Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-03-10
,HAPTER XVII.
nnt nf 1he wnrld.

As Clovis and Ursula walked on to
gether towards London, he became
more and more alarmed at her state.
Her weakness increased, until she
could hardly drag n foot after the
other. When he spoke to her, trying
to encourage her by saying that they
had not much farther to go before they
would be in the streets and be able TO
get a cab. she answered him only by Il
moan. or by some random words that
showed that ner mind was wandering.
He now understood that she had sut-
fered far more by her Imprisonment
than he had had any idea of, and than
this was the reaction following upon
the moments of terrible anxiety. when
il seemed TO her uncertain whether he
would nelp her to escape from her en-
emies.
Soon she became quite unable to
walk, and for the first time in his life
Clovis was at his wits end to know
what To do. TO abandon The girl. if he
had cared nothing for her, was impos-
sibie, and to seek for help from the
police was frightfully dangerous. How
was lie 10 explain his connection with
herr Even ii he We're to pretend that
she was Il stranger to him. he would
have to give some account of his being
In the streets at such an hour. and IL
she were taken to an hospital and
questioned. when she had somewhat
recovered, the whole truth would come
ont. What would he not have given
for n cab at that moment? But at that
hour. and in that quiet neighborhood,
il was hopeless 10 expect to find N
At length he was compelled to place
her on a doorstep, for she could not
stand alone, and he could not support
her weight any longer. He was bend
ing over her. in terror lest n policeman
should come upon them before he had
settled upon any plan of action, when
the sound of wheels met his ear. 1t
came from a distance to his right-in
the next street. Only waiting long
enough to lay the h~alf-conscious girls
head upon IN of the steps above that
upon which she was sitting, he Garted
off in the direction of the vehicle he
had heard. He might not be able to
overtake it-or the police might arrive
before he could ,eturn-i' could not be
helped.
When he reached the next street he
saw n light cart in the distance, being
driven at a rattling pace down the ST.
lent roadway. He ran. and ran shout
ing as he went, till at last the raan
heard him, and pulled up his horse.
"What in the worlds up now?"
roared the man in the cart.
Its a lady, suddenly taken ILL.,"
gasped Clovis. barely able to speak. /
left her sitting on a doorstep when |
heard the sound of your wheels. All |
want is for you to take her to tie
nearest hospital"
He stopped short. fairly astounded
at the torrent Of oaths and picturesque
language that issued from the fellows
mouth.
The carman had nothing to do with
ladies ~fainting on doorsteps. He had
to get to Convent Garden by half-past
four, If half the ladies in the West End
were wanting to be took to n horspital.
He had no bloomin' keb-and so fortl..
Yet he made no siga of whipping up
his horse. and his e~loquence gave Clo-
Wis time TO collect his wits n little.
'Ill give you five shillings to drive
her To the nearest cab stand, or until
we meet a cab that will take her" he
said.
And why the dickens couldn't We
say that ut fust? A-standin' there n
jawin'"' roared the fellow, savagely
turning his horses head round. Come
in here. Can't you see that we've lost
more'n enough time as it isY'
Clovis obeyed in silence. and in q
very short space of time they were at
the spot whore Ursula was lying. The
two men jumped out and managed to
lift her into the cart, and then proceed
ed towards London. The rough mo-
ton seemed to rouse the girl, and she
several times put her hand TO her fore
head. saying. in a half whisper: "My
head. My headw
1t was not long before they met q
cab, the driver of which consented TO
take the lady to the nearest hospital.
At the hospital Cows told a story
which he had ~concocted on the way. !
He said the lady was his sister-that
they lived in the country, and We're on
a visit to London. They had been
spending the day out of town, and
missed the last train (which accounted
for their being on the street at that un- |
usual hour when the lady was sud- |
aenly taken i'll. He said that he was |
willing to pay all charges that might be |
incurred, and only begged the hospital
authorities to receive her in the mean
time, and as soon as she was fit to be
removed he would take her away. He
gave the first name hat occurred to
him--Hargreaves.
The story was plar sible enough, and
1t was accepted without suspicion.
Clovis spent the day In providing n
RETREAT for Ursula. After some delhi /
GRAFTON, he took a small furnished
house in the midst of a wilderness OF
similar houses, and engaged n woman
TO act as nurse and housekeeper, with
a girl to do the homework. Ii was a
rather expensive plan. but the only
safe one.
In a few days Ursula was able to be
removed from the hospital. though she
was still very weak. She scarcely
Snahs OF all and was content TO sit for