Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-24

limbs, whi, souId
control
Presently he asked, MAY. why do
you look at me so strangely?''
Il didn't {, =" she replied shortly with
out raising her eyes
"Oh, but you did. my dear, and al
most furtively."
You are dreaming, sir" was the
calm answer.
May, what do you mean? never
heard you address me In that way be-
FORE" exclaimed her husband, with an
| astonished look Of pain
Med, my darling, what did say to
your she asked. Immediately passing
her hand over her eyes and crossing the
hearth to wind her arms about him
why. why. you said, You are
dreaming, SIR Fancy sir to me-
Edward, don't be silly. 1 think 1
was dreaming myself"
II can readily believe it,, he cbserv-
ed in relieved tone, and then they be-
came again silent, she resting upon the
side of his chair, and her gazc gradual
| ly concentrating upon a small bracket
| mirror hanging from the wall
| Sometimes she smiled at herself in
! it. at other times frowhed, and once she
half closed her eyelids and peered be-
| tween them at her own reflected image
MAY. my darling. your love is be-
| coming painfully intense. If you don't
loosen your hold of my neck. shall DO
choked, " said the doctor, fondly pass
ing his arm round her waist. Whats
that?" he exclaimed, suddenly. starting
L IL 49,.
4 with Bruce"
"You had better go down Immediate
~. Edward, suggested Mrs. Gardner
quietly. Perhaps you have. poisoned
him, and then I'll never forgive you"
Seeing hesitating reluctance in his
manner. she added. "Oh. very well.
then. must go myself F"
"How absurdly you are speaking,
! May. What is the matter with you?'
asked the doctor. stopping by the win
dow as If to gain time
'I'm anxious about Bruce. Go before
he's killed. if you mean to do SO. He'll
disturb the neighborhood if he continues
60 make that noise.
Mrs Gardner undid the fastenings
and let in a gust of night air laden with
chill mist.
Where's the lamp, dear?" asked heI
husband when he had stepped upon the
terrace and stood nervously undecided
whether to proceed farther or not Sud
denly he turned to her as if he had in 6
moment become aware that he was the
object of earnest observation upon bel
l part and looked in her face, which re
: manned calm and expressionless
L IL To-,
again Go. and be quick about it. o.
else shall consider you a coward"
With evident unwillingness he turneC
from her. saying: May, you are laugh
ing at me. My God. what are you do
ing?" he suddenly screamed
o Above the terrified cry of the docto
| rose the fierce, snarling growl of tn
staghound
: Mrs Gardner stepped back into tn
library with short, subdued, titterin
: laugh aud shut out the black night an
its horror.
"It's orful, POSITIVELY orful, obserN
8 ed the hou6ekeeper under her breath 8
, she stood upon the following mornin
In the center Of a group of qualzing, tel
: ror struck servants, land don t know
ow tAe poor, dear lady can bear it NJ
y / don't think she will if We ask m
, opinion She's jist out of one fit and
u another, and four doctors with FER a
IL mornin.
a. 'Ere's keb. Mrs Ferguson, int
posed a domestic who commanded
l. view of the square
S 'Yes. that's the other nurse YC
- tend to the door, Mercer, and take 'er
my room, /" ordered the housekeeper.
"Has she been told about him bel
A. worried by the dog?" asked Andrew
is the butler, crossing his legs to ke'
them still
y, ''No, it's crool anuff without tell
FER any 'orrible perticlzlers of that sort.
II suppose it was Bruce who kill'
: the cat, too?" questioned Robert, Il
! | vuderfootman.
!, "Most likely, " replied the housekee
~ er. "But the strangest thing of all
rk jist this. Mrs. Gardner reflects moth
of last night and doesn't even kno
!" when she went to 'er own room She
at break 'er heart as sure's she lives, a
he min my words. They were too fond
rs each other for it to last long, and she
ng go after i'm. Mark my words. And m
up the Lord save US all from GRO
he death"
nix THE END.