The Portland daily press., 1898-07-08
CHAPTER, TV.

Bruce will come to no harm from this
experiment."
"Believe me, dear, when tell you
that am certain of it.
Convinced by her husbands assur-
ance, Mrs. Gardner flung open the Ii
brary window and called in low voice:
"Bruce, come here, Bruce. Ned, I'm
afraid somebody must have locked him
in the stable, and it's such cold, dark
night
Come in, May, and will go down, !"
said the doctor, rising from his chair al.
the fireplace and joining his wife at the
window. ooh, never mind, dear; it's
only a few steps" With q wife's loving
care her fingers were busily turning up
his coat collar to protect him from the
chill night air. "That will do, thank
yoa.
cob, but wait a moment, Ned, until
I get lamp to light you down. The
stairs are SO steep. Now, please, dom t
move.'
Dr. Gardner stepped out upon the ter.
race and stamped his feet upon the flag,
ged pavement until his wife returned,
and then, while she held UP the light
he carefully felt his way down the
streaky path thrown along the precip-
itous staircase which led into the gar
den. In a few seconds theso came a soft
footed rush along the gravel, and a
large staghound bounded up to the win
dow and thrust his nose into the hand
of his mistress with a joyful caress.
"Now, May, will you please hold his
head and try to keep him as quiet as
possible while I pour the medicine down
his throat?'' said the doctor, approach
ing with q small vial in his hand.
''Be careful, Ned. You've split some
of it over my fingers. There, that will
do. Good old Bruce Was it awfully
nasty? He doesn't seem to like it, and,
oh, Ned, my fingers are burning, See
how red they are. Is it caustic medi-
cine? Why, look how sulky Bruce looks.
He knows as well as you do that we
have played a trick upon him.
Hell get over it presently, dear.
+ Give him a lump of sugar, and then
we'll turn him out. He'll be all right
with his friend Tabby.''
ssBut thought, Edward, that you
wished to observe the effect Of the drug
upon him. mildly demonstrated Mrs.
Gardner.
"Net till tomorrow, my dear -
"Well, you know best, I suppose, -
answered the lady in tone of languid
interest.
For some minutes they were both ST.
lent and thoughtful, she reclining upon
couch, her head pillowed upon her
hands, and one unslippered foot care
lessly tapping the fender; he in an at
titude of studied repose which could
not hide the symptoms of suspense and
anguish, the drawn face alarming in it's
whiteness, the unceasing twitching of its
muscles, the uneased restlessness of his
limbs, which no mental effort could
control
Presently he asked, "May, why dc
you look at me so strangely?''
81 didn't, - she replied shortly with
out raising her eyes.
ooh, but you did, my dear, and al
most furtively."
"You are dreaming, sir,' was the
calm answer.
'May, what do YOU mean? I never
heard you address me in that way be.
fore," exclaimed her husband, with an
astonished look Of pain.
Ned, my darling, what did say to
you?' she asked, Immediately passing
her hand over her eyes and crossing the
hearth to wind her arms about him.
"Why, why, you said, sYou are
dreaming, sir Fancy sir to me-"
Edward, don't be silly I think
was dreaming myself. - 3sE
II can readily believe it, be observ.
ed in relieved tone, and then they be-
came again silent, she resting upon the
side Of his chair, and her gaze gradual
ly concentrating upon small bracket
mirror hanging from the wall.
Sometimes she smiled at herself in
it, at other times frowned, and once she
half closed her eyelids and peered be-
tween them at her own reflected image.
INLAY, my darling, your love is be-
coming painfully intense. If you don It
loosen your hold Of my neck, I shall be
choked," said the doctor, fondly pass
Ing his arm round her waist "What's
that?" he exclaimed, suddenly starting
to his feet. ''There's something wrong
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 a hesitating reluctance in his
manner, she added, "Oh, very well,
then, L must go myself"
How absurdly you are speaking,
May. What is the matter with your
asked the doctor, stopping by the win
dow as II 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
to make that noise''
Mrs. Gardner undid the fastenings
and let in a gust of night air laden with
a chill mist
where's the lamp, dear?" asked her