Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-10-21
CHAPTER XIV.

~ '>-SEHkA
CHAPTER XNv.
II was at the Liverpool railway station
! that Lord Kildonan confronted his wife
md Crosmont, the sickly light of flick
sring gas lamp high above falling on his
figure, on what could be seen Of his face.
The words froze on their guilty lips; the
blood leaped up. and then seemed to stag
nate in their veins as the cold eyes pierced
them. Crosmont stopped. and stared up,
a. still as dead man. shattered. con-
founded, without word. without cry.
Lady Kildonan, with hoarse and broken
shrek that rang in hideous echoes
through the huge bare station, staggered
back. back. with starting eyes and strug-
Cling breath. until, before they could stop
her, before they had even time to realize
the danger she was in. she reached the
edge of the platform, and with last fatal
backward step, fell with moan on the
metals. Lord Kildonan sprang down axe
4 Young man. lifted her in his arms, and
stared into her face. When Armathwaite
3oined him, the old Scotchman's face was
I'll broken up with passionate anxiety, his
voice broken and weak as child.
Il have not killed her, Frank, have 1!
Speak. boy, speak, he said In husky
whisper, as he lifted the head that hung
limp and powerless on his shoulder.
Armathwaite, whose professional in
stinct had given him back al his calm at
ne moment Of the accident, looked at
her, touched her.
"No,'' he said. briefly; "she is not dead.
We must get her on to the platform!
Crogm ont!"
This call to the young man, who was
st3ll standing like a statue with dull eyes
and leaden limbs, woke him to life and
action. He would have helped to raise
the PROSTATE woman, but Lord kildonan,
IN his coolest, harshest tone, forbade him
% touch her. The latter, with the assist
ence of Armathwaite, lifted her on to the
platform Just AZ the Rranlsome train
steamed slowly up towards them. Frank
suggested that she ought to remain in
Liverpool that night-that it would be
dangerous for her to travel. Her head
Dad fallen on the metals: no one could tell
Ut what injury she had sustained. Lord
KNdonan was immovable.
B sShe must 20 home!' he said, briefly.
III An0 II ~ U1lVutA AlAA ACAS NY AV$0s
eve can still perhaps save her reputa-
tlon," said Lord Kldonan in HE coolest
tone.
But he was deeply moved. He never
2ook his eyes of his wife's white face as
they carried her into compartment and
hid her on the seat. Crosmont still stood
"a the platform, and Armathwaite went
hack to him, and laid his hand on his
arm.
The agent was shivering like a man
with ague.
.Come." said Armathwaite, "you must
some back with u.s."
mo, no." said Crosmont, hoarsely.
After some few moments' appeal, warn
3ns him that Lady Kildonan was per
hans dying, the doctor induced him to take
NJ place In the next compartment to that
an which the husband and wife, weirdly
Suanited. were travelling. Then, after ex-
acting promise from the agent that he
would not try to escape. he rejoined Lord
Ki96onan and the unconscious woman.
Il was 4 terrible return journey. Dur
M q the four cold, monotonous hours
Lady Kildonan lay almost without move
1snt, from time TO time muttering few
words 20 herself incoherently, or opening
~ eyAs with the blank stare Of doll,
enly u doc them again automatically
M1fhout having taken in any impression.
AZ seven O'Clock on the raw February
m0enin9, TIE train steamed into Drank
opne statioa. The stoppage reused Lady
Kildonan; shs struggled up and looked
vacAnkly about her, muttering incoherent-
- that K Was getting hght-that she
Ghould b late-but without noticing her
aompanions. Frank put her veil over her
FACE and fastened it for her, to which
- made no opposition. And she accept
a his suggestion to take his arm, and al
lpwed him 10 lead her through the station,
apparenty Unconscious that It was her
Husband who was supporting her totter-
~ footsteps on the other side. Sue turn
a instinctively in the direction of the
keue where Anne Matthews lived, and
q Ne opening Of the little street they
1oupd small covered cart waiting with
ne woman who had been her treacherous
accomplfce inside II. Armathwaite recog-
nlsed her ct once, and saw first that she
hooked little ashamed of herself, and sec
onday fhat she was seriously alarmed and
vsnorseful when she saw how Ill the lady
hooked. They lifted her into the cart;
Lord Kildonan took his place beside her,
end insisted on Armathwaite's coming
with them, that he might prescribe for her
IN his medical capacity on reaching The
Crags.
Anne Matthews, who drove herself,
stopped IT the bottom Of the private path
70 The Crags, a. was her custom: and
the two gentlemen led Lady Kildonan,
who was now growing excited and fever
I'D, up the hill, through the private gate,
which was open. and into the house by
Nhat cntrance Of which Lord Kildonan
had fancied that he alone had a key. It
ope0ed upon narrow private staircase,
with another locked door at the top, BY
which they were able to reach Lady Kill
domains apartments unobserved by any
BODY except her ladyship's maid.
With the assistance Of this woman,
LAdy Kildonan was put to bed, much
againat her will. Armathwaite told Lord
Kildonan that she was suffering from con.
question Of the brain, and after remaining
MitA her about An hour. 1t the end Of
Which dine she had sunk into ! word.esa
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