The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-21
E CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1897

than usual. -
"Yes. | se6.'
"Wcil, She has behaved dread
fully to him. She did all she
could to catch him, dolt though
he is, and now she is engaged to
him. B1tv you see how she treats
him! She means to throw him
over-if she can take YOU in-be-
cause he hasn't q thing but his mo-
ney, to recommend him. Oh, |
know heri You needn't ask me
to stop. She has treated me
shamefully, this very day, and l
just determined you should hear
what double game she IS play
ing. There, that is all. Now |
must go" And off she runs.
Harry sits there, wondering at
it ALL Shall he believe Carrie, or
not? Suddenly, his atten ton is
attracted by voices. 1t is Mrs.
Barrett, Louise's mother, that is
speaking.
Il know all about them, my
dear!' she says. "Their cottage
IS next to mine. They quarrel
like cats and dogs. l can hear
that meek little Carmelite scold-
ing that nice old French servant,
Angelique, e,-saying thingsI could
not repeat, actually.'
Mrs. Barrett is talking to a fell
low-gossip, but at Harry Keith,
whom she has seen sitting in the
shadow, under the vines, by the
window. She saunters on, with
her companion, and disappears.
Harry begins to think he'll give it
all up, and go home, tomorrow.
But tomorrow brings change.
The first person he meets, as he
descends to breakfast, is Carrie
Bacon.
''Oh! Mr.. Keith" she SAYS.
"have you heard? is dreadful, -
breathlessly. eff | had known
what was coming, l wouldn It have
said what I did, last night
though it was all true. Oh!
hope she won't die"
''Who won't die? What is it?'.
"Louise Barrett is very ill-de.
llrlous-it is scarlet fever, or dyph-
iberia, or some other dreadful
thing. The doctor is here, and
everybody is frightened to death,
except CarmelIte LIE Verrier. who
has gone to nurse her. She WOULD
go, 1t seems, when she heard that
everybody ran away, even Louise's
MOTHER -
Harry was thunder-struck. On.
ly last evening, Louise was radi-
ant with youth and beauty. Ther
he thought of Carmelite, and with
a pang What if she should catcI
the infection, and die? If he hae
doubted before whom he loved. he
did not doubt now.
AS soon as he dared, he called
on Madame LIE Verrier. He founG
her calmer than he had expected
eyes! Carmelite has gone" sht
said, with simple frankness
eth ere was no one else, and I die
not attempt to stop her. Sh,
risks her life, you say. Well, no
blesse oblige, even if there is ne
higher motive. But l hope th,
dear child has one. I alway
called her my little sister O
charity She is so helpful il
sickness, and so brave"
But Louise's illness, after a da7
or two, is pronounced to be only
violent cold. She is, for a while
very i'll, nevertheless, and Harr7
cannot help feeling a half-likin!
for Phil Leary, who is honestly
utterly miserable about Louise
and who, selecting Harry as hi
confidant, hangs about him al
day, and tells him, over and owe
again, how he adores her, and hoy
wretched he is! He seems to hav
quite forgotten her Filtration
with Keith, and his own sulk7
misery in consequence. He think
only of the happy time when sh
was his, and his only!
Two weeks of sunny, Septembe
weather, pass by.
Louise is out of danger, evel
getting we'll, and Carmelite's du
ties as nurse grow lighter. The
have been rather arduous, fo
Louise has needed most careful
and constant nursing, and she j
a very exacting patient, eve.
now. But, to-day, Carmelite ha
escaped, and is walking with Mr
Keith, through the fields, toward
the forest, that lies beyond th
green valley. She looks littl
pale, from weariness, and loss O
sleep! but-Harry thinks-is pref