Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-09-13
Copyright
CHAPTER xxx.
Continued.

Continued.
Thither Constance and / at once re-
paired without waiting to hear any
thing more the clerk had to tell. There
in q private room we found uncle Sam
attended by his wife and DR.. Herr
mann. The two latter were making
preparations to take their patient II
his home, for which purpose carriage
waited at the door. My uncle whit
was lying on couch. appeared yer!
depressed, and the expression of hi
eyes struck me as peculiar-quite TN
like anything had observed before
He took not the least notice Of Connie
or me. but turned his face to th'
wall soon after we entered the room
and pressed his hand to his forehead az
II in pain. 1 seized the opportunity
while Connie was quietly cOnferrln.
with her sister to ask DR.. Hermann
what he thought of the case.
"Mr. Truman has always overworket
himself" said the doctor, "and there /.
some danger of brain trouble conse
qucnt on the bad news he has received
but it may very likely be avoided with
care and quietude. lie is a man oi
immense vitality
At the moment of our arrival at the
hotel preparations were in progress fol
getting my uncle back to his OWN
house. This was not easy to do. as he
could not be got even for one moment
to speak or think of anything but the
news from Paris, and he seemed to re
sent the presence of anybody except
his wife, though he did not so express
himself. However, DR.. Hermann and
/ with some difficulty succeeded in in
ducing him to enter the carriage and
he started for East Thirty-f0urth
street, accompanied by his wife and
doctor, Constance and l returning by
another way.
As soon as uncle Sam arrived home
he was put to bed in a darkened room
and ice was applied 10 his head, the
patient submitting to these unpleasant
preparations without making the least
protest-an additional proof if any
were needed, of how completely his
mind was absorbed in painful contem!
plation of the tragedy which he had
SO much feared.
After Dr. Herrmann had departed
aunt Gertrude took me aside. II fear
your uncle is down for serious i'll
ness" she said Il am told he must
be kept very quiet. and to ensure that
I will nurse him myself. But he
wearies me and distresses himself by
begging without cessation that l will
60 to Paris and take charge of-Cf that
English woman's son, ard bring him
here. l would not hesitate to do so
If my husband We're well; but l CARE
not l will not, leave him in his present
state. Will you help me?'
This appeal, the purport of which I
could not misinterpret, alarmed me
greatly. Il would gladly 90 to any
part of the world on your business"
| answered quickly, "if only it lay IN
my power to do so: and, apart from
ny love for Constance, I can think CT
nothing more gratifying than doing
anything to oblige YOU or uncle Sam,
but l have sworn an oath that I will
never again leave your sister until she
Is my wife, and she is pledged to me in
equal terms"
Aunt Gertrude smiled family. 81
have already telegraphed to three of
our friends in Paris" she said, "urg-
Ing them to discover and protect the
child at any cost, and to let us know as
sooA as possible that this has been
done; hut l have not yet received any
replics."
You have not allowed sufficient time.
It is barely two hours since you were
summoned to Mills Building"
II have already assured your uncle
that if the child can be found l will
adopt it as my own, and that assur-
ancc has rallied him more than any
hing else that has been said CT dCne
If only | could show him telegram
proving that the child is now in good
bands, | think he would soon be him
self again
Il believe you will receive such n
telegram some time to-day"
I'VE will hope so," said aunt Ger
trudc quietly. Ard having uttered
these words she returned to her hus-
band rCom and l sought Constance.