The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-19
CHAPTER XII.
STEWARDSHIP.


one hand and with tho other seeming
to grope after something. There was
lookgof madness In her eyes.
Father. He's hurt! Don't you know.
Stuart? The horses ran away. We were
thrown out. why doesn't some one send
for the doctor?"
Rhena slipped out OF the room and
telephoned for DR.. Saxon. Stuart fell on
his knees by the bed. and the next half
hour was one OF the. most asonizing he
ever knew. Louise Rived and wept. She
kept going over tho old times, repeat tins
word for word exactly many conversa-
tions between herself and Stuart at the
time he had begun to decide on new HE.
Everything dated from Ross Duncans
death. There were also mingled with
ell that was so painful in Stuarts memory
q great many expressions and exciama-
tions 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 DR.. Saxon finally reached the
house and entered the room. Louise was
lying down. moaning. The doctor went
right up 10 her and spoke her name.
She opened her eyes and looked him full
IN the face. She shrieked out hysteri-
cal,y: Doctor. doctor, save mel I'm
going mad / am mad!'
You poor childr' And that was all
he said.
Then Louise began to cry terribly. She
spoke her Aunt Royals name I'm voice
that made even the doctor CULVER a little.
And after that, as suddenly as II 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 stricken.
II had all come upon them 30 suddenly.
The doctor did all In his power. There
was not much he could do. At the en-
OF half an hour Louise came out OF the
condition OF exhaustion into which she
had fallen and cried again. this time
calling out the name OF vasplaine will.
such terror that Stuart could not endure
the sound and went into the other room
across the hall Rhena followed him.
This is awful" said Stuart. with
groan. "Wnat do you suppose this all
means? What has that villain done?"
1T means that he has left her and
that Rhena had guessed so much.
IL had come like a sudden blow to them.
She stepped up to Stuart and confronted
him. 80 lk5l
Please God. we'T save her lifel" he
cried e
And her reason" added Rhsna grave
ly. Pray God we mayl'
They went back together into that
chamber and, with the doctor. watched
through the night. fearing. at the Doctors
suggestion, lest she should suddenly rise
and 20 out into the storm which before
morning beat on the mansion In great
fury. white the big pines sobbed like re-
QUEEN over dead hopes and buried loves
with the gray light OF morning
change came. The doctor noticed II first
He had not closed his eyes once, Now
he rose and went into the library. sign
ing TO Stuart to follow him.
'She Is out of immediate danger" he
said as Stuart stood there By him, ner-
vous with the strain. She has had some
terrible mental shock. 1t Is doubtful II
she can recover. But she has the Duncan
constitution. All things are possible.
think she will be quiet through the day
II she isn't send for me at once"
He wrung Stuart's hand and went down
into the town through the storm. and
an hour later Stuart saw him dashing
up the hill and past the house over the
Beury road TO attend some desperate case
out on the hills How the doctor lived
without sleep was always wonder TO all
Champion.
AS for Louise. she lay In a condition
of stupor through the day and the fol-
lowing night. When occasionally she
reused at Stuart's calling her name, she
seemed 20 know him. but did not express
surprise at being back I'm her old home
Gradually the truth grew upon Stuart
and Rhsna that nearly the entire period
OF Louises life since her marriage was
q 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
haggard When she spoke. IL was with
the fretful. complaining voice she had
used when Stuart had angered her. To
his great surprise and relief. she did
not appear TO dislike Rhena. She ao-
cepted her gentle loving nursing as a
matter OF course, neither showing graft
tude nor expressing resentment. She
grew feebler and more exacting In her
demands, so that Rhena had her powers
taxed 70 the utmost In providing for
her many wants. She asked constantly
for the most expensive and difficult ar
ticies Of food TO be prepared. demanded
costly flowers for the decoration OF the
room and was continually begging Stuart
20 buy her Jewels TO wear. He went down
town and took out OF the office safe,
where they had been lying ever since
his mothers death, a necklaces of pearls
and sAother OF diamonds together with
a ruby bracelet and several turquoise
rings. Ross Duncan had bought these
for his wife when no had been able 20
cav that he was worth a million dollars.
and the entire value OF them would have
Kept n dozen families In comfort all their
lives Mrs. Duncan had not cared much
for these playthings and had seldom
worn them. Ross Duncan had willed
them 10 Stuart instead OF Louise because
OF a whim he took one day. He said they
were family jewels and ought TO remain
With the son OF the house.
Ior,ise seized on these baubles OF light
with an eagerness and n love OF display
that were terrible 10 Stuart. She wore
6rst the diamonds end then the pearls
ground her small white neck and finally
put them both on wearing them to-
retber with the bracelet and tho rings.
She cried continually for new dresses. and
AT last Rhena, at Stuart's suggestion,
brought out some of Stuarts mothers
sflk gowns which had been packed away
Ia a chest In the attic. and with a little
changing they were made 10 at Louise.
who. although she was able 20 sit up only
A few hours took the most pitiably chilo-
ish delight In putting on all this fnery.
with Rhsrn's help. and then. with hand
mirror constantly within reach. comment