| Show F I 1 A DA jd LIFE rl ESE eis Y MA hap HARLA r I 1 z international PRESS PRES association VIII HE conclusion vas v as in her mini min I 1 often enough every day J of her life to be come hackne hackneys yd Ld et it always al w s brought with it a stra strange sweet thrill tr alv sis terly affection was a holy and a beau ticul thing she had read as much in moral philosophy and likewise in poetry few fo feelings elings could compare with it in un unselfish selAh ih for fer bior M and constancy constan cv and as ie I 1 ad said edward was one brother in ten thousand and not to be compared with common men she began the preparations for tin drive at half past two p to he hei husbands husband s directions not fat trat shi sill expected to lev leane e the house th t after noon ed vard s judgment beine in her estimation but one remove from libi lity she could not believe hat that thi trial of the horses would result as mr air withers had predicted but that they woul be remanded to the stable and custody of the unreliable jockey with out approaching her door or gladden ing harriets ees nevertheless the order had gone forth that she should don her cloah cloak furs hat and gloves be fore thre clock and mr withers would be displeased were he to leburn at five and find her in her home dress harriet arriet tapped at her door before she was half ready rady just to remind 3 sou ou m dear na dam she said sweetly of what ny rr y coasin said about beep heep ng the horses standing she was equipped cap a pit for the excursion and constance re dewed her silent accusation of forwardness as she saw her trip down stairs stair to take her station at a arnt window that my cousin might see at the first glance that she WS ready and eager for the promised and because promised by him certain pleasure of the jaunt constance Von stance was surprised five minutes before the hour designated to hear a bi bt and men s voices in the lower ball hall they had really come then in ot of her prognostications draw ing on her gloves that she might not bo be accused of dilatoriness she walked t to the door of her chamber wh n it was wits thrown wide against her by her mild oh ma maim am she blubbered her cheeks like ashes and her eyes bulging from their socket may all the bless ed bents have mercy upon ye yet there s b ben n the dreada bliest accident thorn them brutes of horses has run away and mr With erses and mr edward Is s both killed dead I 1 they re a bringing them up stairs this blessed linit and catchi g her mistress s skirt as she dalhed past her you re not to be frightened fm ma maam am the doctor says I 1 he ile sen me up for to tell you careful Ln hearing and unheeding constance wrested her dress from the girl a hold and met upon the upper landing of the st staircase a I 1 case four men bearing a senseless form the head was sunk upon the breast and the fuce face hidden by the shoulders shou iders of those who carried him but her eyes fell instantly upon the r gat hand which hung loosely by his side she recognized the fur gauntlet that covered it as one of a pair of riding gloves she had given edward withers at christmas and aich he had v orn since whenever he drove or rode she had wen een him pocket them that morn ing before going out mrs wither my dear lady you must not touch him yet said the attendant physician preventing her aher she would have thrown her arms about the injured man inan he ile pulled her back by main force that the body bo dy might be carried into the chamber she had jast quitted ret yet me go let lot me got go do you hear mea her voice rising into a shrill scream that chilled the veins and pained the hearts of all who heird it dead or alive he belongs to me and to no one else man how daie daze aou ou hold mea me you do not know how much I 1 loved him my darling oh my dar ling the doctor was a muscular man but in her agony of despair she was stronger than he bade fair to master him as she wrestled to undo bis his grasp rasp upon her arms Is there no one in thia this place v ho can persuade her to be calm he asked imploringly looking back bask down the stairs there was a movement at the foot of the steps then the crowd parted in scantly and silently unnoticed by the frantic woman bhe she was still gling threatening and praying to be released when a pallid face str aked with blood confronted her a tender hand touched her arm constance Cons taace my lear tear s ster my poor girl come with me met will you not said corn coin passionate tones she has fainted that Is the best thing that could have happened said the doctor sustaining the dead of the sinking figure with more ease than he had held the writhing one they bore her across the hall to ed ward s room as the moat most convenient ic treat for her in her insensible state ard while the maid servant loosened ifor dress and applied restoratives a more in OT anxious group was gathered in her apartment about her husband his ta Is ible in injuries j uries were severe if it not danger ous his collar bone and right arm were broken but it was feared that there was internal and more serious hurt just as a gasp and a 4 hollow floan roan attested the return of conscious ness a message was brought to edward from grom the opposite bedroom ahe do call for you all th tine tle sir or I 1 would not have made so bold as to disturb ye said the girl who had beckoned him to the entrance she Is a bit out of her head poor lady chere here Is miss field why does ehe the not attend to mrs withers 9 asked edward glancing reluctantly at his brother brothers s bed in after days he could smile at the recollection of the reply uttered with contemptuous indifference oh lae s a going into high strikes on the back parlor boty sofy at the time he was only conscious of impatience at the call of pity that obliged him ta t ibave ave his perhaps dying relative in the hands of comparative strangers he ceased to regret his corn coin pliancy when the tears that burst from constance s eyes at sight of him vere were not attended by the ravings which had terrified her attendants he ile sat down upon the edge of the bed and leaned over to kiss the sobbing lips my dear sister precious child he said as a mother might soothe an affrighted daughter and she dropped her head upon his shoulder to weep herself into silence if not composure when she could listen he gave her the history of the misadventure in a few words mr withers ha had d in insisted S e d upon handling the reins himself this ac accounted counted to the auditor tor for his use of edward s gloves as being thicker than his although their owner made no men tion of having lent them to him the horses had behaved tolerably well til they were within three blocks of home when they had shied violently at a passing omnibus jerked the reins from the driver drivers s hands and dashed down the street the sleigh upset at the first corner and both the occupants were thrown out mr withers striking forcibly against a lamp post while ed ward was partial stunned against the curb stone they had been brought to their own door in a carriage the younger brother reviving in time to alight with a little assistance from a friendly bystander and to tend the others removal to the house and nd up the stairs constance heard him win through with out interruption or comment volun raised her head from its resting place and lay back upon her pillows covering her face with her hands one or two quiet tears made their way between her fingers ere she removed them but her hysterical sobbing had ceased I 1 am thankful tor for your safe ty she said so composedly that it sounded coldly unfeeling now go 90 back to your brother he needs you and I 1 do not I 1 shall be better soon and then I 1 must bear my part in nurs nur S ing him it if he should ask for me let me know without delay she sent her servants out when he had gone and locked her door on the inside who d have thought that she and mr edward would take it so harda said the cook as exponent of the views of the kitchen cabinet it if so be the easther t get over this it will go nigh to killing her I 1 never knowel she were that fond of him ah ali well she ought to be for it s her be hell 11 leave well provided for be bound them as has heaps to 1 ave has plenty to mourn tor for them an hour elapsed before mr withers understood ar arget where he was and what had happened and then his wife s face was the first object he recognized it was almost as bloodless as his yet she was collected and helpful a more efficient coadjutor to the surgeons than was fidgety harriet whose buz zings and coverings hoven hove rings over the w wounded man reminded edward of a noisy and per sistena gad fly the moved gentleness of constance s tone tn in answering the patients in quines was mistaken by the attendants for fondest commiseration and the family physician physicians s unspoken thought would have chimed in well with the servant servants s verdict mr and mrs with ers were not reputed to be a loving couple but in moments of distress and danger the truth generally came to light no husband however idolized could be nursed more faithfully or have excited greater anguish of solicitude than spoke in her dry eyes and rigid features even it if her wild outbreak at first seeing him had not betrayed her real sentiments in her calmer review of the scene constance could feel grateful for the spectators misconception which had shielded her from the consequences of her madness could shudder at the thought of the ignominy she had nar bowly escaped but this was not the gulf from which she now recoiled with horror and self loathing that led her to avoid meeting the eyes bent curious ly or sympathetically upon her and to cling to the nerveless hand of him whose trust she had betrayed to him her husband she had not given a thought when the dread tidings of disaster and death were brought to her what to her was an empty mar nage vow what the world worlds s tion when she believed that edward lay before her man you do not know how I 1 loved him 9 she had said she might have added I 1 never knew it myself until now and what was this love coming when and as it did but a crime a sin to be frowned upon by heaven and denounced by man A blemish which if set upon her brow as it was upon her soul would condemn her to be ranked with the out I 1 cast of her sex the creatures whom austere blasts with light aings of ind gnant scorn and pure vir gins bit baksh sh to name CH IX or HALL you b id tee too much engaged engage 1 at the office today edward to drive out with constance at noon noona question ed mr withers Wither sone one morning when his brother came to his room to inquire after his health and to receive his ills commande ii 8 for the business day certainly not nothing would give me more pleasure As he said it the respondent turn turned d with a pleasant plea ant smile to his sister in law who was pouring out her husband husbands s chocolate at a stand set in front of his lounge she started perceptibly at the prop position and her hand shook in replacing the silver pot upon the tray I 1 could not think of it she said hastily it Is kind and thoughtful in you to sug gest it Ei Eli nathan but indeed I 1 greatly prefer to remain at home it la Is my preference that you should go 90 the invalid spoke decidedly but less irascibly than he would have done to anyone else who resisted his author ity it Is now four weeks since my accident and you have scarcely left the house in all that time you are grow ing thin and pale from want of sleep and exercise I 1 practice calisthenics every day as you and dr weldon advised rejoined constance timidly but within doors you need I 1 the flodah out door air child you have taken such good care of me that I 1 should be very remiss in my duty were I 1 to allow you to neglect your own health he had grown very fond of her within the period he had mentioned and showed it in his weakness more open ly than dignity would have permitted had he been well he put his hand up on her shoulder as she sat upon a stool beside the cup of chocolate in her hand recollect I 1 must get an other nurse should your health jail fall you see how selfish I 1 am 9 A jest from him was noteworthy for its rarity but constance could not form her lips into a smile they trembled instead in replying I 1 eee see how good and generous you are aref I 1 will drive it if you insist upon it but there is not the slightest necessity for your brothers escort john Is very careful and attentive or it if you wish me to have company I 1 will call for mrs mcl ale len ten she has no carriage you know send yours for her whenever you I 1 ke by all means but until I 1 am ahe able to accompany ou it Is my desire that edward shall be with you in your drives whenever this Is practicable prati cable my late adventure has made me tearful fearful I 1 suppose call this a sick man s fancy if you will my dear but indulge it IL at twelve then edward the carria carriage gs will be ready ascertain tor for yourself before you set out that the harness is ai ail I 1 right and have an eye to the coach man a management of the horses ITO TO BS CONTIN TUnu 0 |
