The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-07-28
CHAPTER Y1r-Continued.

3
CHAPTER VII.-Continued.
Gen. Rolleston went slowly and
heavily home, and often turned his
head and looked wistfully at the
ship putting out wing upon wing,
and carrying off his child like a tiny
prey.
When he had smoked his cigar,
and reasoned away his sense Of
dissolution, nature put out her hand.
and took him by the breast, and
drew him gently upstairs to take a
look at his beloved daughters bed
room by way of seeing the last Of
her.
The room had one window look
Ing south, and another west; the
latter commanded view of the
sea. Gen. Rolleston looked down
at the floor, Uttered with odds and
ends-the dead leaves of dress that
fell about lady in the great pro-
cess Of packing-and then gazer
through the window at the flying
Proserpine.
He sighed and lighted another
cigar. Before he had half finished
I he stopped down and took up a
little bow of ribbon that lay on the
ground and put 1t quietly in his
BOSOM. In this act he was sur
prised by Sarah Wilson, who had
come up to sweep all such waits
ind strays into her own box.
la, SIR" said she, rather Grossly,
.why didn't you tell me. and I'd
have tidied the room; 1t is all hug
ger-mugger with Miss leaving"
And with this she went to the
wash-hand-stand to begin. Gen.
Rolleston's eye followed her move
ments, and he observed the water
In one of the basins was rather
red. "What!' said he, has she
had an accident; cut her finger?"
mo. sir" said Wilson.
"Her nose been bleeding, then?"
mo. SIR"
mot from her finger-nor-?
Let meIook."
He examined the basin narrowly,
and his countenance fell. Good
laeavens!' said he; l wish had
seen this before; she should not
have gone today. Was 1t the agi-
iation of parting?"
20, no, SIR" said Wilson; don't
20 to fancy that. Why. 1t is not
the first time by many"
Not the first" faltered ROLES
ton. "In heavens name, why was
never told of this?"
Indeed, sir" said Wilson eager
ly, you must not blame me, sir.
1t was as much as my place was
worth to tell you"
But he summoned all his forth
tude, told Wilson he could not say
she was to blame, she had but
obeyed her mistress orders. But
now" said he, ut is me you oukht
to obey; tell me does any doctor
attend herr" jill
"None ever comes here, sir But
!, one day she let fall that she went
to DR.. Valentine him that has the
name for disorders Of the chest"
In a very few minutes, Gen. Rol-
lesion was at DR.. Valentines house
and asked him bluntly what was
4 the matter with his daughter.
4 Disease of the lungs, said the
doctor. simply.
The unhappy father then begged
A the doctor to give him his real
opinion as to the degree of danger,
and DR.. Valuentine told him, with
i some feeling, that the case was not
| desperate, but was certainly alarm
ing.
demonstrated with for letting
the girl undertake a sea voyage. ne
replied rattle evasively at first;
that the air Of Sydney disagreed
with his patient, and sea voyage
was more likely to do her good
than harm, provided the weather
was not downright tempestuous.
And who is to insure me
against that?" asked the afflicted
father.
why. 1t is a good time OF year, =
said DR.. Valentines; land delay
might have been fatal" Then, af-
ter a slight hesitation, THE fact is,
sir. said he. II gathered from her
servant that husband awaits Miss
Rolleston in England and must
Il tell you, what. of course, | did not
tell her, that the sooner she enters
the married state the better. In
fact 1t Is her one chance, In my
opinion"
Gen. Rolleston pressed the doc
tors hand, and went away without
another word.
Only he hurried his matters of
business, and took passage on the
Shannon a,
f,JIAp TER VIII