The Glenwood post., 1910-07-02
CHAPTER xII.-continued.

'I reckon you bettah come in Mis-
Innes," he said. speaking cautiously.
Its got SO l dunno what to do, and
it's boun' to come out some time er
ruther."
He threw the door open then, and
I stepped inside, Halsey close behind.
In the sitting room the old negro
turned with quiet dignity to Halsey.
You bettah sit down, sah," he
said. It's place for a woman. sab" ;"
Things were not turning out the
way Halsey expected. He sat down
on the center-table, with his hands
me as l followed Thomas up the mar
row stairs. At the top woman was
standing. and second glance showed
me it was Rosie. She shrank back a
little, but l said nothing. And then
Thomas motioned to partly open
door, and l went in.
The lodge boasted of three bed
rooms upstairs, all comfortably fur
naSbed. In this one. the largest and
Il Est, night lamp was burning, and
by.ats light could make out a plain
"hleC letdi Oeu. n 6Ll was doiccp
.s.h here-or in a half stupor, for she
uttered something now and then
lie had taken her courage in her
is, and coming in had turned up
light. 1t was only then that
W. Fever-fushed, ill as she was,
A ecognized Louise Armstrong.
| stood gazing down at her in a
astupor of amazement. Louise here.
hiding at the lodge. i'll and alone!
Rosie came up to the bed and
smoothed the white counterpane.
Il am afraid she is worse tonight"
: she ventured at last. l put my hand
the sick girls forehead. 1t was
ing with fever, and l turned to
Thomas fingered in the hall
i'll you tell me what you mean,
mas Johnson, by not telling me
before?" | demanded Indignantly.
Thomas quailed.
Mis- Louise wouldn't let me-" he
said earnestly. II wanted to. She
ought to "a had doctor the night she
came, but she wouldn' hear to it. Is
she very bad. Mis- Innes?'
Bad enough" said coldly. Send
Mr.. Innes up
Halsey came up the stairs slowly,
looking rather interested and inclined
to be amused. For a moment he could
not see anything distinctly in the
darkened room; he stopped. glanced
Rsie and at me, and then his eyes
pm the restless head on the pill
low think he felt who 1t was before
he really saw her; he crossed the
room in a couple of strides and bent
over the bed.
"Louise!" he said softly; but she
did not reply. and her eyes showed no
recognition. Halsey was young. and
illness was new to him. He straight
ened himself slowly. still watching
her, and caught my arm.
She's dying, Aunt Ray!" he said
huskily. Dying! Why. she doesn't
know mel"
'Fudge!" l snapped, being apt to
grow irritable when my sympathies
are aroused. She's doing nothing of
the sort-and don't pinch my arm. II
you want something to do, go and
choke Thomas"
But at that moment Louise reused
IRON her stupor to cough, and at the
end of the paroxysm. as Rosie laid her
back. exhausted. she knew US. That
was all Halsey wanted; to him con-
seriousness was recovery. He dropped
on his knees beside the bed, and tried
70 tell her she was all right. and we
would bring her around In q hurry,
and how beautiful she looked-only to
break down utterly and have to
stop. And At that came to my
senses. and put him out
This Instant" ordered, as he hes
'tated. And send Rosie here"
He did not 60 far. He sat on the
Top step Of the stairs, only leaving to
telephone for . doctor. and getting in
sVerybody's way in his eagsrnsss to
'etch and carry. got him away final-
|