The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-30

cents very well, said to me:
who is this Mr.. Galbratth, to whom
Edith Vincent is engaged?'
"Engaged?" stammered.
yes; Sir Felix told me yesterday. I |
was very much surprised. Can you tell
me anything about Mr.. Galbraith?"
Nothing" I answered, stupidity. And
then my hostess looked at me, and imme-
diately changed the subject. Something
in my face may have warned her that
she was on dangerous ground.
I went home and waited for Harry I
felt sure that If the news were true he
would come to me. And was not far
wrong. AT midnight he staggered into my
| room, looking like man who had been
engaged in wrestling match; his clothes
were torn, his face cut and bleeding, his
eyes wild and haggard.
What Is the matter?" I cried. invol-
| unfairly.
ing into chair and hiding his face in
his hands. IT can't speak--yet."
| administered the stimulant, and then
placed my hand on his arm.
Tell me what is wrong" I said. us
it true that Edith is engaged to that
man."
"she is-she was! How can tell
your
"she is not dead?" I shouted shaking
him vigorously. For heavens sake, pull
yourself together, and let me know the
worst
'she is not dead'' my friend said. with
an involuntary shudder, ''but I think that
he is. Godfrey, it is my fault; he an
gered me beyond endurance, and turned
upon him. We fought, and Think
believe that he is dead! Now, tell me
what I am to do. For heavens sake,
help me, If you can"
The sun was up; its wintry light poured
into my little sittingroom, but it found
me alone. Harry was gone; he had
thought 1t best to keep himself out of the
way for some little time, and had aided
4 him to make his escape. felt that it
was impossible for me to go to the hos
pital. I sent an excuse, and remained
at home, wondering what would happen
next, and listening intently to the cries
of the newsvendors in the street. I had
a vague fear of hearing Of some ''mys-
FERROUS occurrence" some dreadful MUIR
der" some Shocking ime"-according
to the placards and I strained my ears to
distinguish the words of the shouting
boys. But heard nothing which seemed
to bear any reference to the deed of vio-
lence of which poor Harry Vincent had
accused himself.
AT nightfall there was timid knock at
the front door, and my landlady came to
! tell me that I was wanted.
, "A young woman, sir" she said Come
7 with message from Professor Vincent
5 that's what she told me-" III
3 In an instant was on the alert ''Show
her In, please, Mrs. Green; the professor
may want me for some special case"
+ said, assuming my most professional man
: ner; and in another moment a cloaked
: and yelled figure was in the room.
Mrs. Green closed the door. "You have
a message for me?" said.
The girl raised her veil and looked
at me.
:, Edith! Edith, my darling! Why are
= you here? My sweetest one, have vol
come to me at last!"
Only for minute, Godfrey" she said
raising her beautiful eyes to mine as
Il clasped her in my arms. II have brought
l. you message from father-that Is all.
n what is it, my darling?'
L He wants to see you as soon as posi-.
e BILE. Not tonight he says. because he does
y not feel well enough to talk; but tomorrow
a morning."
n Il will come with pleasure; but why
8 why has he sent me- were you goinl
t, to say? I think it is perhaps a sign tina
y he has Withdrawn his opposition and also
b I don't quite know why-but he wanted
d me to ask you whether you knew anything
q Of Harry-whether he was with you O.
q not"
Il I began, I. thought, to see daylight. ST
"a Felix had probably become aware Of tn,
~ contest between his son and Martin Gal
~ braith; perhaps, even he had heard O
- his son, perhaps; Or was it possible thu
' he wanted to bring Harry to justice? A
any rate, l could honestly assure my poo
darling that her brother was not with me
20 and that I did not know-at that particu
t. lar moment-where he was. 1t was evi
id dent that she did not know the truth. ST
ID Felix had told her nothing. I asked he
t. cautiously whether she had seen or hear
" anything Of Galbraith and she said tina
ID she supposed he had gone away-he ha
J. not been seen for the last day or; two
,d II think father did not like him yer
=. much" she said, simply
20 And yet he wanted you to marry him?
Yes. I don't understand 1t myself
~ Godfrey; it seems very mysterious. Blu,
-, at any rate, he is gone now and ar
:. free FatheT told me so: he said Nigh
consider that my engagement was-dis
VI solved. 1t was a curious word to use, wa
1t not? Harry will be so pleased"
IS And you-are you pleased, Edlth?''
as Need you ask Geoffrey? You know.
never really consented; never gave M
ne Galbraith the slightest hope-I alway
told him that should never marry hin
% was as true to you as I knew how I
- be, dear, but they still persisted in say
ing that I was engaged
aS But you are mine, dearest, and yo
a. shall be mine, even if all the world sa,
or us nay
n, I walked home with her, but did NJ
mt enter the house that night, as Sir Fell
n had declared himself too unwel to r,
en- ceive me. I was sorry afterwards tn;
m, I had not disregarded that message an
us gone to him at For when
~ reached the house next morning T W,
,a' told that he had been struck down vii
~ apoplexy, and that he now lay betwee
" life and death.
w was admitted to his room. in the ho]
"a that he would recognize me, but
Ter seemed to be unconscious. Later in ii
at day he rallied little, and again ask
for me, then began to wander in his mil
nd and to talk in a low, rambling mann
i'd which nobody was able to understan
When appeared he seemed to know m
ow for he clutched me by the wrist al
ly would not let me go; the only way
I calming him was to sit down beside t
Of bed and speak to him now and them pr
tending to understand the remarks
2" made and the long story that he insist
he upon telling The nurses were Gag
mt for me to stay, as they said that no o
e.. could soothe him so we'll as I; and VIII
Ia Edith also begged me to remain as 10
ar. as I could without Inconvenience
MS fatigue. I threw all my other occupatio
i, to the winds and installed myself as a
~ sistant nurse-for, naturally, did not
~ terfere with the doctors.
80 ON the second night took few hou
ths sleep, but in the morning one OF t
nurses came to with a puzzled Ia
rrv and asked me to return to Sir Felix
rs he worse?" / asked, starting up.
,,,v mot apparently, sir; but am not 81
BE that it isn't the rally before death.