Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-04-29
CHAPTER XIV.

As the year advanced the servants at
Mount Morven remarked that the weeks
seemed to follow each other more slowly
than usual. II the question had been
asked In past days: Who IL the brightest
and happiest member OF the family2 cv.
erybody would have said, Kitty. II the
question had been asked at the present
time. differences Of opinion might have
suggested different answers, but the whole
household would have refraincd without
hesitation from mentioning the child's
name. Since Sydney WesterGeld's depar.
ture Kitty had never held up her head.
Then typhoid fever set In. The doctor
spoke privately to Mr.. Linley. The child's
dcbilitatcd cOndition--that lowered state
Of the vital power which he had observed
when Kitty's case was first submitted TO
him-placcd a terrible obstacle In the way
OF successful resistance to the advances
"say nothing to Mrs. Linley Just vet.
There Is no absolute danger 80 far, unless
delirium sets In"
On the next evening but one the fatal
symptom showed itself. There was moth.
Ing violent In the dclirium. Unconscious
Of past events In the family life. the poor
child supposed that her g0verncss was liv-
Ing In the house rs usual. She piteously
wondered why Sydney remained down
stairs In tho school room. "Oh, don't
keep her away from me! want sgd! !
want Sydw That was her one cry. When
exhaustion silenced her, they hoped that
the sad delusiOn was at an end. No! As
the slow fro OF the fever famed again,
the same words were on the child's lips,
the same fond hope was In her sinking
heart.
The doctor led Mrs. Linlcy out Of the
room. rs this the govcrness?" he asked.
"Ycsw
IFS she within easy reachY'
"She IL employed In the family of a
friend Of ours, living nine miles away from
u.s."
"Send for her instantlyw
Mrs. Iinley looked at him with wild.
~ mingled expression Of hope and fear.
She was not thinking OF herself--she was
not oven thinking. for that one moment.
OF the child. What would her husband
shy, II she, who had extorted his promise
neveRto see the governess again, brought
Sydney Westertield back to the house?
Two hours later, pale, worn. haggard
with anxiety, Sydney Westerfeld entered
the room and looked once more on the
faces which she had resigned herself
never to see again. She appeared to be
hardly conscious Of the kind reception
which did Its best to set her at her ease
"Am ] In timer" were the first words
that escaped her on entering the room
Treasured by the answer, she turned
back to the door, eager to hurry upstairs
to Kitty's bedside.
Mrs. Lnley's gentle hand detained her
The doctor had left certain instructions
warning the mother to guard against an,
accident that might remind Kitty of tn,
day on which Sydney had left her. Al
the time Of that bitter parting, the chile
had seen her gOverness In the same walk
ing dress which she wore now. Mrs
Linlcy removed the hat and cloak, ani
laid them on chair.
"There IL one other precaution which
we must observe" she said; II must ash
you to wait In my room until ] find tha
you may show yourself safely. Now CONF
with me-"
Mrs. Presty followed them and begge,
earnestly for leave to wait the result O.
the momentous experiment at the door O
Kitty's bedroom. Randall opened the doc
for them % the three went out together
He was In state OF maddening anxiet!
about bis poor little niece. Then he shu
shut himself into the drawing room, bu
had barely succeeded In composing him
self when servant appeared with some
thing to say to him.
" don't know whether ] have don
right. sir" Malcolm began. "There's