The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-11-11
THE Man she LOVED
By EFFIE ADELAIDE ROYbANDS.


know that the sight of the earl will
do her more good than all the doc
tors. Maria shall go with me.
Briggs listened in silence, and as
the girl went away she shook her
head.
.Ah! IL he'd only chosen her!' she
said to herself.
The sun shone radiantly as Enid,
with Maria in graceful attendance,
alighted at Groombridge Station, and
drove away in hy to Bromley
Manor.
Her heart was beating wildly, a
crowd Of painful memories thronged
into her breast as she alighted and
passed in through the open door.
Meg, the collie, rose to greet her with
a low whine of delight, and Parsons
hurried into the dining room full of
surprise and pleasure at sight of Miss
Leslie.
Where is Lord Derriman?" she
asked, quickly. And then, before he
could answer. some one came rush
ing down the stairs toward her.
Could her senses have left her. or
was this Dorothy-the beautiful,
golden-haired girl whom everybody
worshiped so blindly? This was an
untidy. shapeless creature with dis
heveled locks. white. bloated cheeks.
red, bleary eyes and coarsened lips;
her whole person breathing the ex-
istence Of some hideous meaning.
Enid staggered back as this ad-
vanced toward her and Maria uttered
cry of alarm.
Parsons flung himself between
Enid and<her cousin.
You must go back, my lady!D he
said, firmly: then, lifting his voice, he
called, loudly. @Virginie! Mrs. Rob-
erts! Come down."
The wretched creature tried to
force past his arm, growing savagely
the while at the pale. frightened girl,
who crouched back in sick dread and
pain, and then the hall seemed full of
people running. and sounds of ex-
postulations mingled with woman's
hoarse cries and screams, in the midst
Of which Enid felt rather than saw
Gervais' pure, pale face pleading al
most tenderly to his wife to 60 quiet
Iy back to her room.
She closed her eyes and leaned
against a chair. Parsons stood by,
brushing his brow with his hand.
She's awful bad to-day: the
tremens is worse nor USUALLY" he
muttered.
Enid gasped: the CHASTITY process
sion had passed up the broad stair
case down which Dorothy had glided
so often. decked out in her silks and
diamonds, lovely as the stars.
"What-what is it?" she breathed
to the man.
He turned and looked at her and
shook his head with sigh.
sits drink, miss: she's been like
this for weeks past. She must a. seen
you a-comin' and got loose. Here
comes his lordship, poor fellow! All,
it most breaks my heart, that it does,
to see him."
Gervais came quickly up to Enid.
Involuntarily she held out her two
hands. and he grasped them; the
sight Of her pure. fair face. her sweet,
trustful eyes, was like heaven to him
after that hideous scene. without
speaking. he drew out into the sun
shine. Maria stood aloof, tears rain
ing down her cheeks.
Gervais drew deep breath as they
were outside, then buried his face in
his hands, and she stood trembling
beside him. knowing him to be the
very acme OF her existence, yet for
hidden to minister to his sufferings.
My mother-what of her? For
Heavens sake, never tell her!"
3Can you not trust me?" she an
swered: and then she told him the
reason of her coming.
II will return with you," he said,
as a sigh broke from his lips: @but
can not stay am wanted here. =
He took two or three turns on the
colonnade, then stopped before her.
-Oh, Enid! child, If you could only
know all have endured-the shame!
This-this has been going on ever
since Christmas, and now. you see, /"
he shuddered, II can do nothing for
hergive her no pleasure in life
but this horrible, cursed drink! She
does not even realize my efforts; she
has grown to hate me! : NY wife, the
woman loved SO WE'LL Heaven help
me. too welli-is degraded to the
animal you saw Just now!" Then
suddenly looking at her. did she
touch you?" he asked nervously; did
she hurt you? She Is strong and
powerful at these times-her keepers
can scarcely hold her!"
Enid shook her head; she could
not speak; words were ehoked in her
throat.
Poor child" he said. tenderly;
-poor child! I would have spared
/ you this"
Enid turned away.
SWfl1 V0u Gonna nour 81 a fof&,~oa