The Portland daily press., 1898-01-06
CHAPTER XIV. CONTINUED.

ULS COOL unSnOClOEaL lllUl6 uoCtof, WIZ
looked for moment or two. and then
softly shook his head again. Mr.. Hartree
glided silently as phantom to his slde
and whispered: "Do you consider her
condition dangerous, doctor?" The med
ical man laid his finger upon his pursed-
up lips and nodded In the affirmative
"And there is nothing to be done?'
Nothing more than has already been
done. 1t is not indeed q case OF simple
conclusion of the brain, as l at first
feared, for had it been SO she would never
have recovered consciousness. But from
the fact of her complaining of pressure
upon the head | very much fear the cere-
bral membrane has been injured, and II
that is SO I am afraid she will not re-
cover.
Mr.. Hartree gave vent to deep breath.
Indeed, the spectacle OF that poor girl,
stricken down, as the doctor stated, by q
mortal injury, her situation rendered the
more peculiarly pathetic by the knowl-
edge of the distress of mind she hau
labored under, could not fail to be affect
ing in the extreme. Mrs. Hartree occa-
sionally smuggled a handkerchief to Ter
eyes, whilst Marian every now and then
gave relief to her emotion in an aud1ble
and prolonged sigh, which deted all her
violent efforts to suppress 1t.
For another spell of considerable dura-
ton Clara Lambert lay MS she had done
when first brought in-motionless and TO
all appearance lifeless. Then she again
opened her eyes, and seemed to return
suddenly to consciousness as before. Dr.
Scott. who all this time stood by her SIDE,
asked her how she felt.
"I believe 1 am dying she answered.
in a low voice.
ooh, come, come! You mustn't say
that!" exclaimed the little meoioai
man. q good deal shocked by her percep-
ton of what he himself had every reason
to fear was inevitable.
~ am not afraid said she, COM
posedly II should like to see my
mother
''She will be here very soon now. Do
you feel any paln?"
"My head aches, and seem 10 nave ice
on my forehead.
1.-THE nerves are becoming numbed,
whispered the doctor to Mr.. Hartree.
Very soon she asked what had become
of Cecil The young fellow, on nearing
her pronounce his name, made a desper-
ate effort to appear collected, and stepped
to the bed. She smiled and extended her
hands, making as though she would KISS
him. He took one look at the girl as she
lay in this attitude, yearning towards
him. The spectacle was too much Tor
his composure, and covering his eyes he
sobbed like child.
"Why, what is the matter?" she ex-
claimed. "Cecil-poor old Cecil-what
are you crying for2 You are safe and we
added, letting her voice die out in
whisper, and half closing her dim violet
eyes. "It is because you think am 60
ing away from you.
SSir,'' said the little doctor in Raw
don's ear-he smoke sternly, but that was
chiefly to conceal his own agitation" let
| me implore you to control yourself.
Restrain your grief, or rather try to hide
| it, Be man; talk to her; comfort her;
encourage her; don't upset her!'
| Cecil made fierce effort to master. him
self, although his anguish Of remorse
stung him to the heart, stirred as his soul
had been to it's very depths by the girl s
love for him, and the old memories
| which during this time, crowded thlckly
through his mind.
| "Will you make me promlse! SAID
Clara, weakly drawing him towards her
by the sleeve of his coat.
| "What is it?'' he asked.
T! "Tbat when am gone you will marry
Marian Marston 1 know she loves you
she saved your life. Oh, my head. my
headl" she added, seized by a sudden
i spasm of pain.
Again he bowed down until his face
| lay against hers, with strange feeling
| of dizziness coming across his own brain.
She pressed her lips to his cheek and
murmured, "Do you promise?"
II will promise anything that will
make you happy, dear ONE he answered.
There sounded rattle of carriage
wheels upon the gravel drive outside.
Mr.. Hartree looked ont of the window
and said, "Thank Heaven! Here are
her father and mother at last" He then
quietly left the room to meet them, and
| conduct them into their daughters pres
ence care those flowers l see up
there?" whispered the girl
| ssAnd water, tool A great stream
| seems to be rushing towards me. How
dark it looks, and what a terrible roaring
it makes. 1t is coming closer and closer !;
l am afraid; save ne! All, now am
| in it; how cold it feels II
The door opened, and Mr.. Hartree. fol-
| lowed by Mr.. and Mrs. Lambert, noise
lessly glided into thes room. The poor
mother advanced, trembling and sobbing
to the side of the bed, and Cecil softly
drew aside to make way Tor her. me
girl, on feeling him release his hand
| from hers, opened her eyes, and her
beautiful in it's pallid, marble-like hue,
grew suddenly radiant with glad smile.
HMother!'' she murmured. That was
| all, Then again she closed her eyes, ano
| a deep, long sigh escaped her, that, to
her fathers fancy, was like the rustic OF
| the soul escaping from the lovely image
which had clothed it; shudder ron
through her whole frame, and her out
stretched arms sank slowly to her side.
"Come away" said the doctor, softly, to
those standing by the bed He placed
his ear to her mouth, thinking to find her
dead. After listening for a moment or
| two he drew himself up, and looking
round exclaimed, in subdued voice,
''Take hope, my friends, for she still
| lives.