El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-29

ever since r feft you here, hours ago,
said Charles, in surprised tone, though
really under the circumstances it did not
require great stretch of the magma
ton to suppose any such thing.
Yes said Carr. still rubbing his
eyes. Have you been gone long?
expect fell asleep"
Il rather thought you We're inclined
for a nap when | left YOU" replied
Charles. airily: "and now let us go to
| luncheon"
1t was very dismal meal. Lady Mary
| did not come down to it, and Aurelia sat
with red eyes, fearful and silent. Ralph
was evidently out of favor, for she hardly
| spoke to him, and snubbed him decidedly
when he humbly rendered a peace offer
| ing in the form of potato. Evelyn, too.
was silent. or made spasmodic attempts
at conversation with Mrs. Marston, the
only unconstrained person of the party.
Evelyn and Aurelia had appeared to-
! gether, and it was evident from Evelyn's
expression that Aurelia had told her.
What conversation there was turned
upon Sir Georges illness.
I'VE must go by the afternoon train,
my dear" said Marston down the table
| to his wife I'm Sir Georges present
state all visitors are an incubus"
Carr looked up. II think 1 ought to
go too" he said. Il wished to arrange
TO do so this morning, but Mr.. Dan
vers," CHANGING at Charles, would not
hear of it. / am sure when there is i'll
ness in a house strangers are always in
the way"
Il have seen my father since then,
replied Charles land fear his illness is
much more serious than had any idea
Of That being the case, L feel it would
be wrong to press any one, even Middle
ton, to stay and share the tedium of
sick house"
After n few more civil speeches it was
arranged that Carr should. after all,
leave by the train which he had proposed
in the morning. 1t was found that there
was still time for him to do so. but that (!
was all. He was evidently as anxious
to be off as the Danverses Were that he
should go. The dog cart was ordered.
servant despatched to the lodge in hot
haste to pack his portmanteau and in
half an hour he was bidding us good-by,
evidently glad to say it. Poor fellow! "
He little guessed, as he shook hands
with us. how shamefully he had been
suspected, how villainously he had been
traduced behind his back.
Somehow or other L had not had a
moment of conversation with him since
the morning. or n single chance of telling
him how had stood up for him in his
absence. Either Charles or Marston
was always at hand, and when he took
leave of me L could only shake his hand
warmly, and tell him to come and see
me again in town. / watched him spin
ming down the drive in the dog-cart,
little thinking how soon 1 should see
him again, and in what circumstances.
I'VE shall have more snow" said
Ralph, coming indoors. Il feel it in
the air."
General and Mrs. Marston were the
next to- leave, starting an hour later and
going in the opposite direction. l saw
Marston turn aside when his wife was
taking leave of the others and go up to
Charles. The old hand and the young
one met and We're locked tight.
''Good-by, my dear boy said Mars
ton.
Don't CO." said Charles, without look
ing mp.
Il must, said Marston. Il am due at
Kimberley tonight, on business: but"
in n lower tone. Il shall come back to-
morrow, in case l can he of any use"
They We're gone. and / was the only
one remaining. 1t has occurred to me
since that perhaps they expected me to
go, too. but 1 never thought of it at the
time. had been asked for a week, and
to go before the end of it never so much
as entered my head.
There was no chance of going ont The
early winter afternoon was already clos
ing in, and a few flakes of snow We're
drifting like feathers in the heavy air,
promising more to come. Every one
seemed to- have dispersed-Ralph up
stairs to his father, Charles out of doors
in spite of the weather. 1
remembered that 1 had not written to
Jane since left London, and went into
the library to do so.
AS 1 came in saw Evelyn sitting in a
low chair by the fire. gazing distracted
ly into it. She started when she saw me,
and on my saying wished to write some
letters. showed me writing table near
the fire, with pens. ink and paper.
"You will find it very cold at the big
table window" she said. looking at it
with its broken drawer. chink open.
with "A visible shudder.
1 installed myself near the fire. talk
ing cheerfully the while. for it struck |
me she was a little low in her spirits |
She did not make much response, and / |
was settling down to my letters when |
she suddenly said:
"Col. Middleton
Eyes, Miss Derrick
II am afraid am interrupting your
writing, but
looked round. She was standing up, |