Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-03
CHAPTER XII.

NJ" I
All acas oUcr, at least all In the cart ipere.
Ipassed an uneasy night. The wind
moaned YEARLY round the house. at
one moment seeming to die away alto
gether, at another returning with re-
doubled fury, roaring down the wide
chimney, shaking the whole building.
1t dropped completely toward dawn, and
inter hours of fitful slumber I slept
heavily.
In the gray of the early morning was
awakened by some one coming into my
room, and started up to find Charles
standing by my bedside, dressed and
with candle in his hand. His face was
worn and haggard for want of sleep.
II have come to speak to you before !
go, Middleton" he said, when I was
thoroughly awake. "Ralph and l are off
by the early train. Will you tell my
father that we may not be able to return
till tomorrow, if then; and may count
upon you to keep all you saw and heard
secret until after our return?"
where are you going?"
~ hoI'ion. we ssais IA 1wensy
use, but Ralph insists on going, and
cannot let him go alone"
"My dear Charles" l said (all my
anger had vanished at the sight of his
worn facet 81 will accompany you,"
ct. N s'os., ~, wofiuss ie lepieu naselly;
Mouu y. ~ eooo' Anoeeu : snoe'lo
"o Nv. 19n ~ ~.
n ..u hlew pet'er' a.,
~ al oiu neau y oven VI use, re-
Su may c ,ssssss.ns INV n1y S,osues
| shall be ready in ten @fn ne, ynarles.
Charles made some pretence at annoy.
ance. but I was not to be dissuaded.
| knew very well how invaluable the judg.
ment Of an elder man of experience
could be on critical occasions, and be.
sides always make q point Of seeing
everything I can on all occasions. In
| ten minutes was down in the dining
room, where beside o spluttering fire
| the brothers, both heavily booted and
ulstered, were drinking coffee by candle
light. A hastily laid breakfast was on
| the table. but it had not been touched.
| The gray morning light was turning the
fame Of the candles to a rusty yellow,
and outside upon the wide stone stills the
snow Law high against the panes.
Ralph was sitting with bent head by
the fire, stick and cap in hand, his heavy
boot beating the floor impatiently. HI
looked up as came in, bat did moi
speak. The ruddy color in his cheeks
was faded, his face was drawn and set
He looked Cen years older.
"We ought to be off," he said at las,
in o low voice.
"No hurry" replied Charles; "finist
your coffee"
hastily drank some also, and tolf
Charles that was coming with them.
"No," said Charles.
eyes," 1 replied. "You are going tx
London, and so am l. have decided tt
curtail my visit by u few days under tn,
circumstances. shall travel up witt
you. Ny luggage can follow"
| As soon as Charles grasped the ide,
that was not going to return to Stok
Moreton his opposition melted away. H
even seemed to hail my departure will
certain sense Of relief.
Gas you Ike" he said. You ca,
leave at this unearthly hour if you wisl
and travel with us as far as Padding
tom
nodded and went after my great
coat. OF course l had not the slightes
intention of leaving them at Padding
ton, but felt that the time had not III
rived to say so.
"Here comes the dog cart" sail
Charles as returned.
Ralph was already on his feet. Blu
the dog cart, with its great bay horse
could not be brought up to the door
The snow had drifted heavily before tn
steps and right up into the archway, an
the cart had to 20 round to the bac
again before we could get in and start
Charles took the reins, and his brothe
got up beside him. The groom and
squeezed ourselves into the back scat.
could see that was only allowed t
come on suferance, and that at the lae
moment they would have been willin
to dispense with my presence. Howe,
er, 1 felt that | should never have fol
given myself if had let them 70 alont
Charles was not 80 and Ralph sever,
years younger. An experienced man {