor de.
parted.
"We are very grateful to you," she
said. "How fortunate that you brought
her here! This is her home. Poor dar-
ling! She has been walking in her sleep
again. It always happens when she is
in great trouble"
She was in great trouble then? The
words troubled me deeply.
Il am happy to have been of service
to her, Isaid. Il shall take the liber-
ty to call and inquire after her tomor
row. | h udcd her my card as l spoke.
Miss Dangerfield would be glad to
thank you for yoar kindness in person, ;"
she said.
Then took my departure and walked
the entire distance to my lodgings, hap
pier than | had ever been before in my
life.
On the following evening l called at
the villa. Miss Dangerfeld was almost
entirely recovered, the servant informed
me. She was in the drawing room and
would see me.
There was strange futtering of my
heart as l was ushered into her pres
ence. shall never forget the picture
she made as my eyes encountered her.
The curtains were closely drawn save
at the eastern window, and mellow
twilight pervaded the room. She sat half
reclining in an easy chair, her pale olive
cheek, touched with the faintest color
ing, resting against the crimson cushion.
A velvet wrapper of the palest gold en-
veloped her form with it's rich folds,
while the loose flowing sleeves half dis
closed her arms of ivory whiteness.
She arose as l entered and held out
her hand to welcome me. The touch of
her hand thrilled me with q strange de-
light.
II want to thank you, Mr.. Rainferth,
for your kindness last night, " she said
IN low, melodious voice as she re-
umed her seat. st was an unfortunate
,ircumstance-you were very kind p
She must have noticed the appealing
ook in my eyes, for she stopped abrupt
y, and for a moment a faint crimson
inged her cheeks.
''I-I hope you won't mention it, I
altered, hardly knowing what l said.
hope you are recovered
almost, she replied. II trust l
hall be as we'll as ever in a few days"
And then the topic was changed.
What 1 said and did during the few
minutes that remained can never
ell. The magnetism of her presence
made me forgetful of everything save
hat when went away had received
to call again.
l shall not give in detail all the Incl
tents that followed. Suffice it to say
hat soon became frequent visitor to
he Villa del Bargacco-such was the
lame of the villa in which Miss Danger
ield resided-and think I must have
been the happiest man in all Rome.
Miss Dangerfield, as l soon learned, had
ost her father only week previous to
ny meeting with her at the ruin. Isaac
angerfeld-such was her fathers
a wealthy New York bro
ler, who for several years had, owing to
ii health, been compelled to live abroad.
4 year before my arrival in Rome he
lad come there with his daughter Grace
md three servants and hired the Villa
lei Bargacco, intending to remain there
or two or three years at least.
One evening he had been found dead
n the drawing room. Heart disease
lis old malady-the doctors said, had ,
aused his death. There was, however,
small bruise upon his left temple, but {
IS this could not have caused death it
vas supposed to be the result of striking
is head against piece of furniture as
10 fell
AS the story was told to me it brought
ividly to my mind the strange dream, [
r vision, that had visited me in the
tudio at that very time. Had it really I
as had seen it? Had some 7
ne entered the room and struck Isaac @
as had appeared in my t
ream? Had there been murder done? n
SO. who was the murderer? These c
1oughts and many others came to my n
lind as reflected over the incident.
Having no living relative now. Miss c
cared little where she made
or home. Her old and trusted serv- 1
nts were with her, and she had decided n
spend few months at the Villa del e
argacco, then return to New York. n
AS the days went by great happi C
ess came into my life. She whom /
orshiped with my whole soul loved me n
she had promised to be my wife! 1t a
'emed that the very heavens had 81
cen opened to me as the sweet words 7
confession came from her lips. How
IN l ever describe the happiness that g
as mine in the days that followed?
Shall ever be able to fathom the
ystery that surrounds the events that n
llowed? Heaven only knows. But
cd grant that l may, and that the :
ladow may be lifted from her life.
ore than once she had told me of the l
Oh DO hat l.,xy 1,o, u
lie had made solemn promise to her te