Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-10
CHAPTER "

CHAPTER "
Morning, when it arrived, did not bring
much consolation.
Mrs Havant was free from pain, but
too Frustrated to lift her head from her
pillow, and Elizabeth gave very unsat-
isfactory report of her invalid.
When Sage went downstairs to give
the schoolgirls their early breakfast she
found them reading a postcard that had
just arrived.
"Look here, Sage, this is from Jiml"
said. Bah detained by illness. VIII
write The postmark is London; sup
pose he sent it off yesterday, and then
travel after all"
Il must confess wish he had waited"
said Sage, with a sigh.
The twins had scarcely been hurried
of to catch their train when DR.. Masters
appeared. He was far from Teassuring;
he pronounced Jim's illness to be even
more serious than he had anticipated,
and, since the house must be kept per-
fectly quiet, and the presence of a nurse
was indispensable, he insisted upon BAN
ishing Barbara and Gatty.
My wife will lake them in" he said.
"Just pack what they need and send 1T
down; Ellen shall meet them at the sta
ton this afternoon and explain every
thing. Don't you worry, Miss Sage;
they will be all right with my wife"
pc The nurse arrived during the morning,
and so did Jim's luggage, in the shape of
a portmanteau and dressing bag, the con-
tents of which proved eminently salts
factory from Elizabeth's point of view.
"Whatever he could have taken up
with such rubbish as this l can't mag
inc" she said, as she swept away the
unpretentious articles to make room for
appurtenances more BETTING the son OF
millionaire.
Mrs Havant was too weak to ask
many questions or to worry over the
very modified account of Jim's illness
which the doctor and Sage permitted to
reach her ears; but the twins resented
their Punishment.
Nearly a fortnight passed slowly
away.
For one or two days the invalid's life
hung in the balance. and then the crisis
was past and, though desperately weak,
the doctor was able to pronounce him
out of danger. 1t was on the following
afternoon that Sage paid her second visit
to the sufferer.
Don't excite him." the doctor had
said. "And don't seem surprised at any
thing he may do or say, for he still Ia
bors under one or two delusions at times,
and will do so until he is stronger"
Sage was Mortified by the havoc that
illness had wrought in the young mans
face, which had been almost painfully
thin and haggard even before his seizure.
She crossed the room quietly and sat
down beside the bed. meeting the puzzled
anxious look of the dark blue eyes with
1easswing smile.
you are better, Cousin JIM" she said.
"Why do you call me thatf" he re-
sponded, so feebly that she could scarcely
catch the words. "I-my name is not
| jim"
Sage had been told that this was a
point upon which he had harped persist
emily during his delirium, and she felt
dismayed by its recurrence.
you will remember when you are
stronger" she began soothingly, but he
| interrupted her.
81 do remember everything
thing nowl / even understand how. l
come to be here. and you-you are Sage
| suppose ?" he broke off, with faint at
tempt at a smile. eyes. yes-the little
girls spoke OF you. But indeed never
meant to impose upon you like this! |
dbl not know what | was doing2 But
YOU won't desert me now, Miss Sage?
You won't give me upf"
ooh. no, no-of course notl YOU
mustn't excite yourself" answered Sage,
much distressed. you are quite safe
here" she repeated, with reassuring EN-
phasis
The tension of the attenuated figure
seemed 10 relax; the invalid sank back
on his pillow with sigh of relief.
"You-you understand" he faltered,
81 understand" said Sage.
81 don't want to get you into trouble"
he murmured, frowning 'Pll do my
best to keep my tongue between my
! teeth until have a chance of getting
away. There has been some mistake of
course" He broke off as the nurse
came into the room and contrived to
make Sage understand that the visit had
lasted long enough.
TO BE CONTINUED.