Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-04-05


Joseph was ready the first and he
promptly repaired to the kitchen, where
ne set to work to help Marie with his
customary energy.
II was Marie who first perceived
difference In NestOrius. His dusky III
tie face was shining with sudden,
weakening perspiratiOn, hiS, limbs lay
lifelessly, with lack of their usuai
comfortable looking grace.
"Go!' she said quickly. "Fetch Miss
Gordon"
Jocelyn came, and Maurice and Guy
Oscard; for they had been together In
the dining room when Joseph delivered
Marie's message.
Nestorius was wide awake now.
When he saw DISCARD his small face
suddenly expanded into brilliant grin.
bad easel" he said.
It was rather startling, until Marie
spoke.
"He thinks you are Mr.. Meredith"
she said. "Mr. Meredith taught him
to say bad CASE"
NestOrius looked from one to the
other with gravely speculative eyes.
which presently closed.
"He Is dying-yes" said the mother.
looking at JOcelyn.
Oscard knew more Of this matter
than any Of them. He went forward
and leaned over the table. Marie re-
moved piece of sailed bacon that was
lying on the table near to the pillow.
With the Inconsistencies Of long habit
she swept some crumbs away with her
apron. DISCARD was trying to find the
pulse in the tiny wrist, but there was
not much to find.
81 am afraid he Is very ILL.," he said.
At this moment the kettle boiled over
and Marie had to turn away to attend
to her duties.
When she came back Oscard was
looking, not at Nestorius. but at her.
I'VE spent four days at Msala." he
said in q tone that meant that he had
more 10 tell ner.
"YesW
1.-THE place is in ruins, as you know"
She nodded with a peculiar little
twist of the lips as II he were hurting
her.
"And l am afraid have some bad
news for you. Victor DurnOvo, your
MASTER
Eyes. Tell quicklyT
'He is dead We buried him at
Msala. He died in my arms"
At this moment Joseph gave a little
gasp and turned away to the window,
where he stood with his broad back
toward them. Maurice Gordon. as
white as death, was leaning against
the table. He quite forgot himself.
His lips were apart. his jaw had drop
ped. He was hanging breathlessly on
Guy Oscard's next word.
HE died Of the sleeping sickness"
said Oscard. 1--WE had come down to
Msala before him-JOseph and /. I
broke up the partnership, and we left
him In possession of the simiacine
plateau. But his men turned against
him. For some reason his authority
over them failed. He was obliged to
make dash for Msala, and he reached
it, but the sickness was upon him."
Maurice Gordon drew sharp sigh Of
relief which was almost sob. Marie
was standing with her two hands on
the pillow where Nestorius lay. Her
deep eyes were fixed on the English
mans sunburnt. strongly gentle face.
did he send a message for me?
Yes?" she said softly.
mo" answered DISCARD. "He-there
was no time"
Joseph at the window had turned half
round.
HE was my husband" said Marie
in her clear, deep tones, 1.-The father
Of this little one which you call Mes
torius."
Oscard bowed his head without sur.
prise. JOcelyn was standing still as a
statue, with her hand on the dying in
fant's cheek. No one dared to look at
her.
ut Is all right" said Marie bluntly.
1--WE were married at Sierra Leone by
the English chaplain. My father, who
is dead, kept hotel at Sierra Leone,
and he knew the ways Of the half
castles. He said that the Protestant
church at Sierra Leone was good
enough for him, and we were married
there. And then Victor brought me
away from my people to this place and
to Msala. Then he got tired Of me;
he cared no more. He said was ugly"
She pronounced 1t "ogly," and
seemed to think that the story finished
there. At all events. she added moth
ing to it. But Joseph thought fit to
contribute a post scriptum.
you'd better tell 'em, Mistress" he
said, 'that he tried to starve yer and
them kids; that he wanted to leave yer
at Msala to be msssacred by the tribes.
only Mr.. DISCARD sent'yer down ERE.
You'd better tell 'em that" !.
"No," she replied, with faint smile.
"No, because he was my husband"
Guy Oscard was looking very hard
at Joseph, and, catching his eye, made
a little gesture commanding silence.
He did not want him to say too much.
Joseph turned away again to the
window and stood thus apart till the
end. -
81 have no doubt" said Oscard to
Marie, that he would have sent some
message to you had he been able. but
be was very ill-he was dying-when
he reached Msala. 1t was wonderful
that he got there at all. We did what
we could for him. but it was hope
less"