The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-12-04

pared 10 move Oh.
Il should think rot" said she. feebly.
She drew her fur cloak about ucr. ami
sat down on the door-mat. She had not
regarded that useful article in the light
Of a dNau before; now she vas glad OF
even that medium between herself auI
the cold doorstep. To weep would not
mend matters. to ring and pound aud
rattle the blinds was useless. Every
body in 80 was hopelessIy asleep. She
had been forgotten. Shs. the core OF
the whole thing. the handspring OF that
vast establishment! Her husband and
her children and her servants Fad, each
trusting TO somebody else. gone to bed
and forgotten her.
She looked up at the moon. at Jupiter
and other illustrious denizens OF the
sky, and found them cold and unsympa-
thetic. She began to think of her sins.
and feared that she had not been suffi-
ciently kind to homeless outcasts. Even
the cats, who were the only people
abroad IN her quiet street. came in for
her sympathy
They have hard time, poor things"
1t was a cat. however, W no gave her an
idea. Evidently a predatory Arab of
cat, who thought ne owned her front
steps, for, after stealthily creeping UP
and finding her in possession. he leaped
ON to ueighboring balcony.
She looked after him.
"Dr. Moutgomery's and a speaking
tube!" she said. Why did not re-
member that before?''
Mrs. Davenport drew 40 her long vel
low satin train. laid her fan and hand
kerchiei on the doorstep, and a. fast as
high heels ana satin slippers would al
low, went down her own steps and up
those OF her neighbor. who lived at }
lie is a doctor. accustomed to De
aw wakened at all hours" said she.
She rang. heard a sleepy voice come
down: What do you want?"
Help! Help." said she.
What help? who2 what mulberry
said the doctor.
80: great trouble! immediate. saiI
Mrs. Davenport.
The doctor seemed to be hours IN com
ing down. She was nearly ID despair
again. but al length he opened the door
in his heavy oyereoat and lat.
'Oh. doctor! doctor! let me IN" said
the lady, now quite hysterical. Your
house is warm: do let me in"
The doctor was u course astunished
to see his fashionab bic neighbor. but hos
pitable and helpful.
VIII you go up and knock at the
partition wall IN yonr front room. doc
tor. and try to wake Mr.. Dayenport?"
said Mrs. D.. now in tears
''Yes. madam. if you say 30. But had
you not better spend the night here
/ qtsetly?"
What. next door to 80? oh. no! /
couldn't. | must go home. Please. doc
/ tor. If il will not disturb Mrs. Mont
gomery. do go up and make a dreadful
noise at the head of Mr.. Davenport
bed; it leans up against your parlor.
for he always hears your piano."
The doctor obeyed. and knocked
loudly on the wall. Mr. Davenport
heard distant thunder in his dreams.
/ turned over, with his deaf ear up and
slept again.
After a half hours fruitless knock
! ing. Mrs. Davenport consented 10 allow
| the sleepy doctor TO retire TO his we'll
earned repose, whilst she declared thai
she would rest as well as she could in an
| easy-ehair down in his consulting room
Nos. 81, 30 and Al were at peace at
last, and Mrs. Davenport. wrapped in
! her cloak, aud IN a warm room IN the
.k q. 4
composed, and finally laughed at her
adventure. Ii would be good Joke
next morning: but as for Orlando. her
colored waiter. there was lookout for
him of the blaekest Then poor Mr.
| Davenport. how alarmed he would be-
but she would watch and see the serv-
ants begin to open the house. aud steal
in before he was awake. So saying. She
fell sound asleep in her chair
At length Mr.. Davenport. like all
heavy sleepers, woke up suddenly and
entirely. lie did not know why. but il
| seemed to him that he had had dis
turbed night. As he lay trying to col.
lcct his faculties. he heard the clock
strike four.
| enport; tired after her ball, sup
pose"
Mr.. Davenport listened to hear.
through the opened door and curtained
recess, the quiet breathing of his wife
in the next room.
She was strangely still, and MIR. Dav-
enport arose softly and crept in to see
what could be tine matter.
"Heavensl" said he, nobody in { ed!
Coralie not at home at four o'cioek!"
Mr.. Davenport paused a moment
Could the horses have run away? Could
the coachman have been drunk? That
Lad happened before. Could his poor
wife have been thrown. dragged-no.
the idea was too horrible. Could she
have been locked out?
Mr.. Davenport felt the cold perspira-
tion start on his brow. He rang every
hell in The house. He proceeded to
dress himself lie danced in his agony
and agitation.
Then, as his sleepy servants began to
appear. and one aftet the other began to