Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-09-19

my door. With presence OF mind
which l am .slal to sly rarely deserts
mo l blew ont my candle. slipped to the
door and noiselessly openel it u c.iink.
Some one WIS coming dowa the CORR
dor with the lightDess of Il cat, candle
in hand, MS 4 faint light showed me.
Another moment and saw Charles, pale
and haggard, still in evening dress, COM
ing toward me. He was without his
shoes. He passed my door and went
noiselessly into his own room, little
further down the passage. There was
the faintest suspicion of a sound, as of a
key being gently turned in the lock, and
then all was still again, stiller than ever.
What could Charles have been after, I
wondered. He could not have been re-
turning from seeing Denis, who was not
only much better, but was in the room
beyond his own. And why had he still
got on his evening clothes at o'clock In
the morning? determined to ask him
about it next day as l got back into bed
again, and then, while wondering about
1t and trying to get warm, fell fast
asleep. Twas only reused, after being
twice called, to find that 1t was broad
daylight, and to hear the boxes being
carried down Of many of the guests who
were leaving by an early train.
was late, but not so late as some.
Breakfast was still going on. Evelyn
and Ralph Ind been up to see their
friends off, but Gen. and Mrs. Marston
and Carr, who were staying on, came in
after I did. Lady Mary and Aurelia
were having breakfast in their own
rooms. think nothing is more dreary
than long breakfast table laid for
large numbers with half a dozen pick
nicking at it among the debris left by
earlier ravages. Evelyn, behind the
great silver urn, looked pale and pre-
occupied and had very little to say for
herself when journeyed up to her
end Of the table and sat down by her.
She asked me twice If II took sugar, and
way not bright and alert and ready in
conversation, as think girls shoald be-
Carr, too, was eating his breakfast in si-
lence beside Mrs. Marston.
It was not cheerful. And then Charles
came in, lstless and tired, and without
an appetite. He sat down YEARLY on
the other side of Evelyn and watched
her pour out his coffee without a word.
"The Carews and Edmonts and Lady
Delmour and her daughter have just
gone," said Evelyn, land Mr.. Denis"
eyes" replied Charles, seeming to pull
himself together; Denis came to my
room before he went. He looked a
wreck, poor fellow; but not worse than
some Of us. These late hours, these
friskings with energetic young creatures
In the schoolroom, these midnight revels
are too much for me. feel a perfect
wreck this morning, too"
He certainly looked it.
"Have you bad bsd lsttsass sska
Evelyn, In low voice.
He laughed a little-a grim laugh
and shook his head. "But had yester-
day." he added, presently, in a low tone.
II shall have to try change of air again
soon, am afraid"
Twas just going to ask Charles what
he had been doing walking about in his
socks the night before, when the door
opened, and Ralph, whose absence had
not noticed, came in. He looked much
perturbed. It seemed his father had been
taken suddenly and alarmingly i'll while
dressing.
In u moment all was confusion. Eve
Ign precipitately left the room to go to
him, while Charles rushed round to the
stables to send u groom on horseback for
the nearest doctor. Ralph followed i'm,
and the remainder of the party gathered
in little knot round the fire, Mrs. Mar
ston expressing the sentiment Of each Of
US when she said that she thought visit.
ors were very much in the way when
there was illness in the house, and that
she regretted that she and her husband
had arranged to stay over Sunday, today
being Friday.
$50 have l." said Carr; "but am
sure had better have refused. A stran.
ger in sick house is positive nuisance.
think l shall go to town by an after
noon train il there is one"
upon my word I think we had better
do the same" said Mrs Marston. "What
do you say, Arthur And she turned
to her husband.
II must go to day, anyhow-on bust.
ness" said Gen. Mafston.
II hope no one is talking of leaving,
said Charles, who had returned sudden.
ly, rather out of breath.
AS he spoke his eyes were fixed or
Carr.
Eyes, that is exactly what we were
doing" said Mrs. Marston. "Nothins
is SO tiresome as having visitors on one.
hands when there is illness in the house
Mr.. Carr was thinking of going up te
London by the afternoon train, and
have very good mind to go away witt
Arthur instead of staying on and letting
him come back here for me tomorrow
as we had intended"
"Pray do not think of such thingr
said Charles, really with unnecessary
earnestness. Mrs. Marston, pray d.
not alter your plans. CARR in mucl
sterner tone, II must beg that you viii
not think of leaving US today. You
fried, Col. Middleton, is staying on, ant
we cannot allow you to desert us SO sud
denly"
1t was more like command than III
invitation; but Carr, usually SO quick tt
take slight, did not seem to notice it
and merely said that he should be happ,
to go or stay, whichever was most in NC
cordance with tho wishes Of others, ant
took up the newspaper. He and Charlie
did not seem to get on well. Icould se
that Charles had not seemed to tax,
to him from the very first, and Carr cor
tainly did not appear at ease in tho house
Perhaps Charles felt that he had rathe
failed in courtesy to him, for during tn
remainder of the morning he hardly lie
him out Of his sight. He took him t
see the stables, though Carr openly de
clared that he did not understand horses
he showed him his collection of Zull
weapons in the vestibule; he even starte,
game of billiards with him till the NJ
rival Of the doctor. do not think Car
took his attentions in very good part
though hewas too well hammered to shoy
it; but he looked relieved when Charlie
went upstairs with the doctor, an,
pitched his enc into the rack Mt once