The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-05-19
RISING SUN. CECIL COUNTY MD. FRIDAY. MAY l9. 1899

indiscreet questions. Custom had afro
phied curiosity.
"Of course" l said, apologetically,
'he is very busy man.
"He must be-" she returned.
Then she leaned back and closed her
eyes. A niastiff feeding is not an
aesthetic sight; and confess that was
hungry. AS l munched away, the two
faces almost within touch of my hand
challenged attention. The likeness be-
tween father and daughter grew start
ling-so startling, indeed, that gulped
down a glass of wine to quiet my brist-
ling sensibilities. No wonder Mark
Gerard had sent her abroad and to the
cast. With that face confronting him.
his apprehensions, poor devil. must
have run riot.
"'nhere is thunder in the air" said
Miss Nancy, raising her heavy lids.
Thunder" l repeated, incredulous-
ly.
"And lightning. Well, it will clear the
atmosphere. The barometer has been
at set fair long enough"
Her perspicacity confounded me.
With men of all sorts and conditions
was familiar; with women | had come
but seldom in contact.
Eyes, we are smarter than you think" ="
she said, divining my thoughts. by
the-bye. why do you dislike Demet-
rius?"
"Your mother says he is pagan"
ingston, why can't you talk to me
frankly? Forget that am girl"
She spoke gravely-with emphasis,
without excitement A man, I re-
fected, might do well to pick up the
gauntlet she had thrown down. A
friendly contest Of wits was just the
tonic I needed; but Mark Gerard had
my word, and my tongue was tied.
"Demetrius. Miss Nancy, is a Greek
with a Greeks subtlety and cunning
Unless l am very much mistaken, he
has served Mr.. Gerard, faithfully, I'll
admit, because it was to his interest to
do so. He believes in the doctrine of
sxpediency, that the end justifes the
means. That is why call him pagan"
EYES," she said, thoughtfully. YOU
are right. Hush!"
She moved swiftly across the room.
opened the door, glanced keenly to
right and left. and returned to her chair.
81 thought" she whispered, that
/ heard a noise outside. l was mis-
taken"
"Your nerves are"
''In excellent order, thank you. Mr..
Livingston" her voice betrayed for
the first time eXicitement-"look! He
is coming to-"
l sprang to my feet, and together we
approached the bed and bent inquiring
iy over the patient. His eyelids twitched
convulsively, and then opened. The
man was conscious. At the same mo-
ment my ear caught the sound of a dis
tinct creak in the passage. My eyes
sought Miss Nancy's.
"That was what l heard just now,"
she murmured. Its nothing; all these
wooden houses creak."
Burlington monopolized our attention.
and no more was said. The doctor had
left instructions, which were followed
to the letter. Miss Nancy supported the
sick mans head, while I, with tea
spoon. fed him slowly vita prepared
bouillon. Burlington swallowed the
broth with difficulty, and made no at
tempt to speak. lie was not violent,
and apparently was not in pain. We
waited patiently for his first words.
Where am II" he stammered, when
the broth was consumed and his head
once more upon the pillow.
with friends" answered.
"Friends?" His voice was singularly
strong and harsh. II have no friends
Ha! l remember; the cave, yes-and
the boy"
He attempted to move, and groaned
deeply.
"Mr. Burlington, you know me, /
think; Hugo Livingston. Let me en-
treat you to keep perfectly quiet. Don't
move, and don't talk. l can give you
hypodermic injection; but you are
better without it. The doctor will be
here tomorrow morning early"
He nodded and closed his eyes. OF
course further talking between Nancy
and me was impossible. We sat in ST.
lence through the watches of the nigH,
performing from time to time such Of
fees as were required.
The birds had begun to twitter their
mathis when the doctor drove up. He
had been attending a dying patient.
He protested against Nancy's vigil. and
pronounced the patient in no immedi-
ate danger.
"You will please go to bed, Miss Ger
ard, or at any rate lie down. / insist
IN 4sa=