Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-12-22
CHAPIER Kill.
ewYSs MESSAGE &C cocH TAI

poSiic 10 her al the falling snow.
She iuokcrl uneasy aud Distressed.
What Is thlsy' she asked. Gs soou
as be entered the room. "rhcy say
we're showed MP: II 81. you won't bc
able 10 get away
moi today. I'm afraid" said De.
But I'm not IN such hurry To so.
would rather see you ulcut rrat."
She looked NJ him earnestly. In this
the first sight he had bad % ter face
10 natural position. Mason was
! struck 10y Its beauty CT feature. Re-
Gntd by Illness. her face had lost the
! ruddy brown Of the peasants healthy
skin aud looked delicately transparent.
Her largv. dark eyes had 10 them O
| pla!ntive expression Of anxiety which
gave them nu unusual depth and bril-
| liaucy. Her magnificent black hair. 10
longer confined IN the formal coll OF
tight plaits which she wore when ln
health. was Just loose enough 10 give
q sortCpiug effect 10 her whole face
II he had seen her 6rst AT wort
about the house or OD the farm, With
her sleeves rOlit~I up. wearing her nat.
ural expression OF busy Interest about
household tr!f!es. Mason would have
passed no other comment on her than
would hc expressed in the remark that
she WAS a fine girl.
As IL was. however. she Ind for him
all the interest OF beautiful woman
met under romantic and singular cir.
cumstsnces. He was Interested In
her touched by her evident concern
on his account.
Where have you come from she
asked shortly. Not WalesT
Il come from London"
"Ah! That was where your brother
came from"
You saw hlmY" asked Mason ca.
gcrly.
She threw at him frightened
glance. which woke his interest anew.
"Eo."
But you heard OF his coming" pur.
sued he quickly.
Again to bis impatItnce and disgust.
be saw IN this charming. attractive
girl the same ugly rrticencc which had
characterized COch Tails every mcn.
tlcn Of his brother
Il heard OF clerRyman's coming "a
see tie ruins. she answered stittiy, us
" measuring ont her words.
And rs she spoke she settled herself
down among her pillows and closed
her eyes as II the cxcrtlop OF sitting
: up had tired her but he knew that
this fatigue was only assumed. and ht
asked her another question In low
voice earnestly, They were alone to
I gethcr for the first time: the grand
mother, whose presence acted like nj
evil spell upon Mason, was for onct
6 out Of the way. Such an opportunity
T was not 10 I've lightly missed.
III you know anything. tell me" sal.
6 he implorngly In voice which shoot
e with the emotion he felt. "N0bod,
$ will tell me anything. Bu, Wus
D know
q How paltry her excuse of apparrn
!, fatigue was became IN aD Instant
u abundantly evident She dashed he
!, great eyes at him and repeated qu!chi,
!, In the low voice she had used all lh,
0 time:
u Must know! What do you mean b,
Il that? Is IL thrcatT'
y "No," answered he passIonately. Il
= is-8n Cntrcnty."
There was silence. She closed he
{ eyes again, aud presently he saw rol
Q Ing from under Der cyelIds two tears
o which slowly trickled dowp 10 be
D pillow. Mason bit bis lip He fcl
d that be was brute 10 disturb Der a
D such time, and yet be knew that Il
, agitation from which she was SuRcl
e ing could hardly lie increased by any
s. thing be could say.
p Again there was silence. The I'll
;" snow6akes Suffered steadily past IL
= window, darkcDing il as they fell: th
e fire bissed In the crate, Presently th
j. girl turued her head
" There Is some one at the door.
u said she 10 whisper. See VITO II IL.
j Mason crossed the door very quiCt
D. ly, threw open the door and discovc
IS ed Coch Tai standing close hebIut
Ie The peasants face wore an ugl,
's threatening look as be met the eye
OF the doctor.
so you're not going, sir after all!
50 ID be III q strongly irouical tone.
70 I'm going the moment | can do so
W returned Mason, At present I'm ,ol
U It IS impossible 10 leave the house."
ffIntylnSS ltNlTe .,
RI them as aren't ID the mood to 20
re retorted Cocb Tai hercely.
S Mason, afraid that the mans augl
rc and aggressive tones would rea,
50 Gwyn's ears and alarm her. closed Il
rs door OF the room, shutting himself al
III bis compaliOp out
BIT DO you doubt that | want 10 {
c. away asked be quietly.
I'd Doubt it! ics, do. dou
n. your wanting TO get away frOw her,
H. And be jerkcd lis head violeptly
II the direction OF the ROOM where 4
he sick glrl was lying.
a Jealous" thought Mason, With h
=. eyes suddenly opened.
IS. And at once be set about ailaying q
r.. excited lovers fears.
Il should certainly not have cared
go or have been willing to go While Il
patient was 10 any danger" he apswC
, cd In solemn, professional tones, bat
al am happy to say there is nothing mo
20 10 fear Pneumonia is sn illness wbi
ii leaves one 10 doubt when the crisis
}; past, She is mcDdiDg rapidly mud 90
n only wants ordinary care, not skill
N attendance. Now, are you satisfied!
. Apparently Coch Tai was not.
:. the dim light Of the stAIrb"ad, wbc
< there was scarcely room for them
- stand without touching cach other,
" went on staring scrutiu!zInGly ID I
,r face of the doctor.