Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-11-11
nooulng toward 1,reuv,

is this person. noou1ng toward preru,
with your
He is. may require his services. I"
Once inside the door fresh courage
came to Ruth. Half the battle was won.
is Mr.. Hastings up?'' she asked.
1t was now little past 9.
No, replied the man who had adj
mitted her. "He is in very poor way"
Are you his attendant?'
"I ann
"What is your name?''
johnson. !"
Then show me to his room and tell
him I am sent by Mrs. Smithson. .
Ruth herself was amazed at the degree
of authority she threw into her tones.
johnson led the way up stairs and
entered a large room looking to the
back of the house. There, on curtain
less bed, lay her brother, pale, emaciat-
ed, unshaven, with dull, despairinH
eyes and thin, transparent hands lying
listlessly on the counterpane.
James, my dear brother James!''
cried Ruth, springing forward to clasp
his nerveless hands and kiss his sunken
cheeks, while the tears rose in her eyes.
"Why, Ruth, my little Ruthl Why
have you deserted me?"
Deserted you! Neither my mother
nor myself was permitted to come near
you. You have been secluded from us
all, and if you do not rouse yourself
and do as ask you Val Carew will be
ruined
"Eh? What? I am SO weak and dazed
am sinking fast, and food is danger
GUS for me. If might venture on
wineglass of brandy and soda and-and
a chop
"You shall have them at once Why,
James, you are fainting!"
Painting for want of food, cried
stout, elderly woman who entered the
room as Ruth uttered these words.
"Beg your parding, m, but there's
something not right going on. Since
I've been here, now three weeks, the
nurse, Mrs. Smithson, has cut off some-
thing from his diet every day He's
dying by hinches, he is -
"Get him some food directly" cried
Ruth, "and some brandy at once''
The debilitated hypochondriac rallied
when the restorative was administered
and seemed unwilling to let his sisters
hand go.
"You'll stay with me, Ruth. Don't
leave me, was his cry.
AS soon as he had some food she
opened the subject of Walls difficulties.
Hastings was greatly astonished. He
denied having ever heard, of the ACCUSE
ton made against his cousin, but per-
fectly remembered the fact of sending
him his check for $500, with a letter
of advice and remonstrance, and was
now eager to corroborate Carew's ac-
count of it,
At this stage Of the affair the sound
of voices in alteration outside the door
struck their ears, and Hastings changed
color.
"She has returned" he exclaimed.
"Mind you don't leave me. Mrs. Som
ers is a careful, clever woman, but
don't think she understands my case
The door opening interrupted him,
and Mrs. Somers, in entering, turned to
face some one behind her without see
ing who was in the room.
1ou udNe uo TlSnb 10 IOrCe ySuTSeI
into MIR. Hastings presence He is in u
most critical condition, and it needs all
my care and experience to keep him
alive'
"It's my duty to come in to see no
harm comes to my young lady," said
the voice of Brett in slow but resolute
tones. "She has every right to be with
her own brother"
"Your young lady," repeated Mrs.
Somers in amazement, again turning,
and then perceiving who stood by her
patients bedside. Ruth was startled by