The Portland daily press., 1898-07-08
A COMING POSSIBILITY.
BY GREG EDWARDS.
ECopyrIgnt. 1897, by the Author.l
[Continucd.1
CHAPTER LII.

~AAA5 I'D SnhipbG1 4tS uI6Q 81 prominent
IS. Many changes have taken place at
Catharine square within that time, not
the least being the death, four years
ago, OF the distinguished old scientist,
who left behind him the memory Of
great name and q small fortune, be-
qt7ea:hed to his only daughter. That
lady, promoted to the rank Of wife, now
occupies 4er post at the head of tho ta-
bic, while her husband, DR.. Edward
Gardner, sits opposite to her, dividing
his attention between the morning pa
pers and the meal set before him.
Other changes may be observed in the
apartment itself Instead Of the home
ly, cozy old chairs, the great mahogany
chiffonier, always in a high state of
polish, the Anticipated corner cupboards,
Respondent with brass knobs and key
holes the faded mahogany screens,
worked in beads by the late Mrs. Camp
bell, the portraits Of old ladies in frills
and hugo brooches, of DIR. Campbell
himself, looking into the room with the
county of Perth behind him. and Of his
reverend father, bedecked in coils of
white tie, with his glasses in one hand
and a concordance in the other-instead
of all these are seen the modern and
costly in art and fashion, luxurious
couches and chairs, massive sideboards,
heavy velvet curtains, thick carpets,
kege canvases, dazzling in the freshness
of new paint and framed in all the
gorgeousness that gilt can give for
money
In every part of the house-which,
in fact, is less a house than an .estab-
lishment''-as in the room now occu-
pied by the doctor and his wife, reigns
the air of wealth and splendor such as
would have astoHished the lady's father
had he lived to witness it. But while
these changes are of interest as signifi-
can't Of worldly progress we must needs
turn aside and direct our attention rath-
er to persons than things. DR.. Gardner
himself is at the present moment per-
son in whose appearance there is some
thing unusual to attract the eye.
That he is the victim Of an unsettling
mental emotion is evident from the
manner in which he stares at the sheet
in his hand. The absence of all color in
his face, the quiyering lip, the dilated
nostril, the trembling limbs conveying
a rustling sound to tho paper held in
his grasp, are in themselves sufficient
testimony to its violence.
"What is the matter, Ned? Tell me,
darling, are you ll?' cried his wife in
a frightened voioe as she ran to him
and fell upon her knees by his chair.
Her husbands breathing seemed to
have stopped for time, but presently
he drew in a prolonged inspiration, as
if he would have exhausted the very
room, and then with too apparent ef-
fort at composure he asked:
"Did startle you, my dear? Upon
my wcrd you look quite shaken.''
AS he tenderly patted her cheek his
lips distorted themselves into the sem
blanoe Of q smile-the least fitting ex-
preston for his face to wear, for every
vestige of color had left it.
"Tell me, though, dear, what is the
matter with your" persisted his wife.
Nothing but stitch, May. 1t bit
me terribly sharp right over the heart,
but I am quite well now, he answer
ed, trying to speak cheerfully, though
his looks wandered everywhere but to
the pure light Of his wife's countenance.
''But, Ned, darling, was there
snean-please don't be vexed with me
for asking-was there nothing in the
paper to alarm you?''
sob, May, how foolish you arer' nc
replied, with laugh which had nc
anirth in it. 81 assure you that there
was absolutely nothing wrong with me
but that pain: only, to tell the truth,
when it came so instantane ously was
just going to read you bit Of news
which, to say the least, is rather dread.
full. But go to your seat first. Yes;
well, give me another kiss before you
CO."
Mrs. Gardner slowly rose to her feet
ind proceeded to her place at the table,
while the doctor, with his face careful
~ hidden behind che paper, went on
with his remarks.
"Now, where was I? All, yes; won.
der, May, if you would remember that
tall woman who came here once or
twice about three months ago to consult
me-
Seeing that her husbands medical
visiting list might easily have been
written upon one OF her own cards, it
was highly improbable that Mrs Gard
ner would forget such rare incidents in
his professional life, SO she answered
interrogatively:
tDo you mean that extremely hand
some dark woman Of about 80, dressed
in furs, who came all the way from
London2'
eyes, the very same person. You will
recolleet that she engaged suit CT
rooms in the Buckingham and hired a
victoria and pair during her stay in the
city"
"Of course reccllect her perfectly
because she was youz only patient when
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