Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-02
CHAPTER Xv.-(Continued.)

Ct1aE En- AN.-tSOutiuueU.J
One day while the general and Sir Ba-
ell were walking along the high road that
led to Arley, they met a huge numbering
wagon on its way to the Hall. When
they drew near to it they found that 1t
was from the railway. The driver stop
ned when ne saw Sir Arthur, and asked
If he was to drive through the park.
What have you therer asked the
general in wonder.
Ten packages" answered the buriy
driver. Would you like to see the book,
Sir Arthur
The general looked at it and found that
there were ten packages from South
wood Then he remembered that, when
leaving there, several things in the cot
tage were packed up and left at the rail-
way station to be forwarded to Brent
wood-Martin Rays writing desk. his
favorite books, one or two things that
the girls priced, Hettie's music, and what
few mementoes remained Of the dear,
dead mother. 1t occurred to Sir Arthur
that any knowledge of the arrival Of
these things would be hateful to Hettie;
so he tore a leaf from his pocketbook,
and on it wrote a note to Leah, telling
her that the packages were from South
wood. and that they had better be put
away in some remote corner Of the house
until Hettie had quite recovered and the
sight of them would not hurt her. He
gave directions that the wagon should
not go near the Hall.
NO one can TELL" he said. what harm
the sound might do to Hettie:" and Ba.
sill was struck by his kindly considera.
ton.
Leah read the note and FASTENED te
give the necessary orders. The pack
ages were slowed away in one Of the un-
used rooms of the western wing. One
of them, a square packet, attracted
Leah's attention. She unfastened the
canvas in which it was folded, and found
that it was her fathers writing case.
If Leah could have known what the
desk contained, she would not have look
ed at it with such careless eyes.
She forgot all about the packages. Het
tie, though weak as little child, hardly
able to see or hear, was out OF danger,
and the doctors agreed that she had TAX
en- the critical turn which leads to health.
The terrible strain of anxiety was ended,
the great mental stress over. Everyone
in the house breathed more freely Dur
ing her illness Hettie had endeared her.
self to all. Her sweetness and patience,
the severity of her sufferings, her thought
things to be remembered: and, when il
seemed certain that she would not die of
this terrible fever, the rejoicing was
great.
Once more the cheerful sound Of merry
voices was heard. Hettie, half amused,
half alarmed at her own feebleness,
slowly traced the path that led from sick
ness to health. Once or twice, when she
had SO far recovered as to be able to
take notice of what was passing around
her, Sir Basil had sent her, by Leah, a
few flowers. She took them without q
word and laid them down languidly. She
did not show the least desire to take
care of them, and made no remOn6trance
when they were removed.
You do not value them, Hettie," said
Leah, laughingly, as the flowers fell from
the white, trembling fingers.
Il value you," said the weak voice.
what a trouble l have been to you all.
How much better would it have been had
died!'
And that was the burden Of her song
how much better would it have been had
she died! She had been so near death
it seemed a pity to come back to life
again. 1t was a fatal state Of mind for
an invalid, and one that proved sadly
prejudicial to Hettie.
The doctors again grew anxious, and
said that, if she were not reused from
this state, she would either die or lose
her reason. Her condition was worse
than illness. She did not gain strength;
she ate and slept but little. 1t was i'm
possible for her to have change Of air
as she had still to be carried from one
room, fn apnthar