The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1910-11-18

Meg, the collie, rose to greet her with
low whine of delight, and Parsons
hurried into the dining room m~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 blind1y? This was an
untidy. shapeless creature with dis
heveled locks, white, bloated cheeks.
red, bieary 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 bf alarm.
Parsons flung himself between
Enid and her cousin.
"Yo4 must go back, my lady!" 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 erbuched back in sick dread and
pain, and then the hall seemed full of
people, running, and sounds of ex-
postulations mingled with a woman's s
noarse 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 go quiet
ly back to her room.
She :closed her eyes and leaned
against 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 a sigh.
Its 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 a 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
bidden to minister to his sufferings.
My mother-what of her? For
Heavens sake, never tell her!"
Can you not trust me?" she an
swered; and then she told him the
reason of her coming.
Il will return with you," he said
as a sigh broke from his lips; "but
l can not stay-I 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, Il can do nothing for
her-give her no pleasure in life
but this horrible, cursed drink! She
does not even realize my efforts; she
has grown to hate me! My wife, the
woman 1 loved so well-Heaven help
me, too well!-is degraded to the
animal you saw just now," Then
suddenly looking at her, Did she
touch your 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 choked in he1
| throat.
"Poor child" he said, tenderly
| poor child! 1 would have spared
you this"
Enid turned away.
| will you come now?" she faltered
tremulously, and he understood her;
she could not bear to remain longer
at Bromley.
| walk down the avenue with your
maid; 1 will overtake you. I have
some orders to give. We shall just
catch a good train back to town
Walk slowly"
Gervais spoke in a commonplace
way on purpose; he saw that the cir
was too overwrought and wretcheG
to listen to his miserable story.
Maria walked beside her youns
mistress in alarmed silence. ENID
| only opened her lips once.
"Not word of this at home" sht
said, and Maria saw her face was a
! white as death.
| Then they pushed on, and in ;
little while Gervais Joined them ant
! they walked till they overlook th'
| village ny tndL nau DIOuSnL Ehlu
| and drove in it the rest of the way
Lady Derriman welcomed her sol
with a cry of joy, and he buried hi
face on her shoulder as she claspeC
| him in her arms.
This was Ends dOings, l know,
| she said, tremulous with happiness
"Oh, my dear, dear one!"
She stroked the bent head with th'
| brown locks so cruelty and prema
turely whitened, but she asked hin
no questions. Mother and son sa
| holding each others hands, conten
for the moment in the inexpressibl
! gladness and comfort of each other
! presence.
If she traced new agony on his be
loved face, Lady Derriman made NJ
mention of it, only caressed her bo.
with double tenderness, and gallant,
hid from him her aching heart AM
mothers sorrow.
| He stayed till evening and thel
went.