The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-04-28


am sure they are lovers, but since
Mr.. Whitman left home for his sum-
mer vacation without an announce
ment of his engagement to Miss Ben
nett am inclined to think they. are
not engaged. Why do you ask
my son?''
II was thinking whether we ought
to send him telegram informing
him Ct the accident. I have his New
York address and if you think best /
will go on down to the office" said
Ray.
Mrs Cameron studied the PROPOSE
ton in silence and then said: 81
should not send it tonight, but wait
and see how Miss BenI.ett is tomor-
row Perhaps she may then he "a
tional, and if she is engaged to Mr..
Whitman she may request someone
to send him a telegram. On the other
hand if she is not engaged to him it
might be Very Notifying to her
| pride should we wire him.
Very well, mother, | will do as
you think best, but | do hope Miss
Bennett will be bettsS in the morn
ing. All! here is father coming to
meet u.s. Ray broke off to say as a
horseman approached them. 1--WE
staid SO late he undoubtedly became
| uneasy about u.s.
They touched up their horses and
| were soon joined by Mr.. Cameron,
how, as Ray surmised was coming to
| see what had detained them so long.
The shadows of the gloom which
hung heavily over Beaumont cast it's
shadow that evening over the usually
| happy family o. MIR. Cameron and
little was talked of between the trio
| except the accident and its probably
fatal results.
Meanwhile the lights were turned
low at Beaumont and the stiffness
which ever hOvers over a household
| when the wings of the Angel of
Death hang poised above it, reigned
through the mansion.
Imogen, who had not been per-
| mitted to see Miss Bennett was put
! TO bed and was sleeping under the
gentle influence of an opiate, while
her mother sat watching by her side.
The physicians having given minute
instructions in regard to the patient,
| had left the house for the night unless
| again summoned, and Polly, who was
natural born nurse was placed in
| the sickrOom.
The clock struck ten and Mrs Muir
riatte bent for a moment over her
| sleeping daughter whose regular
breathing denoted that she had for
| gotten her sorrow in the sweet en-
brace of sleep, and then the mother
stole softly from the room. The
|
opened into the hall and Mrs. Muir
rate noiselessly turned the knob and
entered thd room. The dressing room
| was separated from the one in which
the injured girl lay by portiere. one
side of which was looped back, and
with noiseless footsteps the lady
crossed the room and paused by the
sufferers bed, Polly. who was sitting by
the bedside closely watching the pa
| tient, started in alarm when her eyes
fell upon the form of her mistress.
Il 'clar' for goodness honey" she
exclaimed, chow you done sker'd me /;
yo' cum fioatin' in 'zactly lik' a
| sperit, an | never nos yo' is on de
place It'll yo' 'peared to me by de
bald. Yo' done gimme de creeps
chile
"How is Miss Bennett, Polly?''
whispered Mrs. Murriatte.
| ''She's mighty bad off, mann. \
| while ago she dun open her eyes a
mint, thinks l, she comm outen hit,
but she jes' stare a mint and den
sbet IN up agin, an lay de same"
and Polly shook her head doubtfully
Are you certain you are following
the physicians directions, Polly?'the
| lady inquired anxiously.
''Sartin, sho' honey, keeps de lie