Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-08
CHAPTER MI.


and Stuart ut the time he had begun to |
decide on a new life. Everything dat
ed from Ross Duncan's death. There
were also mingled with all that was SO
painful in Stuart's memory n great
many expressions and EXPLANATIONS
which made him shudder and put his
hands over his ears, words which re-
vealed experiences Of the life Louise
had known since leaving Champion.
Stuart did not dare yet to imagine all
that these words meant.
When DIR. Saxon finally reached tie
house and entered the room, Louise
was lying down, moaning. The doctor
went right up to her and spoke her
name. She opened her eyes and looked
him full In the face. She shrieked out
Historically: doctor, doctor, save me!
I'm going mad! am madw
You poor child?' And that was all
he said.
Then Louise began to cry terribly.
She spoke her Aunt Royals name in
voice that made even the doctor culver
little. And after that. as suddenly
as If she had been struck dumb, she
fell back like one dead and lay SO still
that Stuart thought at first the end
had come already.
He and Rhena stood pale and strick-
en-. 1t had all come upon them so sud-
denly. The doctor did all in his power.
There was not much he could do. At
the end Of half IN hour Louise came
W ,f< bo nnrIiffrv, pf 1u, %{r,, MT
which she had fallen and cried again.
this time calling out the name of Vas
PLANE with such terror that Stuart
could not endure the sound and went
into the other room across the hall.
Rhena followed him.
"This Is awfulv said Stuart, with a
groan. "What do you suppose this all
means? What has that villain done"
"It means that he has left her and
that Rhena had guessed SO much.
1t had come like a sudden blow to
them. She stepped up to. Stuart and
confronted him.
"Please God, we'll save her llfe| he
cried.
"And her reason" added Rhena
grayely. "Pray God we may!"
They went back together into that
chamber and. with the doctor. watched
through the night, fearing, at the doc
tors suggestion. lest she should sud
denly rise and go out into the storm
which before morning beat on the
mansion in great fury, while the big
pines sobbed like requiem over dead
hopes and buried loves.
With the gray light of morning a
change came. The doctor noticed II
first. He had not closed his eyes once.
| Now he rose and went into the library,
signing to Stuart to follow him.
! "She is out of immediate danger
he said as Stuart stood there by him
nervous with the strain. "She has had
some terrible mental shock. It is doubt
full if she can recover. But she has
| the Duncan constitution. All things
are possible. think she will be quiet
through the day. Ifsshe isn't, send fol
me at once.'
He wrung Stuart's hand and wen
down into the town through the storm
and an hour later Stuart saw hin
dashing up-the hill and past the hous,
over the Beury road to attend SOM,
desperate case out on the hills. How
the doctor lived without sleep was al
ways wonder to all Champion.
AS for Louise, she lay in n condition
Of stupor through the day and the fol
lowing night. When occasionally she
ro,lsei at Stuart's calling her name
she seemed to know him. but did no,
express surprise at being back in hel
old home. Gradually the truth grew
upon Stuart and Rhena that nearly
the entire period Of Loulse's life since
her marriage was blank to her. She
would lie for hours silent and without
expression in her great eyes, which
were still beautiful, although her once
lovely face had grown old and hag
gard. When she spoke, 1t was witt
the fretful, complaining voice she hat
used when Stuart had angered her
To his great surprise and relief, she die
not appear to dislike Rhena. She nc
cepted ner gentle, loving nursing us q
matter Of course, neither showing graf
itude nor. expressing resentment. She
grew feebler and more exacting in hel
demands, SO that Rhena had her pow,
ers taxed to the utmost in providing
for her many wants. She asked con
stantly for the most expensive ant
difficult articles Of food to be prepared
demanded costly flowers for the deco
ration Of the room and was continual
" ~ INV hn,. nj,
to wear. He went down town and tool
out of the Office safe, where they haG
been lying ever since his mother,
death, q necklace of pearls and another
Of diamonds, together with ruby
bracelet and several turquoise rings
Ross Duncan had bought these for hi
wife when he had been able to sa,
that he was worth million dollors
and the entire value of them woult
have kept a dozen families in comfor
all their lives. Mrs. Duncan had no
cared much for these playthings ant
had seldom worn them. Ross Duncan
had willed them to Stuart instead OF
Louise because Of a whim he took on
day. He said they were family jewels
| duu OuSuI " Ieiuulu Will tue SOu VI
the house.
Louise seized on these baubles of ligh
with an eagerness and a love of dis
play that were terrible to Stuart. Sht
wore first the diamonds and then tn,
pearls around her small White necl
and finally put them both on, wearing
them together with the bracelet ant
the rings. She cried continually fol
new dresses, and ut last Rhena, a
Stuart's suggestion, brought out som,
of Stuart's mothers silk gowns which
had been packed away in a chest ii
the attic, and with little changing
they were made to fit Louise, who, al
though she was able to sit up only I
few hours, took the most pitiably child
ish delight In putting on all this fnery
with Rhena's help, and then, with |
hand mirror constantly within reach
commenting on her appearance Will
the greatest. gerness.
rTo BE coNT1NuED.l