The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-05
\ BY, MARY CHOLMONDELEYS.
CHAPTER XIX.

/
CHAPTER XIX. 4, aa
ss ! passed an uneasy night. The wind
moaned YEARLY round the houre. at one
moment seoming to die away togethor.
at another returning with redoubled fury,
\ the whole building. 1t dropped COM com
/ pletely toward dawn and after hours OF
/ .atful slumber slnpt heavily XII
| X In tho grey OF the early morning ] was
awakened by some one coming Into my
room, and started up to find & Charles
with candle In his hand. His face was
worn and liaggard for want OF sleep.
| l"I have come to speak to you before =
\ 20. Il Middleton. he said. When. " was
thoroughly awake. Ralph and VI are
on by the early train. Will you tell my
turn till tomorrow II then and may I
heard secret TIL after our return Z"
wv here are you going r.
ITO London. WeNstart In twenty min
utes.s 4 don't think tifis the least use.
but Ralph insists on going, and ] can
mot let him go alone. 8 q esss
| ,.My5 dear Charles.'''l$1 said Gall my anger
! had vanished Mt tho sight OF his worn
face), 81 will accompany YOU.
mot for worldsg he replied. hastily.
ut would no no good. 1ndesd. should GU
| not WISH
But know better. f ~ VI 8 IA
l4ss'An old head Is often OF use" 70.
piled, rapidly getting into my clothes:
'icYo,l may count on me, Charles, I shall
be ready III ten minutes"
Charles made some pretense tense at annoy
Knew very we'll how Invaluable the 1udg-
mont rot 81 an elder man OF experience
| could be on critical occasions; and, be-
sides. Il always make q point Of seeing
every thing / can, on oil occasio ms. ~
ten minutea II was down N ~ OHM 4
tho brothers, both heavily boot ed and .ul-
stored. + were drinking coffee BY candle
Iljght.asyA astily-laid breakfast was on
! tho table, but It had not bee touc he .
Tho gray morning light was turiiin: the
fame, OF the candles TO q rusty yoil ,,,g
the snow lay high against the panes. Eli
Ralph was sitting With bent head BY
| the fire, stick and cap In hand. his heavy
boot beat ting the floor mpatiently.
IIe looked up as ! came IN, but he 90
not speak. The ri dy color In his cheeks
was faded, his face was draW n and rs: set
i He looked ten years older. e Il,
1--WE ought to be or he SAID. o. last.
NO \ hurry" replied Charles; finish ''i
hastily drank some a ;kf;s a tSam to'd
| Whtb
"Yes!' I replied. ~ You are going to
London, and SO am I. I have decided TO-
curtail my visit by a few days. under tle
| circumstances. shall travel up with
you. MY luggage can follow.
soon as Ralph grasped t = .asa l ma.
I was not going to return TO stoke N ore
ton, B. his opposition melted away. id
even seemed to hall my departure With
certain sense OF relief. y.
. "As you llke,4 he said: You can car!
leave at this unearthly hour you
Wish. and travel With US 90 FAR as s az az
dington." 5s3 j. a
nodded. and went after my great
coat. or course I had not the slightest
intention OF leaving them at Paddlngton;
but I felt that the time had not arrived
to say so. Z. X, ,,
Charles. as j returned y. z, 8. !, !,
Ralph was already on his feet. But the
| dog-cart with Its great bay morse coula
| not be brought UP to tho door. me sroW
| had drIfted heavily before the Stops tl,a
right up into the archway ana ,ll'S e. ear eara
weTcouid get in and start Charles ,nok
| the relns. and his brother got Mp beslue
| him. The groom and I squeezed ourselves
| into the back seat. l could see lllat
was only allowed to come on sun eralcs,
and that at tho Last moment they
have been willing to dispense wit my
presence. Howcver.iil felt that shti ,.l1
never have forgiven myself " nag
iet them so alone Charles Was not
| thirty, and Ralph several years youhEe!Et;
1 An experienced man Of hfty., 70 cons ~
| In case OF need might DO Of the greatest
| assistance in an emergency - III !, u,
"Quioker!" said Ralph we shall mss ms
mo quicker, IL we mean to catch ..
said Charles. allowed tea in'nut .'.s
sr the sn9w Y y W s n hIa ~ ~ = ~
Unset IN would clinch tha matter !,
We drove nolselessly through the
great gates with their stone lions on
either side, rampant In wreaths q sno, @ y.
| and a up the village street. where .le
r Tsf large Tes and red. ball OF dull tre
On m the aee aaY world sS Betore IS Only t. -
seen seen oil my part by nranlng Ioun 81
stretchsd the long. white road, A. !, n I.
mere arc o6 saers aa
4 BY q white network OF trees Groups. !, q q
1 yellow sheep stood clustered toge ther
4 undor hedge-rows, motionlezs ~ the s, LOW
mist, and making no sound, !oHu w
colt. with tail erect, ran peslue W ~ 1 h;s
other side OF the hedge AZ far az ms n.s
field would allow him, his heavy Y, Ao oo'a
falling nolselessly In the snow The Go'a
i was intense. XII "a "a I. Z, a. Z, = :
8'"There will be a drift Mt the poitoi.E y, o.
Tarrow HILL" SAID Ralph; we sl'hst 70
i late for the train. I, =. !,
And. in truth, as va came cautiously
/. down the hill. on turning = corner We =
beheid d smooth sheet Of sli2w lapp p!
4 over the top OF the heag. on one si e
! like iced sugar on a cake. anu slop q.
downward 10 the ditch on the 81 Aer s' aye
nHold on!p cried Charles, as I stood pp
4 TO look, and In another moHleat we were
pushing our way through tho snpw,
A keeping as near the ditch as possible
no / ID bs. a few yard in front o. ls lay
i Ia rna dsnowstA but pra tlcable; but we