Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-05-02

pretty, girlish face peeping over her
shoulder, from where it's owner stood,
otherwise hidden behind.
"Allen," said the, first conner, "what
does this mean?"
1T means, mother" replied the
young man. calmly, that in driving to-
day, this young lady fell almost direct
ly beneath my horses feet. She is
badly hurt, and, in common humanity,
( brought her here"
Common humanity" gasped the
lady of the household care there no
hospitals in New York;"
Look at her mother. You can bet
ter understand then why felt the only
place for her was my mothers house,
Mrs. Layton, half-hesitatingly, VEN
tured step within the room, but mo-
toned her daughter back.
Don't come one step further, Cora.
It's only another one of Allan's unac-
countable freaks. For all I know, the
girl may have just been dismissed from
smallpox ward"
But Cora's curiosity was not thus to
be restrained. Step bp step she came
on behind her mother, until both had
reached the foot of the bed.
"Oh, mamma! Is she not perfectly
| lovely?" exclaimed the girl.
And even Mrs. Layton could raise to
the question no dissenting voice.
| In her helplessncss and unconscious
ness, Beatrice's beauty appealed to ev-
| cry heart.
The unmistakable stamp of refine
ment was impressed upon every line
of the exquisite figure-every feature
of the colorless face.
| But Mrs. Layton was not wholly con-
quered.
Leave the room, Cora! Do you not
hear me?" she cried. "The girl may be
suffering from some contagious dis
ease. Besides, we know nothing about
her. Perhaps Allen can enlighten us. "
| "Mother!" exclaimed the young man,
reproachfully, "she is a stranger to me
as to you. But, surely, you must see,
| in bringing her here, I did the only
! thing that could be done. AS soon as
| she RECEIVERS consciousness we will
learn who are her friends, and so the
responsibility will be no longer ours. "
"And what do you think Edith will
say to this?" asked Mrs. Layton, up
lifting her brows.
| Edith will hear the story from my
lips before tonight
| "Who is taking my name in vain, and
what is all this commotion about?''
| called out a gay voice from the door
way--a voice whose possessor, beau
way-a voice whose possessor, a beau
tiful brunette of some twenty-five
summers, considered among the chief
| of the many attractions which had
made Allen Layton a sutton for her
heart and hand.
Somehow, in this moment, it Jared
upon his ear. A sudden realization
dawned upon him that his explanation
might be made an unpleasant task.
The physician, turning, held up a
warning hand for silence.
'Some one is ill?" inquired Miss Lor-
rimer, advancing into the room. "Who
is she?"
And the black eyes fastened them
selves inquiringly upon the beautiful
face, colorless as the linen of the pill
lows on which it lay.
But, drawing her hand silently with
in his arm, Allen led his betrothed from
the room, his mother and sister fol-
lowing.
Concisely he related all that had TAX
Ell place, but in vain scanned Miss Lor-
ri1ner's features for any sign of soften
ing or sympathy.
''I fully agree with Mrs. Layton" she
said, when he had finished. II am
quite sure the hospital was the only
place for her, and that she should be
removed there within the hour"