Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-05-18
CHAPTER VII.


\ moment only had she lain there,
when strong arms lifeted her and bore
tho read.
I'VE will drive into Paris" said her
rrScucr to the man upon the box.
''l'hiS lady is ill, and must be taken i'm
mcdiately to her home. Are your hors-
cs equal to it? Ii so. l will pay you Il
hundred francs to make the trip
"rhey're fresh as may be. sir LII
have YOU there within four hours"
Abundant time for meditation had
Harry .Arkwright during that long,
lnLely ride-lonely. although lie held
Florence Gervasr'S lovely form in his
embrace. and the beautiful head WAS
pillowed upon his breast for she nei-
Their knew who held her. nor what COM
posed her pillow; long. because he
sometimes feared that. as one sorrow
succeeded another, some one might
len2tllrn into eternity
He thought not of his own love or
passionate longing. In this moment all
Sel1iSnneSS was purified in his one great
fear for her. Instantly. when Marie
ON his return that afternoon to the
house, had told him of her mistress
strange conduct. he had OWNED her
purpose, and as instantly determined
TO follow her. to aid her. if she stood i'll
need of his aid. He had been her fell
low passenger. though she dreamt not
that he was near. He knew it would
b. useless then to attempt TO disSuadc
her from her rash purpose. He hal
caught sight of her face in the station.
and he had read there :; resolve too inn
llaralle to be easily thwarted.
He had aligltcd on the other side Of
the cars. bad followed her to the chat
eau on foot. stopping in the little TOWN.
ani ordering horses and carriage 10
follow and be in readiness ut his COM
mani. He had waited outside in the
darkness while she was within: he had
seen her again come forth. ANA had
been OH the point of approaching and
addressing her. wondering how he
should account for his own holiness.
and cause her no alarm. When. with
those few murmured words (holding
such import, could they be termed Il
prayer:) she had fallen PROSTATE and
unconscious upon the rain-soaked
ground. what would have become of
her had he not been there?
He shuddercd to think of the expos
IRE to that delicate frame. strained al
ready to pitch beyond endurance. He
thought Of the sacrifice she had made,
OF home, and friends, and country, for
the man who Toasted in the light. and
warmth. and another's smiles. While
she-as young, more beautiful-lay
helpless and unconscious in the wet
and darkness.
Involuntarily he held her closer. and
drew with greater tenderness her head
nearer his heart. But she did not hear
ii beat beneath her touch: knew moth
ing OF the long. weary miles traversed
in the darkness: knew not when the
r!red horses stopped before her OWL
door. as some clock i'll Il nei"hboring
fewer rang out Il single stroke.
The little household had not retired.
All knew that something had gone
very wrong. and Florence was too kind
Il mistress not to have awakened their
respectful love. Marie. listening. had
heard the carriage stop, and. hastily
calling Jean to follow. ran down the
stairs and stood upon the pavement al
most as soon as the driver had thrown
open the carriage door.
Ark wright saw her with Intense re-
lief.
''Iour mistress is very ILL.," he said.
"She must be carried to her room and
at once put to bed All. Jean is here.
No. can carry her alone. Her weight
is nothing; and, clasping her more
firmly in his arms, he lifted her like a
"a Inv tai 1o
own couch.
For the first time it occurred to him
to thank God for the young strength
not that it had given him the athletes
rrputatiOn-which once he had regard
ed with some pridc-but that it enabled
him to withhold from her any touch
which he would have considered desc
GRAFTON.
"Undress her quickly."' he said to he.'
maid, who, pale and fearful. had fol-
lowed him. ON half an hour l will
have a physician
Within the time he kept his word,
but the doctor could give him little
hope or comfort.
There must be an immediate con-
sultation." he said.
And in the early light of the morn
ing, three grave, earnest men bent over
Florence Geryase's bed, and each. in
his own mind, gave her up to death.
But. for their regulations sake. they
must give death battle. and unequal as
were the forces and little confidence AS
they possessed in their own powers,
they routed the grim spectre and them
selves gained an unlooked-fOr victory.
But the fight was no skirmish. 1t was
a contest requiring strategy and Skill.
For -four weeks she for whose pos
session they battled knew naught OF it.
She either lay. white as her pillow.
with closed eyes and immcbile lips. or
with crimson flush upon her checks
and dilated pupils. and tossed to and
fro her head upon her pillows-the
head from which the lovely hair was
shDrn quite close--and murmured inar-
tic,llate, incolerent words
Ii Louis Gervase knew of his wlfe's