The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-09
BY |
ELEAsETH KENT
Copyright. 1902, |
by q. p. Put
MANS Sons
The House Opposite
MISTER

a quiet country road anything could occur
TO brighten her. nervous as she was. With
the exception of last Sunday this was the
first time since her return from New York
that she had been willing TO go outside the
gate; therefore, | was especially glad she
should have this little change. | offered
to accompany her. or, rather, them Qor
Mr.. Norman, of course. joined u.s.. and we
all three started OFF together. When We
had gone some distance from the house
Mr.. Norman remembered an important let
ter which he had left on his writing table.
and which he was most anxious should
catch the midday mail. So he turned back
TO get IL / noticed at the time that May
appeared very reluctant TO have him so.
L even thought that she was on the point
OF asking him not 10 leave her, but / was
glad 10 see that she controlled herself, for
her horror of being separated from that
young man has seemed to me not only silly,
but very compromising. So we walked on
alone, but very slowly, so that he could
easily overtake U.S. The road was pretty.
the day heavenly, and my shaken spirits
were lighter than they had been for some
time" Mrs. Derwent paused moment to
wipe her eyes. did you happen TO notice,
she continued. that clump of bushes near
the bend OF the road?"
well, just as we were passing those
caught sight of horrid-looking tramp
lying on his back, half hidden by the un-
dergrowth. May was sauntering along
swinging her parasol, which she had not
opened, as our whole way had lain In the
shade. She evidently did not see the fell
low, but / watched him get up and follow
US on the other side of the bushes. / was
a little frightened, but before / could decide
what l had better do he had approached
May and said something 10 her which 1
was unable to catch. 1t must have been
something very dreadful. for she uttered a
piercing shrek, and. turning on him like
a young tigress, hit him several times vio-
lently over the head with her sunshade.
Dropping everything. she fled from the
scene You know the rest"
words a
terely, and ] saw that Mrs. Derwent had
not forgotten the position in which she had
found her daughter. although she rrobab bly,
considered that that position was entirely
due to Mays hysterical condition, and
that had been an innocent factor in the
situation.
What became of the tramp" l inquired,
eagerly. II saw no one following your
daughter"
He did not do So stood for moment
watching her tear down the road. and when
again l remembered the man j found ne
had disappeared.
Would you know the fellow if you saw
| him AGAIN.
Certainly. He was an unusually repul-
| sive specimen of his tribe"
AS Mrs. Derwent had failed to recognize
| him. the man could not have been her SON
| as had for a moment feared.
by the way. doctor. May is still bent or
going TO New York.
We'll, perhaps it is advisable that she
should do So
| The quiet of the country does not seem
| to be doing her much good, does II? Let
| us, therefore. try the excitement of New
| York, and see what effect that will have
| Besides. / am very anxious to have Mis-:
| Derwent see some great nerve specialist;
| | am still a very young practitioner, anc
l confess her case battles me-"
IL see that you fear she is insane" crieC
| Mrs. Derwent.
Indeed, | do not" assured her, but
think her nerves are very seriously. out o.
soon be in a bad way If you wish me t
do so | will find out what specialist | cal
| most easily get hold of and make arrange
ments for his seeing your daughter with a.
little delay as possible"
Thank you
My time was now almost up, so 1 asked
| TO see my patient again, so as to reassur'
myself that she was none the worse for he
| fright.
l found her with her eyes open. starin,
| blankly at the ceiling, and from time t
time her body would still twitch convul
| sively. However, she welcomed us with
! smile, and her pulse was decidedly strong
er. Ii was "A terrible trial to me to SCI
that lovely girl lying there, and to feel that
l thought. that. perhaps, If she talked o
her recent adventure it would prevent he
brooding over it. So, after sympathizin:
with her in a general way; 1 asked VIVA
the tramp had said TO terrify her so much
She shook her head feebly.
Il could not make out what he was say
ing"
i glanced upwards and caught a look O
horror ON her mothers face.
| ''Oh indeed" said; lit was just his sud
den appearance which frightened you S,
much?'
j wish L could go to New York. She sighed
81 have just persuaded your mother t
spend a few days there"
| She glanced quickly from one to the other
Really"
Mrs. Derwent nodded fearful assent
And when are we going?" she demanded
Tomorrow If you are well enough"
| oh thank you!"
But what will you do with your guest p
Mr.. Norman? oh, he will come, too.
But she had the grace to look apologize
once outside the room Mrs Derwent beck
oned me into her boudoir.
well, Dr. Fortescue." she exclaimed
what do you think of that? May turns oil
| 20 annoy her, and beats him. She is no
at all ashamed of her behavior, either"
| 81 confess, Mrs. Derwent, L sur
"Oh, she must be crazy" walled the poo
| lady.
mo, madame-smply hysterical-I an
| sure of IL. Still, this makes me more thai
ever wishful to have another opinion abou
| her case"
Before we parted it had been decide,
that the choice of suitable rooms should b
left TO me.
Back again in New York, 1 went imme
/ diately in search of them. 1 so diff
cult TO satisfy that IL was some time befor
| / selected suite overlooking the park
| which seemed TO me TO answer all demands
May and her mother were not expecte
till the following afternoon, so l tried I
| kill the intervening time by making tn
place look homelike, and i succeeded.
think. Masses of flowers and palms file
every nook, and the newest magazines an
books lay on the tables.
l met the ladies at the station, wher
they parted from Norman, whom 1 ha
begun to regard as inevitable. 1t was
therefore. with feeling of exultation tina
/ drove alone with them to their hotel.
When May saw the bower / had prepare
for her she seemed really pleased, an
thanked me very prettily.
I left them after a few minutes. but no
until they had promised to dine with me a
a restaurant that evening.
! ITO be Continued Tomorrow