Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-06-28
CHAPTER V.

When Barbara returns to the Court,
with pale cheeks and without her
bunch of violets, that repose in George
Bouverie's pocketbook as a farewell
souvenir, 1t is to find scene Of con-
fusion and a group in the hall, con-
sisting of the servants, and they are
surrounding a central figure, which
turns out to be Mrs. Saville lying on
the floor.
A loose stair-rod has precipitated
her down the stairs, with the result of
a broken ankle.
The accident effectually puts a stop
to the trip to London. When-with
the aid of the coachman, Sebastian,
and the cook-she has been conveyed
up stairs, she turns to Barbara with a
moan.
II shall be tied here for weeks! I
am suffering horribly! You must go
to London with Sebastian"
Don't worry about me, Aunt Julia"
Barbara says, plying the pain that is
shown in the twitching face. Il can
travel alone"
Nonsense! AS if Sebastian would
allow such a thing! You can go
straight to your Uncle Henry's, and
Sebastian will see you safely on
board. My foot is fearfully painful.
hope the doctor has been sent for"
Eyes. Sebastian rode off for him at
once"
Then you may go down stairs and
send Mason to me. What figure you
look, Barbara! 1 suppose you have
been having a scene with that young
Bouverie?"
Barbara says nothing. Her aunt is
in pain, and pain makes most people
irritable; so she leaves the room, and
prepares to continue her own pack
ing, folding away her possessions with
a strange sense of unreality, wonder
ing idly what manner of life she will
be living when her gowns see the light
of day again.
1t is all over at last! The lovers
manage a last farewell, and then Bar
bara is gone, whirled away on the
first part of the long voyage, to begin
life that to her will only be a time
of probation till George Bouverie shall
come and claim her.
Within a week Sebastian is home
again, having seen Barbara safely on
board and started for Tasmania.
'She is most extraordinary girl"
he says, sitting by his mothers bed
side, and giving her a report of his
proceedings. Just fancy! She would
not buy single thing for the voyage
except a deck chair, rug and some
lavender water; and she insisted on
travelling second class, though her
fathers friends were going first, and
seemed greatly annoyed. They will,
through Barbara's obstinacy, be I'M
able to be Of the slightest use to her
during the voyage"
What can she mean?" calculates
Mrs. Saville, looking very grim and
grey as she reclines on her pillows.
Sebastian shrugs his shoulders.
Who can assign any reason for the
vagaries of woman's mind? That
fool Bouverie came to the railway sta
ton, and they stared into each others
eyes like couple oflunatics. thought
Barbara was going to have Mysteries.
Well, she has seen the last of him.
If rumor is right, he has about come
to the end of his tether. He looks bad
enough, and it strikes me his express
sion spells ruin more than grief at los
ing a sweetheart
1T is a good thing Barbara has
time you go out to Tasmania she will
have forgotten Bouverie and be very
glad to see you"
Il hope So" says Sebastian drily,
considering she is to have all the
accumulated savings of her father and
her mothers fortune as WELL" Then
his face changes suddenly. "And If
she hadn't a penny should marry her
all the same. She is the only woman
/ ever wanted for my wife"-rising
and leaving the room.
And while the great steamer con-
tanning Barabra in her second-class
quarters ploughs her way through the
grey pillows, George Bouverie once
more looks out into the world, with
hope shining in his eyes and look
of relief on his handsome face.
Today, that before sunset is to be
day of tragedy, is as other days with
the scent of coming spring in the air.
Mrs. Bouverie has been moved to the
sofa, and lies like fragile lily, with
her white hair and meek, quiet eyes.
George is beside her, and her deli
cate, blue-veined hands are lying in
his broad, sunburnt palm. They have
had long talk, mother and son-one
of those rare talks that have brought
heart very near to heart. The moth
er's lips are tremulous, her eyes tear
full They have been talking about