Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-09-14
CHAPTER VIII.

rs that cushion quite comfortable at
your back? Stall L arrange 1t better
for your"
TT is quite right. thank you. Aga
tho You must not make a fuss over
me any longer. I am not really i'll in
the least-only muddled In my head
somehow
And Rupert Carol, passed his hand
YEARLY across his brow. He was ly-
ing on the sofa in his sisters drawing
room at Harrington. A bright fire
burnt on the hearth. for 1t was now
October. and the days were cold and
wintry. He was downstairs for the
first time to-day. and he was rather
tired, for there had come down from
London a great man, a specialist, on
purpose to consult with the country
doctor who had been attending him.
and the great man had questioned and
cross questioned him till his head
throbbed with pain, and now he was
skut up In the next room with his sis
ter, giving her his opinion and pocket
ing his fee ere returning to town.
Agatha Dale was left to take care
of him. She stood by the side of his
couch, looking down anxiously at her
charge. She was a tall girl, with dark
eyes and hair and rather a sad ex-
preston OF face; she was not at all
pretty, but she had fine figure, and
had somehow the effect of more good
looks than she actually possessed. Ru-
pert looked up at her and smiled.
why do YOU look at me so sorrow
fully, Aggie? Am / such a wreck"
he asked lightly. holding out his hand
to her But she did not take his out
stretched fingers.
"You are-altered." she said. hesitat-
ingly. in answer to his question.
Altered, How am I altered, pray?
Bring me s looking glass at once and
let me see"
There was a small oval mirror upon
an occasional table behind her. Aga
tina took it up. She placed it in his
hand in silence, and half turned away.
He held up the glass before his face
for some moments without speaking.
He had grown thin and pale. but a
singular change had taken place in
him. In these few weeks his dark cur
" hair, that used to be so brown and
glossy. had become peppered over so
freely with grey as to have turned al
most white. II did not in the least
spoil his good looks. for his auburn
moustache was untouched. and his
eyes, with their long black lashes. re-
NAMED as bright and clear as before.
but it had the effect of making him
look quite ten years Older than his
present age.
What funny thing" he said pres
entity. laying down the glass by his
side Il have grown quite grey. 1
wonder why"
You must remember that you have
had a very bad conclusion OF the
brain. You We're unconscious for sew
enteen days"
Come and sit here by my side. Ag-
gle, and tell me again exactly what
happened"
You see. we expected YOU down.
Auntie and l. by the SIS train from
Victoria. You were coming down with
Lord Netherviile: we expected you
both together Don't you remember7"
He shook his head Il can't remem-
Der I'm the least. Where was coming
fromgy
You had been on the river some
| where for fishing for the summer"
ION the rivers He repeated her
words duly and blankly. The words
| conveyed no sort Of meaning to his
mind. He remembered her. his sister,
and Harrington. the former years and
| events OF his life perfectly. but the i'm
mediate past was wiped as clean out
OF hts memory as though by q wet