The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-12-20

SONSA Nn6 agent anu ibis
was my line of argument; but
through It all, Cameron sat unmoved
and unresponsive.
And then there came to me again,
that unwelcome suspicion that all
along he had been hiding something
Hom me; that he OWNED the cause
and the source Of the persecution.
but for some reason of his own would
not divulge them.
rang for one Of the footmen and
had some brandy brought, and forced
Cameron to swallow a stiff drink OF
it, in which Joined him. But even
this stimulant had small effect upcn
him. And when, finally; reluctantly
babe him goodnight, was over.
whelmed by the pathos of his condi-
ton. So wrought and tortured, in.
deed, was l, by the sad picture Of de-
throned courage which followed me
home, that sleep fed me and left me
wide-eyed until the dawn.
The tidings which came to me with
my coffee that morning were more
than half expected. Cameron was i'll,
and his physician had been sum-
moned from New York.
When reached Cragholt the doc
tor had come and gone, and a
trained nurse was in attendance.
Evelyn, meeting me in the hall, con-
veyed this intelligence in a breath,
and then, laying hold upon me, a
slender hand upon each coat sleeve,
her big eyes pleading and anxious,
she ran on:
1T is shock, Dr. Massey says. De-
ferred shock, he called 1t. He says
Uncle Robert has suffered from some
sudden grief, fright, or other dread
full mental impression. His tempera-
ture is way below normal and his
pulse is sort of rapid feeble lutter
Oh, do tell me what you know about
it. What shock has he had7 You
were with him last evening. tie was
gay enough when you and he went
from the music room. What hap
pened afterward?"
Caressingly l rested my palms upon
her shoulders.
MY dear little girl" l said, sooth-
ingly. Il am sorry / can't satisfy
your very natural curiosity"
But it isn't curiosity" she correct
ed, promptly. TITS interest"
We'll, interest then. I'm sorry,
say. Something did happen; but to
tell you just what it was, and why it
was a shock to him, l am not able.
Not now, at least. Maybe, some dey,
you'll know all about It,"
There never was a more reasonable
young person than Evelyn Grayson.
Most girls. fancy. would have leased
and grown peevish at being denied
But she seemed to understand.
DO you want to see uncle?" she
asked me.
Il don't believe 1t would be wise,
answered. Probably l, being a
reminder, might do him harm. Tell
me how he seems? He isn't uncon.
scious?"
mo. He answers questions. But
he never says anything for himself
And, Philip, he looks so pinched and
old and pale! And his hands are SC
} cold. The nurse has taken away his
pillows and raised his feet, and
it's gruesome, that's the only word
that describes It,"
But he'll soon be better? The
doctor said that, didn't her"
Eyes. He said that"
J But the reaction which usually fol
lows shock was only partial in Cam
eron's case, and for days his life wa.
In danger. Then followed a period o.
slow, general recovery.
AS the month of October pro
crossed l feared the liability to re
! lapse. l knew, instinctively, will
, what dread sensations he must b.
I awaiting the fourteenth of the month
\ He had been forbidden, of course, t
D receive any mail, just as he hat
: been denied visitors; but l felt tina
: in an uncertainty that must Of neces
} sity prove injurious. And so l tool
e Dr. Massey, in a measure, into m!
, confidence, and gained from him per
t mission to see Cameron for a brie
/ moment.
g HE has been asking for you," tn,
: physician informed me, but / fan
+ cied it better to make no exceptions
l Now, however, l see that you may b.
g a help instead of a hindrance."
8 Despite the more or less circum
t stantial reports as to his condition
+ and appearance which had filtered t
y me from the sick room, through tn
}. medium of Evelyn, Miss Collins, tn
nurse, and DIR. Massey and his ASST:
n tant, DR.. Thorne, was not altogett
/. err prepared for the marked chang
n which less than three weeks ha
Il wrought in my friend. He was peake
r and bloodless and tired and old. An
a his voice was little more than a whit
a mar