The Washington herald., 1908-07-21
CHAPTER XIII-Continued.

A couple OF hours later he tapped al the
door Of a ramshackIe cottage prettily
situated halfway up the hill. with the
pigsties and cessPcoi of the cottages just
above draining-in obedience to the laws
Of g-avitation-into the small hollow
where il stood. Hugo had admired this
cottage from the outside. rejecting, as
he went to and from the golf course. what
an admirable subject il presented for an
artist; a typical example OF one Of these
rural scenes so dear TO the heart Of the
right-thinl1ing Briton. and so often re-
called by him with grateful emotion and
pride. when contemplating other cottages
in other lands less favored than his own.
A heavy matched roof, exquisitely toned
by lchens and mosses. surmounted brick
walls pIastered white. The bricks beneath
the plaster were rotten. but the plaster.
shining through masses Of honeysuckle
and clematis. illuminated pleasantly Sir
Giles MottfsfOnt-s earnest wish TO- as he
phrased il. put a good face on things"
Door and castings were painted bright
apple green. Behind lay the Forest Of
Us. an incompatible background. In
front was a small garden. gay IN sum
=
larkspur. stocks. and what the children
call 'red-h0t pOkeTs." The Misses Mot
tisfont took particular pride in the Hern-
shaw gardens They presented packages
Of assorted seeds 10 deserving tenants,
and prizes 10 be competed for at the an
nual flower show always held in the Park.
Sir Giles was taordinately proud OF this
flower sECW. and made a point OF filing
his house with guests. 10 whom he would
what ] do for them. I should Ike to show
YOU my cottages. There are none pref
tier in England though I say H. Wen
stroll through Hernshaw Parva on sun
day afternoon
And 20 see this upright. portiy. clean
shaven English gentleman taking the air
with his guests upon a Sabbath afternoon.
20 hear him expatiatH, in language as
carefully chosen as his neckclJth. upon
the privileges and duties OF conscientious.
stay-at-home landlords. TO mark him as
be waved his g0Id-mounted malacca. in
dicating with complacent sweep the
boundaries Of his domain. was 10 zppre-
heud. with feelings Of mingled awe and
admiration the secret Of EnSland's great
ness
Hugo was received by joy IN the small
parlor. where nothing offended eye or
ear although an acute l0stril might have
detected the cI0yiuE od1r % the juniper
penetrating the rObuster fumes Of car
bolic acid Tu this pa-Ior were FIVE chill
dren and their sire TIE children. not yet
attacked, exhibited somewhat pathetic
excitement Their eyes saoue brightly.
Hugo recognized one oF the boys as a
caddy. and spoke q word % him Pur-
kess. half asleep after a heavy supper.
stood up. a numbering. powerful clown.
significant OF that amazing Wis ine-t.ae
which had kept his family IN one place for
nearly a thousand years
JOY drew Hugo aside. He saw that her
face was very white and drawn. but In
domiyabIe spirit shoue in her eyes
You viii De horribly shocked" she
whispered
She led the way into the next room.
Beyond this was a small closet. whence
proceeded uuulistalahle zounGs-the ster-
t0roUs breathing Of the drunken mother.
II the family bed. which. owing 20 some
uneveuess IN the floor presented with
absurd significance an appearance OF in
ehriety. lay three children one 0f these
bTearheG stert0r0usIy also as n ir were
miulck-1g the mother. few feet away.
It's tiny face was cougested- Joy touched
Hugo and shook her head. Then she
glanced at "a watch worn IN a Ieatheru
strap round the wrist
The doctor viii be here IN two hours"
she whispered Perhaps had better
stay TIL then.
can YOU do a single thing which I
can't dog' asked Hugo, curtIy-
Mo"
Then obey the doctors orders. and 90
straight % bed have ny instructions"
He pulled out HIS notebook.
The eldest girl" said JOY. pointing 20
the quietest and paIest of the three. lis
slightly better. but appall.nElv weak. You
must watch her. IF she tried 90 sit up.
for instance. her heart would probably
stop"
"Risht,~ said Hugo. show me the
Incidence
With almost professional coolness and
quickress. she indicated the position of
everything ueedfuL Then a smile flick
cred across her face as she nodded and
left the room
Hugo sat down near the bed. He was
curiously aware that with the passing of
JOY some indefnabIe benefiCeut spirit
seemed TO have passed also. He remem-
bered his conviction that high health was
as contagious as disease Then the door
opened quietly. and he saw her face in
the shadows. She came TO him. putting
her sweet mouth close TO his ear. The
intimate movement. her breath upon his
cheek the light touch OF her hand upon
his elbow. thrilled his pulses
There is q nurse IN the next cottage.
She remains till morning If anything
unexpected happens. wake Up Purkess.
and send him for hsE"
Hugo nodded
You may have 20 kick PurKess"
! shall do so with pleasure"
Her fingers lightly pressed MS elbow.
an acknowledgment Of sympathy and an
probation OF his humor. Hugo had won
dered whether q biz emergency would de-
strOy IN her that sense Of comedy which
overspreads all things. and which hither-
TO had kept her absolutely free from any
taint Of priggishness. Now he was glad
10 think that she had pressed his elbow
and smiled He had seen strong men 20
almost mad when confronted with horrors
they were unable TO mitigate Joys white.
drawn face had alarmed him. but It vas
surely vel with her so long as she could
smile at the probability OF Purkess being
kicked.
For half an hour at least there was
nothing TO do He sat thinking with his
eyes on the three heads on the pillow
The smallest child, who breathed so pitt
fully like her mother. was FAR the worst
Of the three: and it seemed 10 Hugo that
she grew worse while he watched her
He found himself counting the breaths. as
he used 70 count waves The seventh al
ways eppeared-no doubt il was only
fancy-tO be the most Iabored. a veritable
spasm. as II delicate tissues were being
torn apart