Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-06-06

ca tsAI and C9Iu 70 SAu1e. VIII gON
please give those to Miss Redmond?~
Sallis wiped her hands. which were
perfectly clean. on her white apron.
took the card and bit Of paper and do
parted. shining Audlbly. When she 70
turned. It was TO say. with q slightly
more interested air, that Miss Red
rnond wished to see him upstairs.
She stood at the bottom Of the wide
stairway and pointed to q corner OF
the upper Goor. She's In there-room
on the right" and 90 she stAlked Oh
70 the kitchen.
Aleck Van Camp sought the region
indicated BY Sallie's gaunt finger with
some misgivings: but he was pres
emily guided further by a clear voice.
Come in this way. Mr.. Van Camp
II you pleased"
The voice led him to an open door
before which he stood. looking into Q
large. old-fashioned bedroom. from
whose windows the white curtains
1uttered in the breeze. Miss Redmond
was propped up with pillows on q
horsehair-covered lounge. which stood
along the foot Of a monstrous bed
She was clothed In some sort Of wool
wrapper. and owe her feet was thrown
a faded travelling rug. BY her side
stood a chair on which were writing
materials. Alexis note and card. and
q half-written letter. Agatha sat MP
as she greeted Aleck.
Il am glad to see you, Mr.. Van
Camp, VIII you come In! ask your
pardon for not coming downstairs to
see you. but I have been Ill. and an
not strong yet"
She was about to motion Aleck TO
a chair, but stopped In the midst OF
her speech. arrested by his express
sion. Aleck stood rooted to the door
sill, with a look OF surprise on his
face which amounted to actual
Amusement. Thus apparently startled
out Of himself. he regarded Agatha
earnestly.
"Wtl you come in?" Agatha repeat
ed at last.
Pardon me-" he said finally In his
precise drawi. "but | confess to beins
startled. You-you bear such an eH
traordinary resemblance to some one
I know. that l thought It uust really
be she, for a moment"
Agatha smiled family. You look
ed as II you had seen a ghost"
Aleck gazed at her again. a long
scrutinizing look. 1T does make one
feel queer, you know"
But now that you are assured that
I'm not a ghost. will you sit DOWN.
That chair by the window, please.
And I can't tell you how glad l am
to see you; for James Hambleton.
your cousin, II he is your cousin, ID
here In this house. and he Is ill-very
Ill indeed"
Alexis nonchalance had already
disappeared, in the series Of sur
prises; but at Agatha's words a flush
} Of pleasure and relief overspread his
face. He strobe quickly over toward
, Agatha's couch.
: "Oh, I say-old JIM thought.
was afraid"
Agatha was touched by the evt
dences OF his emotion. and her voics
became very gentle. Il fancy II ID
the same-James Hambleton Of
Lynn" Aleck nodded and she went
on: That's what he told me. the
night we were wrecked"
Agatha looked at Aleck. % II she
would discover whether he were trust
worthy or not. before giving him more
of her story. Presently she contin
ued:
Hes a very brave. q very wonderful
man. He Jumped overheard to save
me, after I fell from the ladder; and
then they left US and we swan ashore.
But long before we got there ! tainted.
and he brought me In. all the way.
though he was nearly dead of exhaus
ton himself. He had hemorrhags
from overexertion, and aiterward Q
chill. And now there is fever"
Agatha's voice was trembling. Alech
watched her az she told her tale, the
flush of happiness and Joy still light
ing UP his face. AS she finished ~
lating the meager facts which to he's
denoted 30 many heart-throbs, a soh
drowned her voice. AS Aleck followed
tho story, his own eyes wavered.
That's Jim, down to the ground
Good old boy!" he said.
There was a silence for a minute
then he heard Agatha's voice. grows
little and faint. IF he should die-!H
Aleck, still standing by Agatha'f
couch. suddenly shook himself,
Where Is he? Can / see him nowrH
Agatha got up slowly and led this
way down the hall. pointing to a dooi
that stood ajar. 1t was evident thai
she was weak.