Dr. Rumsey's Patient

lthy man and was much thought of in his neighborhood. Margaret was the daughter of a sister who had died many years ago-she was poor, but this fact did

ey, true to his promise to Margaret, said nothing about his engagement, but the secret was after all an open one. When the young couple appeared again among the rest of Sir J

to Cuthbertstown to supper,"

rt," said Margar

an active, energetic, and worthy life. Margaret already shared all his ambitions. She would encourage him to be a man in every sense of the word. How lucky he was-how kind fate was to him! Why were the things of life so unevenly divided? Why was one man lifted to a giddy pinnacle of joy and another hurled into an abyss of despair? How happy he was that evening-whereas Everett-he paused in his quick walk as the thought of Everett flashed before his mind's eye. He didn't know the unfortunate man who was now awaiting the coroner's inquest, charged with the terrible crime of murder

t Douglas and Hetty Armitage belonged to the same race? Poor Frere, how madly in love he was with that handsome little creature! How

brain before he was attracted by a sound in the

Robert," she said. "I've waited here by the

tly nor more becomingly. Her simple print frocks fitted her rounded figure like a glove. The roses on her cheeks spoke the perfection of perfect health; her clear dark eyes were wont to be as open and untroubled as a child's. Her wealth of coal-black hair was always neatly coiled round her shapely head. Now, all was changed, the pretty eyes were scarcely visible between their swollen lids-the face was ghastly pale in parts-bl

ils, but the tout ensemble, the abject depression

to himself; "she was a little fool to trifle with him, but t

e said, speaking in a gent

you something for nearl

to me, you could have come to the Court, or I'd ha

." Here Hetty choked down a sob. "I waited by the hedge, for I knew you must pass back this way. I wished to say, Mr. Robert, to tell you, sir, that whatever happens, however matters turn out, I'll be true

bsolute astonishment. "What in the world

unconscious and unembarrassed gaze with which he

sper. "I see that I made a mistake. I

ou wouldn't have taken all this trouble to wait by the roadside on th

a little bit wit

t corner. There our roads

the Squire another furt

im?" she whispe

at her, and spo

ting to hear your story. Out w

t last ni

hen? Not after

hoked again. "It wa

wrong. Were

llowed Mr. Frere

. "Is that fact known?

s,

his morning and tell my father. Your testimony may be most import

I don't th

you mea

f it is nothing or not. I had a quarrel with Mr. Frere last night. Nobody was by; Mr. Frere came i

was

ed hard, his lips were firmly set. He and she were walking on

east I will not tell him

ut was Mr. Frere's business and mine. He asked me if I loved

erett is the favored one. If this fact is

e for the awful tragedy that has occurred. There, poor child, don't cry. Heaven knows, I don't wish to add to your trouble;

Everett did. I went to it by a short cut round by Sweetbriar Lane-you know the part there-not far from the Court. I had no sooner got on the Plain than I saw Mr. Frere-he was running-I thought he was running to meet me-he came forward by leaps and bounds very fast-suddenly he stumbled and fell. I wanted to call him, but my voice, sir, it wouldn't rise, it seemed to catch in my throat. I could

Awdrey, his face blazing with excitement. "You saw t

ing which her heart beat loudly, she

e-he got on to his feet in a minute: they fought a second time, then one gave a cry, a very sharp, sudden cry, and there was the sound of a body falling with a thud on the ground-afterward, silence-not a sound. I crept behind the furz

rection?" a

ed full up at the Squire; the Squi

a short laugh. "From the way you looked at m

do you think it

it have been?"

away, I stole back to Mr. Frere, and I tried to bring him back to life, but he was as dead as a stone. I left him and I went home. I got back to my room about four in the morning. Not a sou

ve to tell my father what you

sir, if yo

s lost in anxious thought-then he turned quickly and walked home. He entered the house by the same side entrance by which he had come in on

Of course, you were too busy with Margaret to take any notice of us all day, but I've been dying

r tender hearts," said

tened. Margaret, whose heart was quite the tenderest thing

a more uncongenial theme. Of course, the whole thing will be thoroughly investigated, and the local papers will

ery good-na

replied; "but just answer me one question. Is it

did. We had a s

had been out late last night they mi

s face

e said; "at least, such is my recollection." As he

declared you were as hoarse as a raven, and went off to your bedroom immediately after supper. For my part, I was

hen she mentioned Margaret's name. He d

he back of my head, as if it were numbed. I believe I want more sleep. Thi

pper is

ertstown; I don't want an