Middletown transcript., 1904-06-18
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
CHAPTER VII.

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEk
CHAPTER VII.
"Yes, Evelyn-is quite true. ] never
saw you looking so pale before. That al
fair Of last night has quite upset You.
You had better take Sambo for a. good
run this morning, in the hope Of bringing
back some color into your cheeks; and, as
Mrs. Courtenay has just told me that her
husband has been called suddenly to
London and will not be able to &C
company her to the theatre tonight, |
shall send to say you win be delighted to
accept the offer of the ticket if only she
will be SO good as to chaperon you. lbe-
lieve, child a little excitement will do
you all the good in the world"
Evelyn's only answer was a faint sigh
as she leaned back in her chair and clasp
ed her hands above her head. At that
moment, with her head throbbing con-
tinuouslY and the feeling of utter weari-
ness which was the result of sleepless
night and hours Of inexplicable worry,
the very idea of play was intolerable to
her. She seemed to have lived days in
stead Of hours since the events of the pre-
vious evening-since that terrible NOM
ent when she had suddenly lost conscious
ness, to remember nothing more until
she had found herself lying on her own
bed, with her aunt's maid, who had evil
IDENTIFY been left to keep watch, fast
asleep in chair by her side.
And then how utterly helpless she had
felt when vivid recollections Of all that
had happened rose up in horrible dis
tinctness before her mind What could
she do? Alas, nothing-nothing what.
ever She had no actual knowledge that
Falkland had administered anything to
Major Brown. She could give no reasons
for supposing that the coffee which he
had handed to him had been drugged.
If she reused the whole hotel, she could
not possibly state anything for fact.
Yet at the same time she was haunted by
the thought of the fearful alternative
the thought that even then Major Brown
might be lying under the influence OF
some frightful narcotic, perhaps perfectly
unconscious.
As long as she lived never would she
forget the watchedness which she endur-
ed as hour she lay awake, watching wear
lily for the first streaks of dawn to break
through the closely-drawn blinds. Still
when even eight had been struck in muf-
fled tones from the depths OF the little
leather travelling-case-even then what
was there to be learned?
Parker looked thoroughly puzzledwhen
questioned eagerly for news of Major
Brown.
Major Brown, Miss? Why there is
nothing amiss with him she had return
ed decidedly. He looked as well as any
body need last night when l saw him fan
ming you downstairs.
But what small comfort poor Evelyn
derived from this information was speed
lily destroyed by the maids announce
ment little later that the Major had evil
IDENTIFY oversight himself that morning, as
in passing down the corridor, she had
noticed that long after the usual time his
door was still closed and his boots and
hot water were waiting on the mat out
side.
It was thus that Evelyn in a state of
strange hopelessness had dressed and
gone downstairs. She had prepared her
self for the worst. She felt that she would
not be astonished then whatever hap.
pened, and yet every step which sound
ed in the corridor, every time a waiter
entered the room, she started up as
white as ashes, dreading the news that
might come.
It was therefore almost as great
shock when, CHANGING to look out of the
window, she beheld, strolling leisurely
across the lawn, a tall well-built figure
which she recognized at glance as the
Majors. And this had been the cause of
Lady Howard's remark concerning the
necessity for some little excitement as
diversion for her thoughts
And perhaps Lady Howard had never
spoken with greater wisdom for having
satisfied herself on the score of the cup
of coffee, which she had quite made up
her mind had been fatally drugged, all
the feelings of horror which Evelyn had
experienced when the suspicion Of the
forgery had first fallen upon Major Brown,
but which she had forgotten in the alarm
which followed, returned to her now
with force which seemed ten times in
creased in its intensity.
Never before in her life had EVELYN
known a day which proved itself so in
terminably long as did this particular
morning and afternoon. To see, to speak
to, Major Brown again was impossible
and so, rather than undergo the risk of
meeting with him, she absolutely shut
her ears to all Lady Howard's entreaties
and remained in strict seclusion in her
own room, never once during the whole
OF the day venturing out for her custo-
mary rambles.
1t was thus probably through sheer
weariness that Evelyn, tired to death Of
her own society and conflicting thoughts,
ct last gave in to Lady Howard's persua-
sions and allowed herself to be driven off
under the chaperonage of Mrs. Courte-
nay to the little seaside theatre.
The house was packed to overflowing
and loud burst of applause was greeting
the appearance of the principal actress,
when Evelyn, bending forward to reach
her programme, which had fallen to the
ground, caught glimpse of the occupant
of the seat next but one to Mrs. Courte-
nay.
Instantly flush of annoyance rose to
her face as she recognized the individual
in question as Gilbert Falkland. Turning
away quickly, she fixed her eyes upon
the stage, where they remained for the
rest of the scene. She held herself aloof