Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-18
CHAPTER Viii.

Billeryfdid not die that time but he
lay for week in the balance Alexis
suffered a good deal from the neces-
sary invasion of his privacy, and the
discovery of Bil1ery's terrible secret
was all the harder to endure because
in the very nature of things it was
impossible for him to seek any sort of
friendly consolation or advice. It was
not a thing to breathe a word about to
any human creature, and whilst
his host went almost crazy with ankle
ty and with wonder as to what course
of action he would take when he re-
covered. It was quite impossible to
know whether that drunken declara-
ton of his resolve to do his duty and
to make his knowledge common prop
erty would be put in effect or not. He
had always been so much of a sweath-
ercock that he could be blown this
way or that by any gust of feeling;
but for the time being, at least, Billery
was not amenable to reason, or in a
state to be appealed to, however gent
ly.
If under these conditions Alexis
sometimes found his self-possession
severely tested, and if at times he al
lowed that fact to be seen, it was, per-
haps, hardly to be wondered at. 1t
was evident to most of those who
were close to him at this period of his
trials that he put great restraint
upon himself with regard to Billery.
He was sometimes on the very verge
of an angry outbreak with Gervase,
who had hitherto found him the least
exacting of masters, the suavest tenn
pered, and the most easily pleased.
Now that unhappy servitor stole about
his duties with a sense of an over
charge of electricity in the air and
constant expectation Of a thunder
storm. There were two nurses in
waiting on the patient, one attending
by night and one by day, and the alb
ruptness of Alexis's manner kept them
Both in fear. But there was simply
no end to his patience and kindness to
Biilery, who, when he began to ap-
proach recovery, was extremely try
ing He brought him grapes and jellies
and all manner of comforting and
strengthening things, and he was SO
uniformly gentle in the sick room that
everybody preferred to encounter him
there rather than elsewhere
But when Billery was well on his
way to convalescence his hosts insta.
bility took such hold upon him that
sometimes he would march from the
room in which the invalid sat or
lounged at rest and would ease his
mind by the use of vigorous language
until he felt that he had let off steam
enough, and that it was safe for him
to return.
= well, Alexis" said the convalescent
one evening when they were alone to-
gether, Il Supposed must be off to-
morrow. | shall never find words in
which to say how much thank you
for all your kindness. You've been
better than a brother to me, old chap.
I came here and blurted out that
dreadful news of mine when I wasn't
in a fit state to tell it, I've been
CHASTITY nuisance ever since, imposing
myself on you as if you were an insti-
tuition for the relief Of submerged in
ebriates, and you've been miracle of
forgiveness. I'm deeply touched, Alex,
and I'm profoundly grateful, and on
top of it all, old chap, I'm more
ashamed than I can say"
And Billery, being still very weak
and very shaken in nerve. cried a lit