Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-02-15
BY Marion v KHolIis'TES9
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ANuPeIl mlBnt De disturbed, LOf0 SelWyn
went himself to answer it. There stood
the butler with 4 white, terrified face.
viii you please come out, my lord p he
aid. Il want to speak to you"
tie went, with a heavy foreboding as
Of some coming sorrow at his heart.
What u 1t, Hewson?" he asked. II,
anything wronsr'
my lord" said the man, turnins
abruptly, Il do not know how to tell you
I cannot find words"
Il do not IKE suspense" said Lord Sci.
wyn.
my lady went out this morning, my
lord" said the man; II cannot say whose
fault It was, but she took the chestnut
ponies-and-"
"Oh, heavenr' cried the unhappy hus.
band. What has happened tell me the
worst"
There has been an accident, and nv
lady has been brought home In DR.. Ar.
gents carriage from Shilton."
rs she-is she" then Lord Selwyn
stopped short, his white lips could moi
i form the word.
NO" was the reply; "the groom was
killed on the spot; my lady still lives"
Where have they laid herr he asked,
in low. hoarse tones.
In her own room. Let me ten you the
worst, my lord; she will never leave il
again."
With a cry that resembled no human
sound, Lord Selwyn FASTENED away. He
met strange men and weeping servants in
the corridor and on the broad staircase;
they made way in silence for him.
In
proud, beautiful. imperial Beatrice, proud
no longer-the color and flush Of health
and strength all gone. They had laid her
upon the sumptuous bed, and the two doc
tors stood on either side. They made way
for him as he entered. He knew by the
expression on both grave faces that for
the hapless lady lying there hope had van
ished.
He went up to her, but for the first time
her lips were mute when he called her
name.
1T Is useless, Lord Selwyn," said DR..
Danvers. Lady Beatrice will never see
you or hear you again."
rs there no hopeY be asked.
"None," was the grave reply. He,
ladyship has sustained two injuries, either
of which would be fatal Her spine 10 ter.
ribly injured, and there is concussion Of
the brain. 1t is merely q matter Of few
minutes; but she will never know you
again. She may continue In thia state nna
hour or two-no longer; nor can we render
any assistance by remaining"
His distress was terrible to witness He
knelt down by her side, and took the
white, helpless hands In his. 1t was not
that he loved her SO dearly; but the man
ner, the suddenness Of her death bewil-
dered him. He had been % happy q few
minutes since, because Rupert was better.
and now he stood by his wife's de6thbed.
The shock seemed too much for him.
One by one the servants came, all anxious
to render some assistance, but he waved
them away. Nothing could be done for
the doomed lady whose life was DO nearly
over.
"Will she not know me? Will she new
er be able to speak to me again r he cried;
and the reply was, Never in this world
never again"
Some one-he never knew who 1t WIS
brought in little Lance, the beautiful,
blooming boy, who cried with joy at the
sight Of his mother, then cried again, be-
cause he was frightened at the stiffness
of her white, death-like face. But neith-
er joy, nor sorrow-not even the voice of
the child she loved 50 dearly, and fo9
whom she had snned 80 terribly-had
power to move her.
They laid the child by her side. Its lit
tie warm hands touched her: but never
again would mothers kiss soothe it, and
Lord Selwyn, unable to bear the sight,
motioned the child away.
A few minutes more, and the solemn 81
lence of that death chamber was broken
by the entrance Of Mrs. Rivers. She made
no apology, but went up to Lord Selwyn.
"Is there anything I can do?" she ask
ed gently; and when he shook his head
for all words failed him-instead of leav-
ing the room, she went round to the other
side of the bed, and looked earnestly at
the changed face.
Then DR.. Danvers came up to the bed
and looked at the white face. He laid
his hand gently on Mrs. Rivers.
"You can pray no longer for the living
he said; "she Is dead"
She was dead. When the soul passed to
its Judgment none Of the three kneeiing
there ever knew! There was little change
in the face, save that the gray shades
deepened. Lord Selwyn's grief was pitt
full to witness.
"I could almost believe" he said, "that
a curse rests on me and mine. My first
wife died a terrible death. What have
done that am so terribly punished"
A gentle voice whispered in his ear:
"Heayep's DEGREES are not always or
dained in punishment; they are always
wise, and always merciful.
(To be continuedo