, 1897-04-07
A MIDNIGHT DRIVE.

Some years ago l was sadly in need
Of q change into the country, and, most
OPPORTUNITY, a doctor in Arlington was
anxious to winter abroad, so | took his
practice for six months.
Arlington was a picturesque little
place some five miles from the sea. The
people were most friendly and gave me a
hearty welcome Immediately. DR.. Sew
ard, whose substitute l was, kept a
smart little horse and buggy. The wealth
er being unusually fine for the time of
year, l immensely enjoyed the driving,
for the country vas new to me.
One day as l was returning home,
when it was beginning TO grow dusk,
my eye was caught by the glow OF the
setting sun III the windows of a house
standing Oh rather high ground near
the sea.
It was al old rcd brick house and
seemed much out of repair.
Turning to my driver l asked him
who owned the place. 1T is called The
Laurels, was his reply. Twas surprised
at the curt speech, for usually lie was
very talkative. Just tlsn we turned n
corner, and it was lost from sight. The
matter then passed from my mind en-
tirely. Soon after that the weather grew
wild and stormy. 80 that my long drives
bet.ame q nuisance instead of a pleasure,
at z, really thankful that my days
work was over. This thought gave me
the greatest comfort, and after dinner
I settled myself in n large armchair
drawn up to the blazing hearth and re-
signed myself toa cup of excellent coffee
and a good cigar. The long, cold drive
had made me Growsy, and soon, in spite
Of my interest, / fell sound asleep and
dreamed of my school days.
/ was awakened by the violent ring
ing Of the surgery bell-an agitated
sound, as though the ringer had been
kept waiting some time and was grow
ing angry.
The clock was just striking II, 20 I
must have slept for nearly two hours;
then, remembering that the housekeeper
must have gone to bed, l reused myself
and went to the door.
The rain had ceased, but'heavy clouds
were scudding across the sky, partially
obscuring the halocd moon. By the
Pickering light of the hall lamp I saw
a young man, muffled in Il dark cloak.
He looked about 20, and his dark, hand
some face seemed pale and disturbed.
lyon IRE u surgeon?" he said abrupt.
ly, stretching out his hand.
! noticed that there was "a bloodstain-
and 10 concluded he had met with an
accident aud needed my attention, SC /
said: "Yes, come inside. The wind will
e%xtinguish the lamp, and / have no
matches about me-" q.
II want you to come with me at
once. My brother has met with an acct
dent. It ia a matter of life and death.
Come"
"Wheref" I asked hurriedly, SILVER
ing with cold, for he would not come i'll.
ITO The Laurels. l implore you to
make haste" was the agitated answer.
Your name?"I asked i'll despair, for
The Laurels was five miles away.
Guy Chilvers. Are you ready?
Come"
All I could do was to step back into
the hall. put on my furred coat, and
ask him to wait while l harnessed the
horse. He agreed to this and accompa-
MED me to the stable, even Offering to
hold the lantern while l attended to the
horse, for my man had gone to bed with
a cold. By its light l studied his face.
He had an almost faultless profile, with
q hard mouth and dark, restless eyes.
He looked rather like an actor. l could
not say whether l liked his looks or not.
Seldom, IL ever, have 1 seen face which
30 attracted and repelled me at the same
time.
l had expected my tired horse to go
slowly, but 70 my surprise he seemed
unusually fresh. SHE'D and even at
tempted to rear when my impatient Wis.
itor laid his hand OH him. It was with
difficulty That l harnessed him at all.
The horse had always been perfectly
quiet and steady before, but several
times during that lonely drive l thought
be would have landed us in q ditch.
At last we reached a rusty iron gate,
where Chilvers leaped out. and. seizing
the horse by the bit. slipped the rein
over the post. Then rs I got down he
6nng open the gate and pushed me In.
Quick, he said. "or we shall be
TOO latei"
The house looked dark and forbid
ding, but q ray Of light shone through
the door, which was AGAR. lfelt strange
b nervous and excited az I entered.
What II this were a trap to rob and muir
der maj
~ guido opened . door and disap-
pea1cd from dght, leaving me alone In
IL uncsnny place, which was quite
unlike any house l was ever In before.
hslisve had he been gone n instant
1unesr ] must have made the best OF my
va ont Into tie dark drive and left my
S11tGnt 10 his fate. 70 unnerved had ]