Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-01


After the terrible experience OF the
preceding night the frightened guests
had scarce courage enough 10 seek thelr
rooms. Some Of the ladies had pasSeu
the time together. trembling at every
sound, and longing for the nor uln ~
whose earliest trains would bear theu
afar from the house Of mystery.
The vision they had witnessed wa wa
too prominently in the minds Oh an
to bear discussion. Save in the Vaguest
illusions the subject was avoided ana
none dared to breathe what al knew
that the face of the vision-Wonlah Was
that of Lady Welland
AS ON the eve of Christmas year
before. there was little sleep at Wellahd
Court While the maids and Wallets
hacked and arranged their employers
belongings for an early start, the o"u-
ers buddled together trying 70 AVOID
reference To a subject which tn@y were
painfully aware would harrow theH
night watches for some time 10 come
DR. Freeman had arrived as soon
after Lady Wellaud's seizure as the
swifrest horse in the Court stables
could bring him. and all night hau re-
NAMED in attendance on the patent
Sir Wilfred. distracted with grlet ana
horror had been seen of none save MISS
Heron. Even TO her his only moan
was "Send all those people away l
can't think while they are in the house.
And when she would reassuringly re-
nlv that they would all be gone IN the
morning, he would only say; - Heat-
ems, is it not morning yet. VIII TINS
night never end?
Had Miss Heron not taken upon her-
self the duties of both host and hostess
the door guests would have been IN
worse case than they were, as the ser
wants many of whom had known the
late baronet and in a large measure
identified themselves with the fortunes
of the house. seemed to be at their
wits end.
A suspicion of the truth respecting
Sir Jaspers murder, moving among
minds already unstrung by the my ster-
ions death Of Raleigh, rendered them
scarce capable of consecutive thought.
So that but for the thoughtful direc-
tion of Miss Heron the guests would
have Jared but i'll.
She il was who remembered 70 us
patch carriages TO the station 10 meet
the early express which bore the Ion
don specialist in brain affections ana
the TWO trained nurses for Lady Wei
land. Ii was to her instructions also
that the departing guests owed the plen-
itude Of cOnveyances awaiting Jner
convenience. She had wisely ordered
several eQuipages from the queen
Arms at OdswintOn TO be IN attend
ance.
To Sir Wilfred, shut into his snug
gerry. crashing his teeth in feeble re-
bellion against the enforced presence
Of strangers in his house at time wnen
All his beliefs were shaken TO their
foundations, she came as a mlnlsterlng
angel.
AT length was she able to tell him
that all had departed.
THANK God,'' he calculated. Now
/ can breathe And in response TO
her entreaties he managed to swallow
some OF the warm coffee she had for
the third time tried to induce him TO
drink
Sir William Benson has come. He
is upstairs." she ventured 10 say when
he seemed a little refreshed.
A low groan was his only reply.
"WiH you not see him. she asked
softly -.
mo, no; spare me. I can't speak Of
her
~ will see the doctors if you like,
Wilfred. and tell you what they say
do" he muttered. Il can't SEE
anyone to-day
"Tben YOU must try to rest. I shall
give orders that you are not to be dis
turbed." she said leaving the room.
Upstairs all was hushed.
A erev-rObed nurse moved nOiSeleSSly
along the corridor carrying a bowl of
ice. Catching sight Of Miss Heron,
she approached and said the other nurse
sought her. as the doctors desired to
speak with either her or with Sir VIII
fred.
Advancing TO the door of the sick
room. which was open, Miss Heron en-
tered quietly. DR.. Freeman, seeing her,
beckoned to her to come nearer.
On the bed lay Lady Welland her
head on its lace-edged pillows, NOV
ing restlessly from side to side.
The soft masses Of her black hai-
had been shOrn, and her head looked
strangely small ana shrunken. On
her fever-duShed cheeks were visible
faint traces of last nights rouge.
Her beautiful violet eyes, almost
black now, stared ever in terror at
sights invisible TO her companions,
while her hot cracked lips twisted and
worked perpetually. though Uttering no
ineligible sound
This is Miss Heron, Lady Welland S
great friend, of whom / told you, Sir
William" said DR.. Freeman, in low
voice. Perhaps she may be able TO
put us on the right track.
The specialist in nervous diseases
bore no mark of his eminence in his
appearance He was a benevolent
looking little old gentleman, and, save
for a certain keenness and penetration
of glance, differed not a whit from
many thousands of other benevolent
looking little old gentlemen.
The second nurse had returned, and
with her companion was engaged in
applying iced bandages 10 the fevered
head. Miss Heron felt "A sob rise in
her throat as she looked.
Come into the boudOir. We can
talk there, said TT. Freeman
Sitting in the pretVy room. with the
consciousness that a wall separated
her from that sad wreck of one once
so beautiful. Miss Heron became more
composed. and was ready 10 give any
information in her power.
There is a rumOr that something
unusual occurred last night, said Dr.
Freeman. viii you tell us what you
know about il. Miss Heron"