Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-10-13

from the room.
Twenty minutes later when Judith
was sitting absorbed in prrplrNcd
thought, Percy came stealing down
stairs again.
This is Il bad business. Judy" he
said. gravely. Hes in for a relapse.
He insisted upon my leaving him. but
he is so excited and fevrriSh that be-
fore long he will be ravinS in delirium.
or | am no judge. | shall sit in the
drrS>ing-room. so as to be near him.
DO YOU think that Grace N,,,N that
Elsie would be there: We hid cards
for four. but | gave mine to Towns
bend tonight"
Judith briefly told Percy all tina, had
happened.
well. it's Il most diSgracetul piece
of business from beginning to end" he
said. veNedly. "lour people married
Elsie to him. and they ought to have
taken care to teach her her duty. if
she didn't know it hut she's not Il
sixteen year-old child. Between YOU
and me. think it's Il scandal to lay
traps to catch Il man for his money,
and then treat him like this. AS for
Grace. Ill have it out with her. and. if
she knows where Your sister is. Ill
know, too. and between us. we will
try to bring this young woman to her
senses. Now YOU go to bed-you must
be tircd-it's Il shame that Your even
ing should have been spoiled"
Not at all; don't mind that in the
least. Nor am tired. shall change
my dress and sit up for Grace: but.
meanwhile. can we do nothing to re-
lieve Claude:"
mo; it is best not to irritate him. l
shall make some excuse for going into
his room again. and. if he is asleep or
worse. l shall run up to the top of the
road for the DOCTOR
1t was a quarter to five when Mrs.
Fletcher. looking dusty and tired. re-
turned home. AS she got out OF the
brougham gentleman emerged from
the house and walked away up the
road. She stared at him wonderingly.
and was still more aStoniShcd on en-
tering the hall. to find Judith there in
her ordinary morning gown
WHO was that, .Judith:" she asked,
rather CURLY.
doctor Connolly"
doctor Connolly: Good heavens.
Eaby-Percy.."
->tl'lfl 'loll | ne IliFlllet. II Is
Claude"
Claude here: Well. dcclare.."
Hush. Oracle: he is VERY ill., indeed
| braved your diSpleasurc and brought
him here. for he is in need of care. and
if YOU will come into the dining room l
VIII explain the matter to YOU. But
have cup of coffee tirst-I have been
making some" Judith said. quietly;
and few minutes afterwards she was
proceeding with the recital
We'll. | declare" Grace calculated:
If it were not so serious l should
laugh! suppose l must confess the
truth now. l did see Elsie at the hair
dreSser'S. and. as she would not come
here or let me go to see her, we ar
ranged to meet there again. Your sus-
picions prevented that. so. knowing it
would be safe disguise, l wrote and
told her to hire dress and meet me at
the Mainwarings', where she would be
able to remain safely until supper
time. l knew you would never dream
of our being so daring. But do you
really mean to say she made the coach
man strike Claude%
Yes. OF course YOU will give me
her address now. Oracle. or 60 your
self and fetch her here: She must
come to him. You will not mind
tlat::"
Il mind:Of course not: for it is
time they We're recOnciled | can't
have my friends treated to such a
scandal. and it's sure to leak out if
he's i'll here without her But it is Of
no use your going to her. Judy. for
laughing is quite jealous Of you.
and will be furious now. if she was
watching you all the time you and
Claude We're together at the Mainwar-
ings'.'
Grace. if you have no feeling for
me. you might have a little respect"
Judith said. oddly ELSIE told YOU
herself before her marriage that she
had no reason to be jealous of me; she
must, therefore. have less reason now"
We'll. YOU can't deny that he paid
yoH lot of attention before he saw
Elsie; so that it is very bad form for
YOU to he so much together now; it is
no wonder Elsie is jealous.'
IF you persist in that. and she tries
to make you believe it. / Shall be
Obliged to think that you are making
me the sc:lp"goat for her fault. You
both know that she has wrOnged
| Claude-yru may as well confess it. 1
am not ashamed or my sympathy for
him, FOR do fear to tell Elsie how
wrong she has been. Give me her adj
dress. please"
NO: she gave it to me on strict
condition that would give it to no
one. | tell you she is afraid of her
husband"
SHE has no need to be- Even if he
had not treated her we'll in the first in
stance. lie has proved by his untiring
efforts to find her. that he loves her
and is generously forgiving. Once
again. Oracle, ask you for the adj
dress"
Il refuse it. Judith. will write and
tell her I'LL you say
And if Claude dies MEANWHILE"
as lie so i'll as thatT' Mrs. Fletcher
asked nervOusly.
'Iic is so bad that Doctor Connolly
cannot say what the end will be- He
is worn ont physically and mentally
and Elsie ought to be here"
We'll, said Mrs. Fletcher, resign
rdly. u cant break my promise to her
| but | c:Inl holm il If van ninl. my nn,.l,