Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-12-24
CHAPTER XIV.

0ad stirred WITHIN MIN once more the
trouble which had made him shirk meet
ing his mother that morning. The burn
Ing down Of Leish's place and the destruc-
don Of the wonderful clock would afford
story to be told when he got home, and
he might interpose that history between
the first words Of meeting and the ulti-
mate announcement that the engagement
between Dora and himself was at an
end.
When he got back home he heard, with
great relief. that Mrs. and Miss Grace
were at luncheon in the dining-room with
Mrs, Hamburg. The presence of the two
visitors and the general nature Of the
conversation necessary to their presence
and the meal would serve as an admirable
softener Of the story he had for his moth
er's private ear.
Some reference brought in Leigh's
name, and then Hamburg told OF the fire,
the destruction of the clock, his meeting
that morning with the dwarf and the con-
viction Of the latter that he would not
long survive the destruction of his in
comparable machine. He noticed as he
went on that Miss Grace first flushed and
then paled.
The girl had hardly spoken up to this.
seem to hear quickly or to apprehend &C
curately. She had hesitated in her an
swers like one afraid. The table was
sat opposite his mother, Edith opposite
There was q buzzing and beating in the
girls ears. All at once she hastily put
one hand to her left side and the other
e., Hx,n nd inn
to and fro.
Ill" she whispered, but could say
no more.
Hanbury caught her, or she would have
fallen. The two ladies got up.
'.She is not WE'LL" said the old woman,
excitedly. "She has eaten nothing for
days.
The girl reclined, cold and pale as mar
BILE, in the young mans arms. Her eyes
were half closed, her lips half open. He
half led her, half lifted her. to a couch.
Restoratives such as stood at hand were
applied, but she did not quite recover.
She was not exactly unconscious. This
was no ordinary faint
The ladies were terrified, and Hamburg
ran off for doctor. When he came back,
the girl had been got upstairs, She was
still in the same state, not quite con-
scious, and not quite insensible. The doc
tor made a long examination. and heard
all that was to be told. When he came
down to the dining-room, where Hamburg
was excitedly walking up and down, he
said the case was serious, but not exactly
dangerous, that is. the patients life was
IN no imminent peril. She had simply
been overwrought and weakened by want
Of food, and Jared by suppressed and con
tending emotions. There was no organic
disease, but the heart had been function
ally affected by the vicissitndes of the
past few days acting on an organism of
exquisite sensibility. Quiet was the best
medicine, and, after quiet, careful
STRENGTHENING, and then the drugs men,
toned in his prescription. But above all,
quiet.
Hamburg took up the prescription and
FASTENED of with it. On his way back
from the druggist he reverted to the past
of Leigh:
Eyes, I owed the introduction to him.
/ freely forgive him now. He, too. was
the means of breaking off the Ashton af-
fair. I must write at once. I have
behaved badly in not doing so before. I'll
write the moment when get back home
Yes, must write when get back, and
then I'll put the affair out of my mind
altogether, for good and ever"
When he had finished q letter to Dora
he closed It without reading 1t over.
"When one reads over letter like THU"
he thought, zone grows nice about
phrases and tries to alter 1t, and finally
tears It up. am satisfied that II I tried
al day long should do no better than
this. shall post It myself when 60 out.
That letter ID great weight OF my mind,
and now am much less disinclined to
break the matter to my mother. When
that il over shall feel that am free"
The next morning he received mes
sage requesting him to call upon Leigh,
at his new lodgints. He found the dwarf
n bed. A woeful change had taken place
IN face and frame.
II sent for you because I have some.
ting on my mind; and, % you are the
only man who knows all the secret of
Mystery Gold. and my deputy winder. /
u want you to do me service. Will You p
were Leigh's 6rst words.
1Anything that IN honest and honor
able man may do, will do for you with
pleasure, II can possibly" said Han
bury, shocked and subdued by the change
Ia the clockmaker's appearance.
Are you going to see the Ashton's
SOON
No" Hamburg Redeemed, but he was
standing with 10 back to the light. 1.-THE
family are leaving town suddenly"
Are you going, tooy'
No" Hamburg was anything but
pleased with Ill this, but who could be
angry with dying man, and such q
1 dying man. too?
III ron were going ! should like to send
= messaxs. But Of course you cannot be
going II they are leaving town. I told
;you have s0ns money Of my own. /
,hANo made my WIN since saw you.
ARR my mothers death AL win 60,
enn ths yearly interest Ct I'll win 50 in
= y - rapersl =