Gunnison news-champion and tribune., 1905-06-30

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Edward. gsancing relucs~asis 81 As
bsossers bed.
In after dsys he could smiie 81 tbs
recollectson OF the reply. uttered vita
son;enptsoss tnasaereoes On. -ae's
s-sosnS into high ssrskes o. the bach
parior sofy"
Al the time. he was only conscious a
sNpassencs at the call of pity that
obliesd him 10 leave his perhaps jysaG
relative IN the hands Of comparative
strangers He ceased 70 regret bic soR-
piiance when the tears ths; burst rom
not attended by the ravia&s which had
terrified her attendants. HE sat down
upon the edge Of the bed and leaned
ever to kiss the sobbine lips. My
dear sister. precious child" he said as
. mother nigh; sootbe an shrighted
daughter. and she dropped her head
upon his shoulder. to weep herself into
silence II not composure.
When she could listen. he gave her
the history of the missdyenture Ia a
Few words. MIR. Withers had insisted
upon handling the reiDs himself This
accounted to the auditor for his use Of
Edwards gloves as being thicker than
his. although their owner made no men-
tion OF having lent them to him. The
horses had behaved tolerably well un-
Ill they were within three blocks 81
home. when they had SHE'D violently
at passing omnibus ierked the reias
from the drivers hands. and dashed
down the street. the sleigh upset at the
first corner. and both the occupants
were thrown out. MIR. Withers striking
forcibly against a lamp post, while Ed
ward was partially stunned against the
curb-stone, They had been brought TO
their own door in carriage. the
younger brother reviving in time to
alight with a little assistance from
q friendly bystander. and to superin-
tend the others removal to the house
and up the stairs
Constance heard him through with
out interruption or comment. volun
tarily raised her head from its resting
place. and lay back upon her pillows,
covering her face with her hands. One
or two quiet tears made their way be-
tween her fingers ere she removed
them. but her hysterical sobbing had
ceased. Il am thankful for your safe
ty," she said DO composedly that it
sounded eoldly unfeelng Now 90
hack tn Ha a.
and ] Dc not. I shall be better soon.
aad thea ] nsst bear ny part In nurs-
tAg hin. u ~ sAsssa - aer ne. Vet
me knew without delay" She sent
her servants out when he had ge.s.
and locked her door on the inside.
who'd have thought that she and
Mr.. Edward would take 1t 10 hard?"
said the cook, ~ exponent Of the views
Of the kitchen cabinet. IF 80 be the
shouldn't get over this. it Will
go nigh to killing her. Inever knowed
she were that fond Of him. All, well,
she ought to be, for It's her he'll leave
well provided for. I'll be bound, Them
as has heaps to lave has plenty to
mourn for them"
An hour elapsed before Mr. Witbers
understood Alright where he was and
what had happened. and then his wifc's
face was the first object he recognized.
1t was almost as bloodless as his, vet
she was collected and helpful. a more
efficient coadjutor to the surgeons than
was fidgety Harriet, whose buzzincs
and hoverines over the wounded man
reminded Edward of a noisy and per-
sistent gad fly.
The moved gentleness o, Constance
tone in answering the patients in
quiries was mistaken by the attendants
for fondest commiseration, and the
family physicians unspoken thought
would have chimed in well with the
servants verdict. Mr.. and Mrs With
ers we're not reputed to be a loving
couple. but in moments of distress and
danger, the truth generally came to
light. No husband, however idolizea
could be nursed more faithfully or have
excited greater anguish of solicitude
than spoke in her dry eyes and rigid
features. even il her wild outbreak
at first seeing him had not betrayed
her real sentiments.
In her calmer review of the scene.
Constance could feel grateful for he
spectators misconception which haG
shielded her from the consequences OF
her madness; could shudder al he
of the ignominy she had mar
rowly escaped. But this was not the
gulf from which she now recoiled with
horror and self-loathing that led her
to avoid meeting the eyes bent curious
ly or sympathetically upon her. and 10
cling to the nerveless hand of him
whose trust she had BETRAYED. To
him, her husband, she had not given
a thought when the dread tidings of
disaster and death were brought 70
her. What to her was an empty mar
riage vow, what the worlds reproha-
ton, when she believed that Edward
lay lifeless before her? Man, Won Dc
not know how | loved him." she had
said. She might have added Il never
y