Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-22
COPYRIGHT BY AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1894
CHAPTER TX.
WHO SHE WAS.

But in saying this, " the physician
continued, 81 want you distinctly to
understand that she is still i'll very
delicate state. This examination must
be conducted judiciously, and it must
stop at the first symptoms ON her part OF
undue agitation or excitement. At the
same time l am going to be perfectly
frank with you, Julian, and confess that
1 am more afraid of you than of the
strength of the "reminiscences. This wild
eyed exhilaration in which you Occa-
! sionally indulge is as communicative to
| a nervous temperament as the measles.
Your principal fault is that your pulse
rises too quickly. That will do now.
| They're coming.
! There was a knock at the door.
''Coming!" echoed Maxey. why
| didn't you tell me so at once?"
His chief trouble at this moment was
| his hair and his necktie, the first of
which had risen in combative manner,
while the second somehow had arrived
| at a decidedly demoralized condition.
Maxey had time only to make one or
two frantic dashes ut each when the
| door leading from the little vestibule to
the back parlor was pushed open and
| playful voice said:
May we come in"
The artist was Il trifie confused by the
suddenness of the arrival and blushed
like a girl, all of which several symp-
toms on his part amused the philOsophic
physician very much. But Maxey was
an artist, and he soon forgot his embar-
rassment in his admiration of the pic
ture that was presented to him. The
two girls stood in the doorway with
their arms about each other. Miss Dye
had already regained her color, and her
eyes sparkled with the return of health.
They We're about of a size and both
We're dark, but there was enough differ
ence in their faces still to make an effect
i've contrast. Even Lamar, who was not
an artist, was aware that his heart was
beating a trifie faster, but like most of
his deeper emotions this was fact
known only to himself.
Shall we sit here on the sofa?" Ellen
asked
''Sofa? No. Here, here Let her sit
here by the window" cried Maxey,
where she can see the river. -
why, the ungrateful rascal already
has eyes for only one, and she, except
from a medical point of view, the least
interesting, " thought Lamar.
Still he ought to have been content
for this forethought of Maxey's permit
ted him to take chair near his own
preference.
Maxey sat beside his easel in posi-
tiOn from which he could look into the
faces about him.
Annette was just beginning to get
sufficiently used to her new friends and
her new home to be easy and natural in
their presence. Her shyness had been
wonderful, and it had taken a long
time to conquer it But now she sat
easily and gracefully by the window,
faint smile ON her parted lips, enjoying
the boundlCss prospect. MaXey gazed
upon her with undisguised admiration.
GU are looking so much better to-
day, Miss Dye, " he said in burst of
enthusiasm.
Il am glad to hear that, " she replied,
with look of pleasure. cit makes me
begin to hope that the time is not far
away when 1 shall be strong and able
to go to work at something and in some
faint way repay you all for your great
kindness. -
She glanced furtively at Maxey's
sketch. The artist observed the look
You like art?''
''In my poor way, yes, but know so
little about it. They were foolish
enough once to fancy had talent for
drawing learned what 1 could from
books. A good lady who had been visit
ing my mother noticed some little
sketches l had made, and she was so
pleased with them that she promised to
give me lessons. She was very kind, was
she not? Perhaps 1 might have learned
to make pleasing picture, but 1 lost
her as [ lost every friend ever had. P"
A painful expression drove away all
at once the brightness and animation in
Annette's cOuntenance. She turned her
head to hide her tears. This little scene
filed Maxey with CONSERVATION, and
even the loyal Ellen felt momentary
suspicion. The doctor alone remained
perfectly calm. He spoke, and his rich
strong voice had a consolation for all
three of his hearers:
but this same lady afterward wrote
you letter, did she not?''
"a letter? No, sir. -
Every recently, I meant
Annette instantly became pale. She
spoke in low voice and with an express
sion which gave them all chill at the
heart, for at that moment they saw the
face which had looked forth from the
little bed in the alcove room. Fortunate
ly it was only the expression of an in
slant If it had lasted longer, Dr.. Lamar
would certainly have broken up the con-
ference. But it was evidently only the
transient result of the shock to mind
which finds itself suddenly brought face
to face with forgotten horror.
Eyes, yes" she said in faint voice.
81 remember it now. She wrote to me. -
Her name was Hapgood?" continued
the physician after pause.
She looked at him little bewilder-
ingly and in some degree regained her
color.
81 am surprised at your knowledge,
but of course you know all about it.
Why not? You have probably seen
N.Y. She hesitated and finally said,
''Mr. Dye
The physician in his calm manner
asked another question:
lis there any reason why this Mrs
Hapgood should hate your"
Hate me? What dreadful ideal She
was the soul of kindness was so little
to her indeed that L was quite sure she
must have forgotten all about me. Ours
was only the acquaintance of three days
at the Somerset hotel, where my mother
took me, and two years have passed since
then"
"She is very old lady," put in Max
ey. Undoubtedly that is the explana-
ton. She forgot her-at least 50 much
that the name Annette recalled nothing.
1t is perfectly possible. When you got
the letter which you supposed came from
her, you thought it was very strange,