Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-09-23

DIR. Peele, ''for some years. and when l
did see him again, poor fellow, he was in
rapid decline. and had by that time
worked and worried himself into a state
good deal nearer lunacy than any he had
passed through when in the asylum. His
wife was dead: he was in very bad cir
cunstances. But he had a tiny girl, born,
SO he told me. while her mother was in
mesmeric trance; in her name, Alma,
perceived a connection with that Of the
heroine Of the famous opera, and in her
eyes liked to fancy--and so, l am sure,
did her father-that l saw something of
the look we had imagined in the ideal
Psyche. At any rate, l was deeply inter-
ested in the little creature; and when her
father. few weeks later, was on his
death bed, willingly undertook to become
her guardian. She grew up, and the ten
dency to dreaminess seemed to die out of
her as she advanced towards womanhood.
l made her study at the South Kensington
Art Schools to develop her marked taste
for drawing. wanted to take her home,
but my wife would not hear of tit
would interfere with Miles prospects,
of course good old Mile was not con-
suited. l was determined to have my
dear new child near me. however, and l
hit upon the idea of marrying her to
young Ned Crosmont, an honest, good
hearted fellow, as I thought. who only
wanted nice wife to make him steady
down into as good husband as a girl
could wish for
The old man paused. and seemed for
few moments to be buried in the gloom of
his disappointed hopes. When he resum-
ed his voice sounded weaker, and it was
evidently with great effort that he ut
tered the few closing words of his story.
Il knew that Ned and Aphra Dighton
had been boy-and-girl sweethearts. but
could not conceive that he would have
the audacity to think seriously of her
| when they had grown out of childhood,
still less that when she was once married.
the doctor paused and went on with
bowed head. in slower voice-"he would
forget his honor and duty for her. Under
| stand. DIR. Armathwaite'-an suddenly
he raised his head, and spoke with decis
| ion and authority-"that am casting no
slur on Aphra kildonan's character.
Aphra is like goddess on canvas. rous-
ing mems admiration by looks which ex-
press emotions she does not feel; at least,
that has always been my opinion of her,
and have watched her grow up from Il
child. But the consequences to Alma
have been more disastrous than if Lady
kildonan had done her greater wrong.
| know all this, you see. and can, unluck-
lily for me. watch this drama as well from
the four walls of this room as | could
when l saw it's scenes with my own eyes.
But / can do nothing"
He stopped. The story was over. But
| there was another which Armathwaite
was still more anxious to hear.
May know what the danger for Lady
Kildonan is?' he asked.
mot tonight" answered the old doctor,
hnrredly. drawing himself together with
an instructive demonstration Of reluctance
to part with his secret, which filed Arma-
thwaite with the fear that he might per-
| haps never disclose it to him after all. II
am really tired; / cannot talk more to-
night. l will see you again tomorrow
yes. Tomorrow"
With a long, earnest gaze into each
| others face, the men parted; and it was
with new and solemn sense of duty and
responsibility, Swallowed by a grave fear,
that the younger closed the door of the
sick room behind him. His mind. his
heart. his whole being were absorbed by
the last solemn words he had just heard
from the Doctors lips.
The next morning. tired out by his
| nights patrol, Frank slept late, and woke
oppressed. As soon as breakfast was over
he went to see Dr. Peele, who had not
risen, but who caused himself to be prop
ped up in bed. He said, with grave and
troubled face. that he would send Arma-
thwaite to The Crags with a note for
Lady Kildonan.
"If you will kindly hand me that writing
case and pencil, l will write the note"
he added.
This he did and Armathwaite took the
letter and started off for his visits to his
patients and to The Crags.
CHAPTER XIX.
1t was hard that day for the young man
to keep his thoughts fixed on the mala-
dies Of his respective patients even while
in their presence; and when he was stand
ing by the bedside of Mr.. Sanderson, who
lived in q small house not two hundred
yards from Ned Crosmont's residence, he
could scarcely keep his attention to the
lumbago which was the subject in hand,
for thought of the more interesting case
| a few steps away.
On coming out of the villa, however, he
was surprised to find the buxom Nanny
waiting for him. with face full of mys-
terry and importance. 1t was now past
four o'clock, and the mists were thicken-
ing towards evening.
"Oh, if you please, SIR" she began. as
soon as he came up to where she stood,
giving a piece of sugar to the doctors
cob, 1--WE saw your horse waiting here, and
master sent me to ask If you'd be good
enough to step over"
"Mr. Crosmont sent for met" said Ar
mathwaite.
"Yes, sir, master himself; he's just come
back from Liverpool. It's about my mis-
tress. sir; he's getting downright fright
ened. and well he may, for she's just like
the dead to-day, and she jnst lies there
and sighs sometimes, but not as if she
was awake at all.
They were walking along the road to-