The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-09-01
CHAPTER II.


that crept upon her lie. Neroua per
suaded her 10 su--uuu their friend and
neshbor, DR.. Qlave-
The latter. on seeing Mrs. Dumbartou,
spoke grayeiy Of pvcrwtoaght nerves. ex-
hzu-'ei BRAIN, genera debility, and or
dcrtd complete rest from mental work.
open air exercise, ayp.Iauce OF excite
uent. crowds and late hours, begging
her oi a.. th.ugs TO free lcr mind from
W5rry.
What most ia.irucs and distrcsscs me-
are slcrp,gss II EL.s,' She s4ll, 90 that
] have taken t. use ch,p-a,"
That you must Immediately d.scun-
tiuuc.' Dr. Quaye replied. Sleep should
some IRON natlral causes, as frea eH-
ercisc, ior instance"
But ! haven't sufficient strength t.
take exercise
"You Ion will Narcotics are cspe-
cially bad in a case like yours. | will
send YOU a touic-physphoru quininc
and nux vomica hat, with complete
rest, will set you right again. the doctor
remarked, with 4 CHEEKY air.
Mrs. DImbArtou gave up work because
all ideas seemed to have forsaken her,
and to frame three consecutive sentences
became an itnposs'blity
One evening after dinner as she sat
reading in the cosy room She called The
study. a servant entered bearing = card.
Mrs. Dumharton started at the slight
but unexpected noise made by the opcl-
ug of the door. and then glanced at
her visitors name. M Bostuck-shoW
him n,' she sald. without hesitation and
with pleasure In another moment the
publisher stood before her, tall. slight
man, with 4 wide. hi-h forehead, dark
cray melancholy eyes under wellmarked
brows and black beard.
Forgive me- for calling at such an
hour" he said, apologetlcaily, but | was
III The neighborhood, and | thought I
would do myself the pleasure Of bearing
you Interesting news
Il am always glad to see YOU she
answered. the irank expression OF her
pleasure showing in her lace.
My news is tins he whole II the
first edition Of your book has been sub
sc-,bed for before publication
Il am 50 glad" " cried Veronica.
1T fills me with apprehension, said
the authoress. what, il after all | dis
appoint the public, now ii has been SO
kind"
NO fear of that. It's the best novel
you have written George Bostock re
Piled, looking at her with eyes that spoke
the secret OF his heart.
Pm delighted that you think so. The
last book al which ! work always seems
TO me the best until its finished then,
when | read il over, ! see how com
pletely i, has failed oconvcy what
intended, and I am ready to feel unspeak-
able gratitude to the critics If they will
| f,,tf, ,nt-.;,, f-,,,, rsr,1t1tf mo -
Now they unanimously praise you"
the publisher said
Far more than ! deserve; l am not
unmindiul OF their gentleness."
"You have earned all their praise" re-
piled this CHEEKY friend.
"'Tis more that | receive it."
And they continued chatting OF liter
ature and its votaries, unmndful because
unconscious of the fate drawing nigh
them, until once more the servant en-
tered, this time with boob, and a letter
which had arrived by the last post. Look
ing at them, Mrs. DunIbarton saw they
were directed in the handwriting of Va
lerius Galbraith.
George Bostock rose He was struck
by the pale and haggard appearance of
his hostess, which her animation had un-
til now concealed.
care you not wel?" he inquired,
anxiously.
Il have been somewhat upset.
Surely not by him p
"Yes. He has returned, notwithstand-
ing his promise"
Has he been here Bostock asked
| anxlously eagerly.
Not yet; but he may come any day"
Can nothing be donea' he inquired,
much distressed By what he heard
Il fear not But the pain Of this ex-
pectancy-the suspense
81 understand. Remember, if l can
be of any service-you know
"Yes, know" she answered, CRATE
fully.
With a strong, firm grasp he held
her hand in his, then left her without
| further words.
| Left alone, Mrs Dumbarton seated her
self in a cosy chair and opened the book
| Nalerius had sent. She soon became IN
terested in its contents, SO that time
| quickly passed unperceived by her.
Veronica had been an hour in the
happy land of chldhood's dreams, and
| the cook had retired to bed, SO that
| none were downstairs save Olive Dunn
| barton and her maid, the latter awaiting
the summons of her mistress. Suddenly,
as the girl dozed over weekly periodi-
cal she was rudely startled into wake
| fulness BY sounds of the shifting and
crashing of furniture, and Immediately
after came cry of bitter pain such as
| might be drawn from a woman by a
| cruel blow, to which in turn succeeded
hoarse shout, as from a man in his
extremity inploring mercy and demand
ing help
Petrifed by terror, the girl stood i'm
| movable with strained senses for a sec
ond. then, acting on impulse, she rushed
to the study and flung wide the door.
In the center of the room a man lay
| upon his back motionless, his eyes wide