The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-10

way. He actually wanted to make me |
promise never to see you again. When / |
refused his rage was really awful l am |
sure he is going mad. l have not been |
allowed to leave my bedroom all day. Isn't |
1t too absurd? But l cannot endure this |
tyranny any longer. l have quite made
up my mind to leave him. shall 20 and
live with Aunt Mary, who has often
promised me home. 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 10 go tomorrow morning at IL CLOCK
to see Dr. Keith Jefferies, the great nerve
doctor. Father says he shall drive me
there himself and call for me again IN an
hour. This is to make cure that hold no
communication with you. Did you ever
hear anything so childish? 1t serves me
right to hoist him with his own petard, so
YOU must be 10 the doctors waiting-room
at little before II. aud then we can nave
three-Quarters of an hours quiet converse
ton. My maid, who is a very good girl,
and who will accompany me TO my Aunt
Mary's, is to post this. Yours ever.
SYLVIA BULPETT.
Harley street. Don be late"
This was Sydney's first glimpse OF the
tragedy Of life, in the shape OF parental
barbarsm. 1t Overcame alm Tor mo-
ment MY poor Sylvia, be murmuTeu.
Then he pulled out his watch. Nine
twepty-seven! BE swallowed cup OF
scalding coffee. without milk or sugar. ana
looked at his watch again: Nine twenty
eight! 1.-THE old brute! he muttered,
walking I'D and down the room, Il always
said il would come TO this. L snOulu just
like to- Out came the watch once more
He seized his hat and rushed from the
room.
The nat was a concession to custom, out
the morning was warm. 1t was much 100
| soon to go TO her. so he ran three times
round St. James Park TO quiet MS nerves.
| Then he sIackened his pace and fell 10 re-
viewing the position more calmly.
| AFTER all it's perhaps the best tnlng thau
! could happen" was his conclusion. aunt
Mary. is not friendly with the OLD wretch'
! Aunt Mary will help me. We will be mar
ried from Aunt Mary's. suppose sha!i
| have to arrange this runnlng away, anu !
will be good fun, for OLD Bull ett wo1iu
show fight il we came across him. he
would crafty his bloodthirsty INSTINCTS
and shoot me like dog! What snouid L
do? / could not strike her father!
He proceeded 10 develop the situation In
various ways, and succeeded ID creatlnS
| himself very fine role, indeed, IN Whlch
he should be the maiden's savior from a
brn,al parents rage, and at the same tine
spare the old mon's gray hairs. Az ha'i-
past 10 he FASTENED to the great doctors
and rang the bell. A man servant. pre-
spnting the usual combination OF butter
and undertaken, opened the door.
Have you an appointment. SIT!
NO, | must take my chance.
II am afraid you will have to wait some
time air. there are already a good many
here"
1T doesn't matter: am in no hurry"
replied Sydney, incoherantly. lie was
shown into the waiting-room. where a
| dozen or so Of felIOw-creatures were col
lected. Most Of them were young ladies',
for Dir. Keith-Jefferies was favOrite with
the sex. and they all had that air of dreary
self-a absorption peculiar TO the self-cen-
tered invalid. They turned cold, listless
| gIances upon the newcomer, and then re.
sumed their reflections upon their own
real or fancied ailments. masked by an
| unread Punch or a Nineteenth Century
held before their faces.
"Oh, 1t is so very annoying" said one
yivaclous lady, obviously malade i'm
apjnaire "and it always happens. | for
get all the most serious symptoms the
moment | got into the doctors consulting
room. This time i have written them al
ont upon sheet or paper. Dear-dear
Which pocket did /? Oh, how very uu-
fortunate! have left it on my dressing.
table, thought must see 1t there. Ho"
extremely irritating.
The door opened and the undertaken
crooked CHASTITY finger in her direction
She arose and rustled out, giddily muir
muriDg that it was really too provoking
And the others smiled bitterly smile
which plainly said: "There's nothing The
matter with the old goose, bat she vii
keep DIR. Jefferies terrible time"
But in less than five minutes she reap
peared pale and fearful, with one hanC
pressed against her side. bleating to he
astonfshed friend: "Ob, take me away
dear-taks me away. On, it is dreadful
though have always suspected it from
the very first" A deeper gloom settled
upon the remaining patient. and Sydnel
could not repress a glow OF satisfaction a.
he reflected upon his own excellent health
Presently Sylvia glided in, looking thu
picture of health ana spirits. She was verl
Young, almost too young 10 be martyr Il
the sorrows she described to Sydney, a
thew took possession of q remote windov
embrasure She told him that she reall!
could not bear it. Her resolution was un
shaken. She had written to her Aun
Mary TO expect her that night Sydne,
must have carriage at the garden gate a
9 o'clock In the evening, when she and be
maid would be waiting. Her stern paren
would by that time. she surmised, hav
dined not wisely, but too well, ana wonl
: be In no condition 10 detect their flight
They were then to drive to Paddingto1
and catch the last train to Exeter. wher
b., Aunt Mary lived.
0 So far Sylvia, who was clear-headed
managing young lady. had arranged an
= her plan of campaign seemed to Sydne
quite excellent. He promised readily
8 fulfill his share of the business and the
L took occasion to urge that, as he was bot
!. able and anxious TO prepare home tC
!, her, the sojourn at her aunt's need be onl
d temporary one.
n Sylvia listened. reflected and shook he
s head.
. zone thing at once" said she, wisel!
+ ''When | am safe at Aunt Mary'S theI
T will be time 10 talk about the tutur
o Don't forget o'clock this evening.
9 depend upon you. Oh, l must 60. I'll
!. doctor is at liberty" And at the funere;
l. beck Of the under aker she vanished.
= Sydney was left in the wsiting-roon
but his excitement and ecstasy was sue
o that he could scarcely behave with s.
G briefly. A golden future lay before hin
:, His pulses throbbed as if to music, |
n dreamed roSe-coOred dreams.
}, The undertaken, coming to summon I'll
IS dreamer to the doctors presence. had
touch him on the shoulder before ha too
!. apy notice. and even then he folio we
quite mecha ieally, mutterlng and smilir
to himself in quasi idiouc way.
"Well, sir, what can do for yOu?"
- A grave, cIsau-shaved keeD-lOOking ms
, sitting at desk was cycling him with Il
closest observation and it dawned upC
him that he was in for u serious consult
tion-he who mad never had days illne
Id -