The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-02-02

MANNED 1unatic making his escape.
The distance he had to traverse
seemed endless, and he could never
have performed the feat without some
such strong incentive as the instinct
of self-preservation or love like his
own for his wife and child, and anx-
tiety on their account. He did accom-
plish it, however, at last, arriving at
his own door in such a sorry plight
that the nurse, who was just coming
out with his boy in her arms, seeing
i the unkempt characterization crouched
on the step, gathered her little charge
| up closer, and, turning, fled to the
| further end Of the hall, from which
coign of vantage she eyed him sus-
piciously.
Don't you know me, Elizabeth"
he said in a weak voice.
She came little nearer, with eyes
that looked as if they would start
out of her head in amazement, recog-
nizing him, yet not able to believe the
evidence of her senses. The boy be-
gan to whimper at the sad sight.
Take him away" Leslie said,
dragging himself into the hall, land
bring Porter his valet-"and help
me to my room. Be quick! But, for
heavens sake, don't alarm your mis-
tress! She mustn't see me like this;
it would brighten her to death.
They carried him up to his dressing
room, brought him restoratives, and,
not daring to ask questions, gazed at
him, trying to satisfy their curiosity
in that way. He sent for doctor to
set his foot, and insisted on being.
! bathed and shaved Immediately.
While Porter was engaged in this last
operation, Mr.. Somers asked:
How is your lnistress?"
"She seemed pretty well, sir, the
last time I saw her." was the an
swer 1--WE thought you was up in
London with her, sir. !"
Sup in London?" Leslie calculated.
When did she go there?"
Porter named the day.
/ Leslie reflected.
"That was the very day I sprained
my ankle" he said at last II fell
down precipice, and was picked up
by a deaf and dumb shepherd, who
Fcarried me to his hut, and has kept
me there sort of prisoner ever since.
| What time did your mistress get
home that day."
"Some time in the afternoon, l
think, sir. I didn't see her come in.
A gentleman brought her to the gate,
l heard, sir"
WAS she very much alarmed about
me?"
mo, sir; she seemed just as usual
when saw her, sir. She said you
had gone to London Unexpectedly.
asked if should take your things,
sir, but she said you had given no
orders about them, and she expected
you would write. The gentleman as
brought her home come back later
with another old gentleman, the Earl
of Wartlebury, sir. He'd come here
dinner, and they all seemed very
pleasant together, and the missus
went away with them that night. She
said she was going to do some shop
ping in London while you was there.
and would come back with you. She
didn't take her maid, sir, and only a
very few things"
Leslie was speeches..
Are you sure she did not seem
alarmed or put out in any way?n he
managed to ask at last.
"Quite sure, sir, the man rejoined,
positively. "She seemed just as us
ual, and none of us suspected any
thing was the matter, though we did
think it rum go--if you'd excuse
the expression, sir-the both of you
going off like that so sudden. sir"
ut is ten days since, isn't it?" Les
lie asked
About that, sir. the man an
swered, reflectively.
"And have you heard nothing from
her since?"
yes, twice, sir. She wrote to
Elizabeth, and said Miss Somers was
coming down for change of air, and
to get room ready for her; and then
she wrote again, sir, few days after
and said Miss Somers would not come
just yet, but we was to expect her
the missus, sir-at any time. Sc
we've been expecting you both. sir
every day"
The doctor ordered Leslie to bed
on pain of being famed for life, and
very kindly sent kilograms for him &c
his wife and sister. No answer com.
ing to them, Leslie sent his man to
London that night to make inquiries
The latter returned next day with ar
inexplicable piece of intelligence. He
said that the servants at Miss Somers
house had declared that their mis-
tress, Mrs. Leslie, and Mr.. Somers
also, had all gone yachting with Lore
Wartlebury, but nobody knew exactly
where. There was therefore nothing
! for Leslie to do but lie there day after
! day, a prey to the most anxious sus
pense, and wait. He did not know
what to think, but he understood his
wife too well to imagine for moment
} that she was amusing herself while
, there was any doubt about his safety
! Her voyage must bear some reference
Ito his disappearance, and it did occur
! to him that she might have gone of
Eon some wild-goose chase, following {
false scent under a delusion. This
} idea was comforting, because, o.
course, she must discover her mistake