Middletown transcript., 1904-10-01

RlcnmOnu pOsitNeiy anA a'n'
emily declined, and Kilmeny made him
sign not to press her
The faces OF both the young people
looked pale and anxious as they went
along. Mrs. Richmond's state was III
comprehensible to them. She had always
enjoyed excellent health, and they never
remembered such an occurrence as this.
Their thoughts flew to Doctor Richmond
70 ~ away, and they heartily desired
speedy return.
fhe:e was no time for consultation be-
tween them. Mrs. Richmond. finding
the carriage at the door, insisted OIL get
ting into it at once, and entreated Mr.
Warrender not to accompany them. She
seemed so bent on it that he was reluct,
antly obliged to consent, but declared
his intention of riding over early IN the
morning to inquire after her.
sYou are. sure that it would not De
better for me to fetch doctor at once {
he asked.
IA doctor r" cried Mrs. Richmond, land
her voice had an odd, almost lystericaI
ring in it. "What could doctor do for
me? am not i'll at ALL merely got
chill in the. garden. Please do not lel
us delay
He stood back to allow the carriage io
start, when she again leaned out.
Goodbye, Christopher !! she sald'
sI have not thanked you for your kind
ness, but do not forget it. Goodbye
goodbye
Her words seemed to him in some cur,
ious way to be sort of farewell for more
tnan that day, and made him feel as II
the old life which stretched behind him
into such infinite distance, with its cheer,
fulness and happy homeliness, were sud
denly and unaccountably over.
The next day Mr.. Warrender rode over
ea,ly to the cottage. He reflected that
one good thing which would arise out
Of Mrs. Richmond's illness was that XII
meny would be obliged to remain with
her mother, and that no visits to Mr..
Daryl would be possible for the present.
He was truck with establishment there
fore at the new developments which
awaited him. Mrs. Richmond was sitting
in the little arbor on the grass plot at the
side of the house, and, except that she
was pale, he could not at distance dis
Germ any difference in her appearance.
She was sewing, and he dismounted and
tied his horse in order to speak to her.
He could not see Kilmeny.
srYou are better?" he said in relieved
tone, approaching her.
eyes, yes-I am quite well, she an
swered. Her voice sounded nervous,an
she hurried OH as il to avoid any closer
questioning. ''It is such a lovely day
that thought l would sit out OF doors.
The children have gone off on picnic,
and do not expect to be back until the
evening. l have good deal OF sewing
to do, and shall not have time to miss
them"
"Haye YOU written 10 Doctor Rich
mond ?''
81 wrote this morning"
Mr.. Warrender sat pondering. 1t was
plain, from Mrs. Riclrmond's writing to
her husband, that there was more aniss
than she wished him to know, but he
felt debarred from further inquiry. ller
manner had totally changed. 1t was ner-
vous and constrained, and for the first
time in his life he felt as if she wished
him away. Her mysterious illness in the
garden, which he had expected to have
completely explained during his M rn-
ing's visit, was only rendered still more
mysterious.
ST wonder that Kilmeny left you,' he
said abruptly. "Did she 60 with the
others ~
'Kilmeny and all left me-" she said,
trying to laugh. 'sThere was absolutely
no reason for their staying. | am quite
we'll"
81 am glad you think that you are
BETTER" lie said. "There is no use in
my staying any longer
She did not try to detain him, and he
rode slowly away. lie was determined
to see Kilmeny and to warE her that her
mothers illness had not passed away soJ
wholly as Mrs. Richmond seemed aBx-
ious to have them believe. An hours
searching brought him to the children,
seated under the shade Of tree by a
little lake. They jumped up and hailed
his appearance with delight.
"Where is Kilmeny p he asked, gazing
around
ooh, she is not here r' answered Jes-
sica, pretty girl of sixteen. 'She went
off to see old Mr.. Daryl as soon as break
fast was over. l am sure l wish that she
had. never heard of him She used to
come everywhere with US, and now this
is the second or third time that she has
gone to see him and left us by ourrelves!"
"Gone to see Mr.. Daryl?" Chris re-
oeated in blank amazement. Are you
'ure? How do you knowg'
81 know quite we'll. A note came from
him to mamma, and she sent for Kilmeny
% her own room. After a while Kill
neny came out and said that see was
,oing to see him, and set off in great |
lurry. She was laughing, and seemed
pleased. We wanted her to wait for the |
picnic, but she would not"
"And the mater told you to hold your
ongue about it, Miss Jessica,.., inter-
,osed Lancelot; "but girls never can be
Iuiet about anything"
She did not mean lis not talk to |
1hris,n his sister answered. "We tell
lim everything. Do stay with us, Chris,
instead Of Kilmeny. We are all longing
o go out in the boat, but mamma made
ID promise not to do SO even under
anca'sexperienced guidance"
Christopher good-naturediy consented.
eeing their eagerness for his presence,