Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-09-09
BY CHARLOTTE N. BRAEME.


should prove dangerous in the end. It
was better, he thought, than she should
go away at once.
he made two announcements to his
household. which no one even thought
OF connecting. The first and most
startling was. Of course, that Lady
Hamilton had been shot accidentally
chance shot-though why ball car
fridge had been used was a puzzle
supposed to have been fired by poach-
ers in the wood; the second was that
Lady Caraven had been suddenly sum-
money to her fathers home In London.
NO one dreamed Of connecting the two
announcements. and In the disordered
state OF the household 1t never occurred
to any OF the guests to question the
servants as to when the countess had
gone. She had been sent for after din
ner. and the apologies that the earl
made were deemed quite sufficient.
Some OF the guests indeed said that 1t
was as well Lady Caraven was out of
the way, as she would probably have
been greatly distressed. To this day
the earl is uncertain what in his panic
he said or did. The only idea quite
clear to him was that he must shield
the woman who lore his name
1t was not very long before the doc
tor arrived. and then all alarm was at
an end. He found the ball at once;
1t had not gone very deep into TIE
shoulder. 1t was extracted and the
wound bound up.
Then lovely Lady Hamilton raised
her golden head and asked, languld-
ly:
Shall be very i'll, doctor?"
mo, l hope not. You will suffer a
little pain-nothing much. trust
Shall be I'll for long timer" she
asked. "Ah, me, how little dream ed
that was coming to Ravensmero to be
shot!"
1T is very unfortunate" said the
doctor; but / do not think you will
be i'll very long, Lady Hamilton. You
must take heart"
ITO think that OF all the people in
the world they should select me! I
suppose 1t was quite an accident.
though. They were poachers, l am
told. Now. doctor. want to ask you
very serious question"
The doctor seemed to imply by his
manner that he was all attention.
Il shall lie very happy to answer 1t.
II 1t lies in my power" he said.
Tell me, shall lcse-that is-wi!l
my temporary seclusion interfere at
all with what l nay call my coed
| lcoks?"
He told himself that the amusement
| he felt must be carefully concealed.
II think" he replied. confidentinlly
that may rcansure your ladyship. l
do not see how 1t can possibly affect
you in that fashion, and the needed
rest will be most beneficial to YOU"
Then she was content to remain in
her room, not suffering very mue
pain.
The keepers had made strenuous eff
forts to find the poachers. but they
had evidently made their escape, frlght-
ened doubtless at what they had done
No trace Of them could be found.
1t was with sense of relief that
Lord Caraven went to his room that
night He wanted to he alone to
think over the events OF the day. He
found himself dwelling less on the ter
rible fact that his wife had shot Lady
Hamilton than on tho wonderful facI
that she loved him.
Il have gone mad-I love you-let
me diet"
The words haunted him like the re-
frain Of song. He could not sleep
All night the pale. passionate, beauti
full face was before him. The word!
rang in his ears as they had runs
when he saw Hildred in the star
hight. pleading. praying. accusing him
all in one vehement storm Of words