Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-11-08

again, IIester?" murmured Mrs. Bar
rington, as she leaned over her sister
bed.
"Susan. | must not look forward e
it. 1t will be ten years, you say, be-
fore you come over again, and ther
you hope to come for good; but
may not be here Unless get about
speedily, ! shall not be; the lying
here seems to take all the strength
out of me. The warm weather will
be coming on, and that expect will
do wonders for me"
Thus spoke Miss West, and thus
they parted; never to meet again in
this world,
Or the course Of the morning, Ma
ria sought Mrs. West. 81 have ia
vor to ask you, aunt" she began.
"Will you give me leave to 90 to
Wyndham tomorrow? Aunt Hester
says she will spare me-"
"Why, what in the world can you
want at Wyndham2' uttered Mrs.
West; for Maria had not betrayed
single want since she had been there,
or even once asked to 60 out on her
own account, SO that her request ex-
cited surprise.
cit is little commission | wish TO
do for myself, aunt" was the reply;
but the color came INTO Maria's face,
as she remembered what the commits
sion was.
u have no objection said Mrs.
West. "You can 60 if you like"
Il think | will 90 with you, Ma
ria" spoke up Frances Chambers.
81 have not seen much of Wyndham,
and we can 90 over in the pony-car-
rage"
Thank you," hesitated Maria;
"any other time; but tomorrow |
wish to 90 alone
What a droll thing! what can she
want to do there by herself" utter
ed Frances. afterward when she was
alone with Mrs. West.
"No harm, you may be sure" Mrs.
West laughed. maria is too staid
to get into any; she has odd, old
fashioned ways, and seems to like to
be alone. Perhaps Aunt Hester
may be sending her on a secret COM
mission to buy dozen yards of fan
mel, or something equally important.
Once Hester went over herself on
mysterious errand that was to be dis
closed to nobody, and we discovered
afterward it was only to buy bed
ticking"
On the following day, after an
early dinner, Maria walked to Wynd
ham. Mrs. West charged her with
message to some friends living
there, and they kept her to tea, so
that twilight overlook her on her re-
turn.
As she came in view of the Glebe
Farm, she was somewhat surprised
to see lights passing and repassing
before the first-floor windows, where
was situated her aunt Hester's room.
81 think they must be holding a
tea-party in it," she said to herself;
"Aunt Hester has been declaring
lately she should have one, and in
vite Mr.. Lister" But at that mo-
ment she saw one of the men en-
ployed on the farm, come out of the
stables with horse, mount 1t, and |
go tearing away toward Wyndham
without his hat-not passing Maria,
but cutting across the clover field to !
leap the gate, which might give him
a few yards the advantage in dis
lance. AS she turned to look after
the man, her uncle came in sight in
the pony carriage, his bailiff driving. |
They also had discerned the flying
man.
whats the matter, Maria?" her
uncle called out as they came up.
"Where is Giles off to in that break
neck fashion,"
The current Of Maria's thoughts
had taken change. 81 can only
think he must be going for doctor,
uncle; and see how the lights are
passing in the rooms near Aunt Hes
ter's. | fear she may be worse"
Mr.. West leaped from the Carl
age and went in with Maria They
were met in the passage by Frances.
"Don't go up" she exclaimed to Ma.
ria. "Don't go up, unless you want
to be Mortified to death. / shall
never get over the fright as long as
/ live"
"Can't you speak intelligibly?"
exclaimed Mr. West, in sharp tone
els it Hester who is worse again."
eyes, il is another attack like the
last one. She is drawn up into all
forms. | would not go in again for
a mine of gold
Mr.. West went up stairs. Maria
was disembarrassing herself of few
trifles she bad been desired 10 bring
with her, and then she followed her
uncle. On the nod lay her Moor