Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25
CHAPTER II.
An Enforced Soiourn.

IOf gong away, SAID the medical man. tHdt
| was impossible for the present-what the
| patient needed was absolute rest and quiet.
When should they be able to take their de-
parture? 1t would be impossible to say;
| III week; perhaps sooner.
Watching by her fathers side. the day
passed slowly, but toward night Mr.. Ros-
| sitter sank into slumber; his respiration be-
came more even; his temperature better.
He is doing nicely" said the doctor. who
called again "Only I do not conceal from
you that his condition is serious"
casionally she bent over her father.
but at length lay down on the
sofa. troubled sleep Now and thsn she
awoke of her own accord; again she was
startled by some noise without; sounds like
the quick, measured tramping of soldiers
feet! Once she thought she heard the crack
ing Of musketry afar and started up. She
held her breath: had she been mistaken?
Dreaming? The ominous stiffness of the
moment was broken only by the sound of
breathing from the bed. and noselessly she
stole to the couch No. he had not been
disturbed. A moment she stood there: then
returned to the sofa.
"Elinor.'
Her fathers voice aroused her. 1t SEEM
| ed but few minutes later; yet day had
dawned. sunless, overcast. At once she
FASTENED to his bedside where she found
| him sitting up; his eyes. clearer; his man.
| ner. impatient
| Are the trunks packed?"
what for?" she asked gently.
Il thought we were going to leave Paris"
And l thought you wanted to stay!"
Il don't want to stay he announced.
I'VE seem to have changed places" she
said with smile. Before, 1t was you
You staying on my account. my
dear" he interrupted. Il am well enough
to CO.
Il am afraid the doctor would never con-
sent to that" She endeavored to answer
| him lightly HE made me promise to keep
you quiet for a few days"
"A few days., cried Mr.. Rossiter ut
may then be too late"
Placing her hands his shoulders, she
| quietly forced him back upon the pillows.
rs that the way you obey orders?' she
asked reproachfully.
well, weil, he said with a show of
resignation II suppose you are right"
| And added irrelevantly: God bless you,
my dear!''
She seated herself on the edge of the bed
| and stroked his hand softly. He closed his
| eyes. She thought he was sleeping, but his
| lips again moved and he muttered some
| thing she did not catch.
What is it, papa?'
He looked at her with sudden inquiry.
| Nothing, my dear, nothing! Only an old
| prOverb came to me-"
IAN old proverb?' she asked in surprise.
yes. A good daughter makes a good
| w!.e'r'
Across the pallor Of her cheek swept a
| quick flush, while the hand that touched
| his ceased its motion. Heretofore he had
never questioned his daughter on the
| subject of Richard Strong, having left
| that family task to Mrs Rossiter. Per-
! haps Elinors manner in response to that
| lady's hints, inquiries and innuendoes,
| had deferred him at the outset from sup
plementing her futile efforts with his own.
That the girl had been disposed to keep her
| own counsel had seemed sufficient reason
| to the sensitive Mr.. Rossiter to refrain
| from seeking the causes of the one fact
that patent-her separation from Rich
| ard Strong. He might invite her conf
dence but he would never seek to force it.
In the face of his wife's displeasure at her
| failure in the attempted role Of peace
| maker, Mr.. Rossiter's mute, but sympa-
thetic. demeanor had drawn father and
| daughter but the closer together.
| Now however, lying there helpless, anx-
dety for her welfare impeled him to speak.
"a good daughter! good wife!' he re-
| peated. You are all that any man could
ask. All and more! He is respected;
| not difficult to see that. Nor could you
! have been Indifferent to him. Yet you
| never hear from him; you do not write to
| him."
Hastily she drew back, but his fngeis
| closed detainingly on her hand.
Suppose anything should happen to me
| Elinor. You would be left alone-your fu-
| ture problematical!"
Her face was turned away: she did NOT
| reply.
people have their little troubles when they
are first married. Even your mother and
| had our little differences which seemed
! large enough at the time, but after while
| we got along very well together; very wen.
| indeed! In your own case. perhaps. you
| formed certain ideals and you found that
| these preconceived notions"
"Papav
| The accents of her voice held him: the
| appeal in her eyes. His grasp loosened; he
| lay back and looked at the ceiling.
| Swiftly she knelt at the bed; something
arose in her throat please do not think
me cold or unfeeling. I'm not; really I'm
not. I feel my position keenly; the false
| ness. the humiliation of it!''
MY dear!' He was looking at her now.
when mamma has questioned and urged
me. have not been SO hard, so unnatural,
| as l have seemed. I know she Is very
angry with me; that she blames me great
w. And 1 know that you have been very
patient with me: that you do not mind that
l have been a disappointment to you-a
burden"
"ElinorL"
She laid her cheek against his. II do not
mean to keep things from you, but 1t can
never be mended-never! He would mott
know you want to help me. but you can't,
dear you can'tI And-really I'm not UNI
happy at all. And '-coaxingly-"Tm going
to nurse you and you are going to get
we'll soon, and We'll go to London ana
have a good time together"
When had he ever been able to resist her!
Not in the past. and now, at her words.
-
accept her explanation than to seek further
| to overcome her reserve; and Mr.. Rossiter.
| as usual reconciled himself to the easier
course. - :.
Every well, my dear!' he said II won't
keep you here long, depend upon 1t! III
soon be on my feet again."
And truly. despite the disquieting events
that ensued in Paris. his condition took
more favorable turn and before week had
passed the fever had left him. Conva-
| descent, he was. nevertheless. feeble. de-
bilitated He had proved a docile invalid.
! amenable to treatment; comparatively
calm and complacent in circumstances cal
culated to disturb the most phlegmatic ma
ture Was he but acting part? Elinor
often asked herself the question.
The city daily grew more disordered. more
chaotic. but her impatience to escape from
their environment found at length Its re-
| lief, when at the end of seven long, almost
| interminable days. the doctor announced
the welcome news that her father might
leave Paris and proceed to London by slow
and easy stages.
your father should be able to stand the
Journey" he said. "It Is not very trying"
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be able tor she an
swered eagerly. HE seems SO much Inn
proved-only weak. We can leave perhaps
/ thfs af ternOou -