The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-23
GOOD LADY DUCAYNE
By MISS BRADDON.

CHAPTER VIII.

I.
Stafford was summoned by message
from Lady Ducayne, whose courier
came to conduct him to her ladyships
salon.
Bella was reading aloud when the
visitor was admitted; and he noticed
the lsnguor in the low, sweet tones, the
evident effort.
shut up the book" said the queru-
lous old voice. You are beginning to
drawl like Miss Blandy"
Stafford saw small, bent figure
crouching over the piled up olive logs
shrunken old figure in a gorgeous
garment of black and crimson brocade,
skinny throat emerging from mass
of old Venetian lace, clasped by dia-
monds that flashed like fire. flies as
the trembling old head turned toward
him.
The eyes that looked at him out ol
the face were almost as bright as the
diamonds-the only living feature in
that narrow parchment mask. He had
seen terrible faces in the hospital-faces
on which disease had set dreadful
marks, but he had never seen face
that impressed him so painfully as this
withered countenance, with its inde-
scribable horror of death outlived, a
face that should have been hidden un.
der coffin. lid years and years ago.
The Italian physician was standing on
the other side of the fireplace, smoking
cigarette, and looking down at the
little old woman brooking over the
hearth as if he were proud of her.
Good evening. Mr.. Stafford; you can
go to your room, Bella, and write your
everlasting letter to your mother at
Walworth," said Lady Ducayne. IL
believe she writes page about every
wild flower she discovers in the woods
and meadows. don't know what else
she can find to write about" she added,
IS Bella quietly withdrew to the pretty
little bedroom opening ont of Lady Du.
cayne's spacious apartment. Here, as
at Cap Ferrino. she slept in a room ad-
joining the old lady's.
You are medical man, l under.
stand, Mr.. Stafford"
Il am qualified practitioner. but
have not begun to practise
You have begun upon my companion,
she tells me-"
Il have prescribed for her, certainly,
and l am happy to find my prescription
has done her good; but look upon that
Improvement as temporary. Her case
will require more drastic treatment"
Never mind her case. There is moth.
ing the matter with the girl-absolute-
iy nothing-except girlish nonsense; too
much liberty and not enough work"
Il understand that two Of your lady
ships previous companions died of the
same disease" said Stafford, looking
first at Lady Ducayne, who gave her
tremulous old head an impatient jerk,
and then at Parravicini, whose yellow
complexion had paled little under
Staffords scrutiny.
Don't bother me about my compan-
ions, sir" said Lady Ducayne. l sent
for you TO consult you about myself
not about a parcel of anamic girls.
You are young, and medicine is pro-
gressive science, the newspapers tell
me. Where have you studied?"
In Edinburgh-and in Paris"
Two good schools. And you know
all the new tangled theories, the modern
discoveries-that remind one of the
medieval witchcraft, of Albertus Mag
nus, and George Ripley; you havo
studied hypnotism-electricity?'
And the TRANSMISSION of blood" said
Stafford, very slowly, looking at Perra
vicini.
Have you made any discovery that
teaches you to prolong human life-any
elixir-any mode of treatment1 / want
my life prolonged, young man. That
man there has been my physician for
thirty years, He does all he can to keep
me a!ive-after his lights. He studies
all the new theories of all the scientists
but he is old; he gets older every day
his brain power is going--he is bigo-
ted-prejudiced-can't receive new
ideas-cant grapple with new systems.
He will let me die if l am not on my
guard against him."
You are Of an unbelievable ingrati-
tude, Eccelenza," said Parravicini.
"Oh, you needn't complain. l have
paid you thousands to keep me alive.
Every year of my life has swollen your
boards; you know there is nothing to
come to you when lam gone. My whole
fortune is left to endow home for in
digent women of quality who have
reached their ninetieth year. Come,
Mr.. Stafford, am rich woman. Give
me few years more in the sunshine,
few years more above ground, and /
will give you the price of fashionable
London practice-I will set you up at
the West end"
How old are you, Lady Ducayne"
81 was born the Gay Louis XVI. was
guillotined."
''Then | think you have had your
share of the suns hine and the pleasures
of the earth, and that you should spend
your few remaining days in repenting