Year: 1873

[Concludcd.l


Captain Ennisly sprang up so sud
denly that he upset his chair, an'
hurried up stairs himself to look fo
them. His wife went into the library
music room, and then into the garden
and called them each by namc. Sool
all the household knew that they were
gone, aud everything was In grief anc
confusion. Mrs. Ennisly fell into hare
commissions and was carried pale anc
ridgid to her room. Captain Ennisly
mounted his horse and rode like one
mad to tho railway station.


All! there was grief and misery IN
that house. The master after II while
rode into the yard bringing the OLD
family physician with him. The doc
tor gave his patient some powerful
medicine that quieted her ut last, and
when she had fallen asleep, the muster
called me into the room and told mt
to stay with his wife, and take care OF
her until his return; that he would
take tho one o'clock train and follow
Master Carleton who had taken Blrdie
to the neighboring city,


"Tell her." he sAd, pointing to his
wife, "that will bring Birdie back
tomorrow" ......


That was an awful night for me.
The mistress slept heavily and / sat
alone by the bed counting the ticking
of the large hall clock as it sounded
through tho great, silent house, The
next day the physician came again, and
stayed long time. Mrs. Ennisly lay
awake, but took no notice Of any one,
not asking even for her husband. We
heard the whistle of the train as it came
to the station, and we looked every
moment for the master to come. The
gallop of a horse in the yard made us
rush to the front door, but twas only
the hoy With the horse he had taken to
the cars for the Captain, He hrausht
note for tho mistress, but we could
not get her to notice it, and the Doctor
opened and read it. Carleton and Bir-
die had been married in the next vii
lage the night before, about eleven
O'clock, and had taken the midnight
train for the Fast. he, tho Captain,
would follow them until he found them.
Well, you may imagine 1t was dreary
week that followed.


The mistress never had any more
commissions, and the doctor came every
day to see her, but we could not get n
word from her. ehe would drink her
ten and taste her toast, but no perstia-
sion could induce her to rise from her
bed or speak to any one.


At last the master came home, bring
ing Birdie with him. She was white
as marble, and her face had the look OF
deep misery and wretchedness terrible
to see in one so young. She went up
stairs to her room, refusing to $50 hei
aunt when the Captain would have
taken her to her.


/ carried her dinner up stairs, aud
when set the tray down, she sprang
up and, throwing her arms about my
neck, she wept and sobbed Us though
her heart was breaking. ] could only
hold her in my arms and let her cry,
for / was ready to weep, myself. AT
last asked after Master Carleton.


"Gone," she replied, "gone abroad,
never to come back"


tried to soothe her telling her that
her husband would soon come home
to her, when she shuddered in my
arms, saying, "My husband! Oh! my
God, no! thought him my husband,
but he was my -" She broke away
from me, and throwing herself on the
bed her whole frame shook in agony.


She motioned with her hand for me
to leave her, and ! closed the door and
went softly down stairs, and then into
Mrs. Ennisly's room. She was sleep
ing quietly, and Captain Ennisly sat
by her bedside, resting his head on his
hand, which had always been a rich
golden color, and was now silvery
white. Turned grey in one week of
agony.


"Did she know you:" asked as he
raised his head, and looked at me.


"Yes," he said sadly, "she knew me.
How is the poor child up stairs %


"Grieved to the heart" answered.


He said nothing more, and went to
my room to wait unit! he should call
me. ! stopped at Birdie's door, but
finding it locked and every thing quiet
within / passed on.


That evening / was sweeping the
back gallery and / heard the master
talking in low tones to the mistress. He
talked on for some time, then / heard
him say, al could not separate them
until 1 told them all,n Then the mis-
tress cried out, "And only after being
married q week they know that they
arg" the rest was lost in a wild shfleh
that rang sharply through the house,
/ ran into the room to find Mrs En:
Misty struggling in her husbands arms
! IN terrible commissions. All was con-
fusion and misery once more, ana the
poor master wTung his hands in agony
as his wife frothed and foamed at the
mouth, tearing her hair, and utterine
the mos horrible sounds In her agony.


We trbd IN vain TO persuade Birdie
10 come down stairs and comfort her
uncle.


"NeyeE so help me dodp she said.
Aud we lift her, wondering what had
come over this once happy household,
to blight and destroy.


That night, after the mistress had
been put to sleep by the doctors pow.
erful drugs, and the house was still, ]
went up to my room. 1t was neal


..o.,1I haaw nfrAff