Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-10
''llavc you any brandy in the house?"
skcd the traveller. See how my wife


trcmb,es.'
Alas for the poor doctor! There was
neither blandy nor wine. With an impa-
ticnt mnrmur. the stranger called to the
position and sent him to the Castle Arms
with such an order as made Mrs. Gal
braith open her eyes in wonder. Then,
without seeming to notice the doctor or
his servant. he flung himself on his knees
by the lady's side. and kissed the bcauti-
full white face and colorless lips.
My darling" he cried. "this is my
fault. / ought not to have asked YOU to
undertake such Il journey. Can you ever
forgive neg
"Yon did all for the best, Hubert" she
said.
The doctor and Mrs. Galbraith led the
beautiful. trembling girl to the room
which the latter had hastily prepared for
her, and. when she WAS installed therein.
the doctor returned to the stranger, who
was pacing, with quick, impatient steps,
up and down the little parlor.
II should imagine" said the strange
gentleman. "that no man likes to plead
guilty to Il folly. I must do so. Let me
first of all introduce myself to you as
Lord C~harlewood. I am the only son of
The Earl of Mountdcan. and my father
lies dying in Italy. l came of s only
last year. and ut the same time l fell i'll
love. Now l am not in any way dependent
on my fathcr-the title and estate are en-
tai,cl-but I love him. In these degcn-
crate days it seems perhaps strange to
hear Il son say that he loves his father.
l have obeycd him all my life from this
motive. l would give my life for him.
But in IL respect l have done that which
will cause him great annoyance and an
ger. l have married without his knowl-
edge"
The doctor looked up with great inter-
est: perhaps his thoughts reverted to the
grave in The starlight. Lord Charlie
wood moved mneasily in his chair.
Il cannot say that l am sorry." lie con-
tinued. for l love my wife very dearly:
but ! do wish now that l had been less
hurried. less prccipitate. My wife's great
loneliness must he my excuse. She is
the daughter of Il poor curate, the Revere
end Charles Trevor, who came two years
ago to supply temporarily the place of the
Rector of Lyntou. He brought his daugh-
ter with him; and the first moment l saw
her | fell in love with her. My heart
seemed to sc ont from mo and cleavc to
her. loved her with what I can see now
wns the selfish ardor of Il young man.
had but one ~thought-to win her. l wrote
tn my father, who was in Italy, and asked
his consent. He refused it in the most
decided manner, and told me to think no
more OF what after all was but n boys
fancy. After Il time she consented to IL
compromise-to marry me without my
fathers knowledge. 1t was IL folly,
own: now l see clearly its imprudcncc--
then l imagined it the safest and s,lrcst
way. W. We're married eleven months
ago. and l have been so happy since then
that it has seemed to me but Il single day.
! did not take her home to Wood Lynton,
but. laying aside all the trnppings Of
wealth and title, we have Travelled from
place to place as Mr.. and Mrs. Charlie
wood, enjoying our long honeymoon. But
a letter from Italy came like a thunder
holt-my father had grown rapidly worse
and wanted to see me at once. could
not endure that he should die without sec
ing. loving and blessing my wife NADIA
line. l told her my desire, and she con-
scnted most cheerful!y tn me.
l ought to have known tllat--in her state
of Notwithstanding was most injurious.
We started on fatal journey-only
this morning. AT first my wife se,med to
enjoy it: and then I saw all the color fad
ing from her sweet face. 1t was not un.
til we reached Castledene that she gave in
and told me she could go no further. Still
You say there is no danger. and that you
do not think she will die!"
danger? No. l see none. Life and
death lie in The hands of One above us:
hut humanity speaking, l see no fear of
danger"
Then came a for the doctor
from The room above, and Lord Charlie.
wood was once more left alone. He was
Il young nan. and was certainly both a
good and honorable II @ He had never
del berately done anything wiekel-on the
contrary. he had tried always to do what
was hest: yet. as he stood there, Il strange
sense Of something wanting came over
him. The young wife he loved with such
passionate worship was in the hour OF
need. and he could render no assistance
LATER OH Il strange hush had fallen Over
the doctors house. 1t was past one il
the morning: the sky was overcast: tho
wind was moaning ~titfully. as though /:
storm WAS brewing in the autumn air, Th,
dew lay thick and heavy on the ground
Inside The house was the strange husl
that dangerous sickness always bring.
with it. The doctor had in haste sum
moned The hest nurse in Cast,cdenc. Han
nah Furncy, who shook her head gravciy
when she saw the beautiful pale face. Al
hour passed. and once more DIR. Lctson
sought his distinguished guest.
II am sorry not to bring better news
he sad. "Lady-Mrs. Charlewood-is 10
So well as | had hoped she would be-"
The sudden Hash of agony that cam,
into Lord Charlcwood's face was Il rcvc
lation to DIR. I.etsom: he laid his han,
with a gentle touch on the stranger
ann.
ID not fear the worst" he said. Ssh,
is in the hands of Heaven. am takin:
only ordinary precautions. do not 81!
she is in danger-I merely say that she j.
not so well rs I should like to see her."
Three o'clock struck. \ sweet voice
abrupt and clear. broke the silence of thu
solemn scene.
"Hubert? Where is Hubert? 1 mus,
! see him."
A few minutes later Lord Charlewood
stood by the side of his young wife. .
Hubert" she said to him. with ont
49, n