Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-05-10
Copyright
CHAPTER XIV.
FATHER AND SON.


20 Ernest, my own dear boy, look
up and speak to me like yourself"
said my father, holding my hand and
looking down upon me with an ex-
preston of deep solcitude upon his
kindly face.
/ pressed my fathers hand and re.
sgarded him steadfastly, but made no
reply. feeling painfully weak and Ill.
"Please don't irritate my patient,
Mr.. Trueman. With quietude, in day
or two he will be as well as ever" said
voice at my side, which I recognized
as belonging to DR.. Thurlow.
For few seconds it was difficult
to realize my surroundings, familiar
though they were. Yes, this was my
room, and was lying in my own bed.
That was our housekeeper, sitting by
the clear. low fire; and the sunlight
which the drawn curtains subdued
but could not exclude, seemed to denote
midday.
With a great effort l suddenly sal
upright. Leave me with my father"
l cried; Il want to talk with him."
mot now, not now," answered the
doctor; another time will do for that.
You must rest"
mo; now, now!" l exclaimed. with
great excitement. Father, send these
people away"
my dear boy, be calm. | know all
that you would tell me, and care moth.
ing about it, My only anxiety is to
have you we'll again."
"No, no; you do not know. l must
tell you now."
ERNEST, my boy, for my sake don't
excite yourself. | say again, | know
all that you would tell me. For Two
days and nights you have talked OF
nothing else"
"Impossible Two days and two
nights! What do you mean:'
II think you had better withdraw
for few hours, MI 1rueman," said
DR.. Thurlow; ''your presence disturbs
my patient"
My father relinqushed his grasp of
my hand aud moved reluctantly to-
wards the door.
Don't leave me, father | implOred,
stretching my arms out towards him;
and he at once returned to ne. Tell
me. what day is ths:'
wednesday,
"wednesday" repeated stupidity:
"wednesday. My father says to-day
is Wednesday. Then all is lost and
I lay back again on my pillow
eyes, to-day is Wednesday, corrob-
GRATED DR.. Thuilow, gently putting
back the hair from my forehead with
his hand; land before Wednesday
comes again, hope TO sec you on your
pony, galloping past my house in your
usual style. But you are mistaken in
thinking that all is lost; Oh the CON
trary, nothing is lost. There have
been no thieves here
A long silence ensued, during which
lay quite still, my face towards my
father, who had seated himself by the
side of the fire. That two days and
nights had elapsed since | went down
into the crypt eXtinguished my last
ray Of hope Of obtaining the seQuins,
and my normal calmness, to which |
had been a stranger from the hour of
leading my ancestors Record, began
to reassert itself. AT last the house
keeper rose from her chair and noise
lessly quilted the room. She was soon
afterwards followed by Dr.. Thurlow,
who whispered a few words to my
father. and then departed on tiptUe.
My wished-for opportunity had now
arrived, but l was careful not to lose
il by too great precjpitancy, recent
events having taught HE some policy.
and | therefore allowed several miG-
utes TO elapse before spoke.
"Iow was it that came to be here?
The last thing l remember is being in
the crypt on Monday night, not long
after my return from London. What
has been the matter with me? Don't
fear to tell me. / am nearly, If not
quite well, and ii will relieve my mind
~ know"
But DR.. Thurltw has just impressed
upon me that am net TO talk to you
OF that; he says ii will distress you.'
at is only natural that he should
think SO; but he is wrong. If he only
knew what l know, he would not have
given you such advice. Sec. am
calm and rational. Do please tell
me-"
"Therc is really very little to tell,
and it is hard TO refuse you anything.
You must not let DR.. Thurlow know
that I have disob2yed him. On Mon
day night. or rather very early on
Tuesday morning, John came into my
room in great fright and woke me
up. l thought the old man was Tad,
and for little while in my sleepy
state could make nothing of his rapid
utterances and violent GcSticulatiOns;
but at last he got Inc to understand
that he had been unable TO sleep, nav
ing heard strange noises in the house
to see If all was right. He found the
door of the Stillroom open, and also
the door which leads to the crypt.
The old man had the courage 10 dc
seemed into the crypt, where he was
horrifed to find you lying, as lie sup
posed dead He came up 10 me, as l
have sald, and as soon as could make
out his story, | went with him down to
the crypt, and together we brought