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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 1899)
5V CHAPTER IV.-(Contlnucd.) "Is that all?" Miss Brnnscombo's look seemed to say, and her color canio back and the frightened look faded out of her eyes. I wondered what she had dreaded. Another gravely-eaten dinner was scarcely over when my summons came. Miss Branscombo started to her feet with a suppressed cry, and passed swiftly from tho room before mo "Only Mr. Fort, I was to say." Tho butler hesitated, looking anxiously at Miss Elmslle. "1 beg your pardon, ma'am, but tho message was partic ular." "Poor dear child!" murmured Miss Elmslle, rising and looking helplessly nt me. "What can I do It It Is too late, I am afraid." "Will you leavo It to me?" I said gently. "Perhaps I can persuado Miss Branscombe." "Yes, yes," she exclaimed, laying her trembling hand on my arm "you will persuado her." Thoso hours of anxious watching and enforced confidence had thrown down tho barriers of unconventlonanty, and made us moro Intimate than months of ordinary lntorcourso would have done. Both tho elder and the younger lady turned to mo In their loneliness and their sorrow; already I had taken my place as a friend with them. In tho corridor outside tho sick room Miss Branscombe was standing in tho recess of a window wringing her hands and sobbing pitifully. "Mr. Fort," she exclaimed, "they will not let mo see him! Tell him that I nm here surely they will not bo so cruel as to let him die without a word to mo at tho last! And I was llko his own child. I must oh, I must see him again before " Sobs choked her voice. I placed her gently on tho window seat. "If you will wait patiently for ten minutes, Miss Dranscombo," I said, "I will come back for you." "And Charlie, my cousin," she said "you will not forget?" MR. FORT," SHE EXCLAIMED, "THEY WILL NOT LET ME SEE HIM," "I have not forgotten," I answered as I left her. It was soon over. The Colonel had reached a further stage In the dark Journey, and the clergyman who sat by his side guided tho hand which affixed a tremulous signature to the deed I had drawn up In tho morning. It was the Rector and a young footman who witnessed tho signature, and then the Colonel spoke this time In a whisper. "Now send her to me. Stand by her all of you she will need It." Thcro were old friends old servants there, but It was on my arm that Miss Branscombo leaned as she went to that solemn parting scene I remembered It afterwards. It was a brief and ngonlz Ing farewell, for the sands of llfo were almost run out, and then tho new mis tress of Forest Lea was borne Insensi ble from tbo chamber where all that ro malned of tho brave old Colonel was only tho mortal dust tho Immortal spirit had Ued. CHAPTER V. The first stago of my work was ac complished, and I might havo returned to town nt once, but I did not I lin gered at Forest Lea through tho next day. Thero wero seals to nfllx to all tho dead colonel's cabinets and draw ers; thero wero Interviews with vari ous personages, and commissions for Miss Elmslle, which filled up my time and gave mo an excuse for postponing my departure. Tho truth was that I could not tear myself away. I had a r. onfesslon to mako to Miss BranBcombo which I could not force upon her In the first hours of her sorrow, and which nevertheless must he mado. It was not likely that the secret of Col. Brans rombe's last will would be kept until the legitimate moment for Its rovola (lon; the executor, the rector, must act upon his instructions, one cf which was to exclude Mr. Charles Branscombe from the house. I might perhaps, I suhhr of flattered myself, soften tho blow to Miss Uranscombe, or nt least I might glvo her an explanation which should mitigate her anger against myjelf, and account for what I dreaded sho would regard as a breach of trust. But Miss Brnnscombo remained In visible. Her cousin reported that sho was qulto overcome by her grief, and would not as yet hear of consolation. Tho dny, which had been brilliantly fine In tho early part, clouded over toward tho afternoon, and rain a gen tle, balmy summer rain fell softly, but without Intermission. Tho change was tnoro In unison with the spirit of the moment and tho hushed silence of tho darkened house; and as I sat In tho library, busied with somo writing for Miss Elmslle, tho musical rythm of tho raindrops, pattering softly down on tho laurel and bcrhcrls leaves outside the open window, seemed to mo llko t rs shed for a good man's loss. Miss Elmsllo came In nnd out with a hushed tread, and gave me instructions in a subdued voice, sometimes staying to talk of tho dead man upstairs of his virtues and consistent life, his trials and disappointments and, at last, In natural scquonco, of Charlie, the scapegrace, and of Nona, the child of Col. Branscombo's youngest brother. "Poor Charlie!" sho said, shaking her head. "He was always tho ono bitter drop In Harold Brnnscombo's cup. Ho Idolized tho boy such a beau tiful angellc-looklng creature ho was so llko tho sister poor Harold loved and never forgot and ho spared neither trouble nor expenso In his edu cation. Charlie was to be tho heir, to carry on the old name. And Nona well, ho had his hopes and dreams for tho dear girl. But Charlie ruined all; ho nearly broke poor Harold's heart, and upset all his plans. Nothing could mend tho boy; there seems to bo a sort of mad fever In his blood I don't know where he gets It. He's as wlU to-day as ho was six years ago. Only Nona In her youth and Inexperience, dear child! clings to tho hope of his ever being better. All tho rest of us have long since given him up." "Miss Branscombe Is attached to her cousin?" I ventured. "They havo been llko brother nnd sister, you know," Miss Elmsllo re plied quietly. "Nonn cannot glvo him up. But thero Is the dinner bell." Sho seemed glad to change tho conversa tion, I thought. Miss Branscombo did not appear at tho dinner table. Tho evening was still wet, but close and sultry. Miss Elmslle and I took tea together In tho largo drawing room, which looked so empty und desolato now; nnd, while tho gentle old lady babbled on of tho stories of tho house, I sat just behind the lace curtains at the open window, looking out over tho lawn townrd the encircling belt of shrubbery. It was n dark moonless summer night, nnd late enough now for the shrubs to show blackly against the pale sky-line. I had qulto lost tho thread of Miss Elmslle's somowhnt monotonous talk, dreaming as I was of many things, with a pervading &enso of vaguo pain and unrest now to my experience, and duo perhnps to tho melancholy sceuos In which I had Just taken part. Suddenly It seemed to mo thnt a white shadow flitted across tho bottom of tho lawn townrd tho trees, and was lost In tho darkness. Was It fancy? I wondered, looking intently toward tho spot where tho flguro had disap peared. I was not subject to fancies of this kind, and I at onro mndo up my mind to Investigate tho phenom enon. With an excuso to Miss Elmsllo, I went to the hall for my overcoat, and, letting myself out by a side door, I mado my way cautiously over tne grass to tho spot where I had seen or fancied I had seen tho white form appear and disappear. There was nothing but tho shadows and the trees nnd the patter of the soft- falling raindrops on tho green leave?. So my eyes, keen nnd suro as I bd always consldorcd them, had plnyed me faUe. I turned back toward the house, taking this time one of two ot three narrow winding paths within the wood. My footsteps mado no sound on tho damp gras-grown ground. All al ouco tho perfume of a cigar was wafted toward mo. Then I was not nlone In tho darkness; somebody else had a fancy for an evening nlrlng ono ol tho gardeners or workmen, no doubt, on his way from some errand at the Hall. But tho shrubberies lay in the front of tho house, while tho servants' offices wero nil, as I knew, nt the back. And, besides, my educated senses told me thnt that cigar was of tho finest quality, not likely to bo smoked by any but a connoisseur. Tho rector wag a non-smoker, nnd no other neighbor would, I knew, havo tho cntreo to thfl shrubbery. My curiosity was thoroughly roused, and tho Instinct of my profession en listed in tho discovery of tho little mystery. Presently tho sound of subdued voices a man's and a woman's reached my ears. Then I hnd not been fancy-tricked somo assignation ot n tender nnturo had lured tho flitting flguro hltherward a mald-scrvant from tho houso, no doubt. But the fine Havana? Well, that was no affair of mine; I would not at all events play tho eavesdropper. It was In carrying out this laudable resolve that I turned Into another path n shorter cut to tho houso, as I be lieved, In my slight knowledge ot the place. It must however havo brought me nearer to tho lovers, for now the manly volco wbb bo raised that the subject of what appeared to bo an an gry discussion only Just missed meet ing my cars, and sobs from tho female wero distinctly nudlblo. Tho course ol truo love was not running smoothly, I concluded, as I retraced my steps, At this moment the sobs ceased and a feminine volco took up the response, plendlng, remonstrant, and I wns con scious of a sudden shock which brought mo to a standstill. Tho sweet, low tones were familiar to mc they wero those of Nona Branscombo. Nona Branscombe, my Ideal of inno cence and womanly purity, my imper sonation of Unn, keening a clandestine nppolntment at night with her un cle's corpse hardly yet cold, too; hood winking her chaperon with a protonse of Illness and overwhelming grlcfl Oh, the shamo nnd tho pity of It! Oh, the shnmo and tho pity! I did not stop to ask myself why the blow should bo such a crushing ono to me why n doubt of tho Innocence nnd goodness of Nona Branscombe should seem to mako tho world stand still, nnd plunge my wholo outlook Into dark ness; I hurried blindly bnck to tho house, losing myself hnlf a dozen times among tho tortuous shrubbery paths and shaking tho raindrops from tho laden branches In heavy showers as 1 wont. I had reached tho terraco on which tho sldo door by which I had quitted tho house opened, my hnnd was on tho lock, when nnothor nppllcant for ndmlttanco glided out of tho shad ows and stood by my side. (To bo continued.) r .. '"!"! DOQ IDIOTS. Graphic Description of thu Mongrels Tlint Throng Conntunt Inople. I never saw so much mud, such un speakablo filthy streets and so many dogs as Constantinople can boast, but nowhero havo I seen them described in a satisfactory way so that you knew what to expect, I mean, says tho Woman's Homo Companion. In tho first place, they hardly look llko dogs. They havo woolly tails like sheop. Their oyos arc dull, sleepy and utterly devoid of expression. Con stantinople dogs havo neither masters nor brains. No brains because no mas ters. Perhaps no masters because no brains. Nobody wants to adopt an Idiot. They are, of courso, mongrels of the most hopeless typo. They nro yellowish, with thick, short, woolly coats and much fntter than you ex pect to find thorn. They walk llko a funeral procession. Never havo I seen one frisk or oven wag his tall. Every body turns out for them. They sleep, from twelve to twenty of them, on n slnglo pllo of garbage, and novor no tlco either men or each other unless a dog which lives In tho next street tres passes. Then they eat him up, for they nro jackals as well as dogs, and they are no more epicures thnn ob trlchos. They never show Interest In anything. They nro blnso. I saw somo mother dogs aBleep, with tiny puppies swarming over them llko lit tle fat rats, but tho mothers paid no attention to them. Children scorn to boro them qulto as successfully as If they wero women of fashion. Niitiirtt'N IiiIIihiiico on Mini. From tho Chicago News: "Nature exercises a wonderful nnd mystcrloui Inlluenco over men. Certain plants are poisonous to somo folks and medicine to others." "Yes, and my husband Is always troubled with rheumatism when the grass begins to got tall upon our lawn." 1'rninpt Itritutlon. "Oh, that horrid cat!" exclaimed the tearful young woman. "She has killed my beautiful canary! But the wlnge don't seem to bo Injurod a bit. Thoy will look swell on my hat, won"t they, though?" Chicago Tribune. lAldfiiro of (Iri'utni'M. From tho Chicago Record: "So many great geniuses havo been fat men." "Well, sometimes It takes genius to earn three square meals a day," CHAPTER V.- (Continued.) It wns Miss Branscombe. Tho hood of her light mantle was drawn over her head and face, nnd as sho came swiftly on, with downcast head, she was unconscious of my presence until sho almost touched mc. At tho first recognition she gave a llttlo cry and started back, tho next Instant sho had recovered herself, and something of tho womanly dignity which 1 hnd ad mired In her nt our first meeting ro turned to her bearing. Sho made no npology or excuse for her presence thero on such a night nnd nt such an hour; she merely bowed her head with a murmured "Thank you," as I threw open the door nnd stood back for her to procedo mo Into tho hall. Sho did not, as I half expected, try to exctido or account for her Into walk, but with another bow she passed on and up Vho wide staircase. Tho light from a hang ing lamp fell upon her face as sho turned to mount tho steps, and I saw that her eyes were Bwollen with tonrs and her cheeks dondly pale. Sho hold tightly by tho carved oak balustrade too as sho wont slowly up and out of my Bight. "And so," I said to myself, ns. haunted by a spirit of unrest, I paced tho floor of my room long nfter mid night "bo dies tho last lingering rem nant of my faith In womanhood." But It wns dying hard; It was hydra headed, apparently, nnd sprang into fresh life us fast as I sot my heel upon the last quivering fragment; nnd nt Inst, when I Bought my bed, I knew that neither my faith, nor a mad love, as wild and Impossible as tho love of tho wave for the star, win dead witmn mo. I hnd found n hundivd excuses, a hundred rensons, which left Nonn Branscombo my pure sweet idenl still; and withal, I was the most unhappy man In tho United Kingdom. Had Miss Branscombo been tho penniless girl her friends nnd neighbors had pro- "ON THE SPOT, YES; BUT NOT IN THE HOUSE," MR. HEATHCOTE AN SWERED GRAVELY. maturely declared her to bo, thero would hnvo been neither presumption nor madness In tho passion which hnd taken possession of mo, for I wns well born, my prospects wero good, and I could havo entered tho lists fearlessly nEiilnst all comers. But Miss Brans combe, tbo heiress, tho owner of fifteen thousnnd a year, was separated from mo by a barrier which I recognized as Insurmountable. I groaned In spirit as I remembered that my own hand had helped to ralso tho barrier. And then I fell Into a short troubled slumber, Just as tho restless twittering of tho llttlo birds beneath my window told that tho day was breaking. CHAPTER VI. Rnrlv ns It WOH When I dCSCOIlded to tho breakfast room that morning, Miss Elmsllo was already down and In deep nnd auxlous conference with tho rec tor. They ceased speaking ns I en tered, and Mr. Heathcoto camo for ward to greet mc. "I nm sorry you nro leaving Fotest Lea this morning," ho said, ns MIkh Elmsllo busied nortclf with tlio tea- urn. "TlicHO inuios noon or er in fact, somo member of our sox sndly just now. I wish you could havo ro malncd." "You are on tho Fpot," I Buggestcd. fighting with an Impulso which tempt ed mo to forgot my duty nllko to my Arm nnd to myself, nnd to linger in tho suiiBlilno which could only scorch mc. "On the spot, yes; but not In tho houso," Mr. Heathcoto answered gravely, accepting tho cup of tea which Miss ElmBllo offered him. "You are fllngulnrly destitute of male relatives, Miss Elmsllo?" ho added, addressing her. "Yob," Bhe sighed; "there is abso lutely no one. Tho dear colonel rep resented our wholo family, except ing " "Yes, yes!" Interrupted tho rector. hastily. "You nro entirely unprotect ed, unfortunately, f wish It had been possible for Mr. Fcrt to remain with you until after tho funeral; but It Is n point I can hardly press, as he has iesn good onough to give us nlready so much of his vnluable time." "We should Indeed bo glad," Bald Miss Elmslle, looking nppeallngly nt mc. So I was Impelled by tho Irrcslstlblo force of fate Into tho curront whlcn could only bear mo to disastrous ship wreck. "I could return," I said, answering tho appeal of Mlsa Elmslle. And oh, whut a rush of dangerous Joy thrilled through my veins nt tho thought of once moro being under tho samo root with Nona BratiFcombcl "My arrange ments are made for to-day, as you know. I must run up to town; but If I can nsslst you by roturnlng to Forest Lcn, I will do so Immediately as soon as I havo seen my pnrtnors." "It will be tho greatest comfort," Miss Elmslle assured mc, with tears In her eyes. And so It was settled. "I will drive with you to tho sta tion," tho roctor.sald, ns the dog-cart como round; "I havo business thero. Aro you n good whip? No?" as I shook my head. "Well, I will take tho reins then. Mason" to the groom "cut across tho park while wo drlvo round, and leavo word at my houso that I havo gono on to Wcstford. Wo will pick you up nt tho end of Park Lane. Tho fact I," ho conflded to me, ns soon as tho mnn wns out of ear shot, "that scamp, Charllo Branscombo, has been seen hnnglng about the place; tho purport of tho poor old colonel'B will will soon oozo out If It hnsn't dono to nlready and Master Charllo Ib quite capable of bullying his cousin In the first Hush of his disappointment. It was my good old friend's last Injunc tion thnt Chnrllo should not bo ad mitted to the Lea, and MIbs Nona 1b tender-henrted In that quarter." A light flashed upon mc. It was Charllo whom sho hnd met In tho shrubbery last night who had smoked that prlmo Havana and brought those tears to his cousin's sweet oyos; and to Charlie, no doubt, 1 thought, with a swift pang of Jealousy, sho had given her young lovo tbo treasuro ho would squander aw remorselessly as ho had wasted tho moro tanglblo treasures In his hands. And upon mc, of nil men, by tho cruel Irony of fate, wns forced tho task of separating her from tho man alio loved! Nothing could como to mo but pain, disappointment and odium. "Thero Is moro than ono element of danger In tho case," snld tho worthy rector. "Charllo may mako a disturb ance nt the Lea, nnd seriously embar rass thoEo two unprotected women, or ho may work upon tho feelings of a suscoptlblo and romantic girl llko Nona, and neutrallzo all tho wlso pro visions of his uncle, There Is no toll ing what, In tho first emotional work IngH of such n charactor as this sweet young girl's, Chnrllo may mako her do for him glvo up Forest Lea, I shouldn't bo surprised, nnd ruin her self and nil who depond upon hor. Tho follow Is, I am sorry to say, utterly Irreclaimable monoy runs through his hands ns If they woro bIovob. Tho poor old colonel gnve him chanco after ehanrc, and ho throw them away ono nfter the other. It Is a hopeless case." "And Miss Branscombe," I said, for cing myself to utter tbo words which choked mo "Miss Branscombo Is at tached to hor cousin?" "I fear so," answered tho rector gle mlly "my wifo thinks so, unfor tunately. I am speaking confidentially to you, Mr. Fort," ho added, turning abruptly to me. "Wo lawycrB, llko doctors, como In for tho secrets of n good ninny fami lies," I answered, for want of some thing better to say." "Just so," assented the rector; "and wo want your help, Mr. Fort. You nee It Is Important to keep this young tcapegracc out of tho way. Your pres ence at the Lc.h and tho cxeralsa of tho tnct and friendly kindness you havo nlready shown" I bowed "will bo In valuable to us at this Juncture. After the funeral, Miss Elmsllo nnd Miss Brnnscombo will leave tho placo, and n year or tio of foreign travel, with fresh scenes and associations, vtll, I havo no doubt, mnko a great differ ence In Miss Branscombo's views nnd feelings. She has been brought up In n secluded wny, and has seen few poo plo hitherto. All wo wnnt Is to gain time. But hero la my fellow; wo must hurry up to catch tho 11.10 express. Tho 11:10 express was a favorite train evidently. I congratulated my self on having secured a corner sent next tho door, ns my cnrrlago filled rapidly. At Wlvonhoo, tho first stop ping station, two scats thnt opposlto to me, on which I hnd deposited my black bag and tho light dustcont which I carried, and a second set next to mine wero tho only ones unoccupied. Tho weather wns wnrm, nnd I wns Just congratulating myself on having cs caped any addition to our numbor, whon, oven na tho guard's whlstlo sounded, tho hnndlo of tho carrlago door was hastily turned nnd n lady, evidently a good deal fluttered at tho nnrrow oscapo ho had mado of miss ing tho train, sprang lightly In nnd deposited herself In the vacant placo by my Ride. It had all hnppcned bo suddonly my head had been turned nway at tho moment of tho Indy's nppearanco that I had only time to draw my somewhat long limbs out of her pnth, nnd nono to catch a glimpse of my now neighbor before sho was scnted next to mc. "Allow mc," I snld then, offering to relieve- her ot tho sninll bng nnd largo loose cloak which sho held on her knees. "Thero la room for theso hero" Indicating tho opposlto Beat, on which my own Impedimenta reposed. She thanked mo with n bow nnd a few murmured Indistinct words; nnd, as I took tho two articles from hor hnuds, I caught a glimpse of her face. It wns covered with a thick gray gos samer veil, such ns ladlca uso at tho Bcasldo or for driving In tho country; but tho lovely hair that had eeoaped from beneath tho largo shady hat, and something In tho wholo bearing star tled mo with a wild Impossible Idea. Had I gono mud, or wns tho Imago of Nona Brnnscombo so Imprinted on tho retina of my eyo that to mo every womnu must benr hor likeness? I dnrtcd another swift keen glanco nt my neighbor as I resettled mrsolt In my plnco. "They will bo qulto safe thcro," I said, pointing to hor posbcbsIoiib, nnd then I stopped, breathless, It was no fond Illusion ot my love-Hick fancy. It wan Nona herself I Tho largo limpid eyes, which even tho thick gossamer veil could not hire, looked Into nil no for nn Instnnt with a warning dopro catory expression, tiio wrncoful head, moved with tho bcantoBt, most dlslnnt ncknowledRmcnt of nny courtesy, and then turned rosolutoly nway. Evi dently Miss Brnnscombo did not choose to recognizo mo further. I snt for tho next ton minutes stunned nnd bovvlldorcd, wntchlng tho meadows and trees na they flow by In endless succession, nnd trying to stendy my mind sulflclcntly to grnBp the situation. Miss Brnnscombo hero nlone, unattended alio who hnd hith erto led such a carefully protected llfo - traveling nlono; nnd whither? I wan certain that neither tho rector nor Mlsa Elmsllo hnd known ot her projected Journey tho morning's ennvcrsntlou qulto precluded tho Idea. How had sho reached tho station without being seen by us tho rector or myself? (To bo continued.) ' TO BBINQ ABOUT SLEEP. Tho llulf Hour lldforo Ueillliiio Hlioulif llo Uulctly Hnmit. Dllllcultlcs In going to sleep ara sometimes physical moro than mental, says tho Spectator. The phyBlcal, un der ordinary elrcumatiuicea, aro duo to tho circulation. The following nro a few practical hints: Somo sloop bettor lu If sitting jip with threo pillows, L'.mc better with none; somo with llt tlo covering, somo with much. Hot drinks or a hot bath just before sleep, hot bottles to tho feet, nro often uHoful, Tobacco often Increases sleeplessness. Sometimes, nfter long waking, a small meal will bring sloop. Somo, espe cially Invalids, will wake after two or three houra; a cup of hot, fresh tea will often Bend them to sleop ngnln. Sometimes tho darkness seems exciting and one can sleep with n lighted can dle. Intermittent iioIbch, ns of a rat tling window, nro always bad, but a continuous uolso Is often n lullaby. Moderate fatigue aids, but exhaustion prevents sleep. Oftencst sleeplessness Is mental and springs from a wnnt ot self-control. Either ono subject engrosses tho mind or a succession of Ideas. In either case tho slooploaH must mako tho offort to Ktop thought. It Is best done by attending continu ously to somo monotonous and unex citing Idea which la solf-hypnotlsm. Somo count, somo brcntho slowly as If asleep, .somo look nt Imaginary sheep going through a gato. Ono of tho best wnys Is to watch thoso curious appear ances which como to closed oycB, a purple hnro fading Into a star, which becomes un Irregular lino, and again changes to something elso. Thoy can not bo seen when first sought, hut will como with a llttlo pntlonco, In nil theBO tho purposo la to fix tho at tention on somo object which will arouse no associations, It roquirca flteady effort to do this and to prevent the thoughts wandering, but oxerclso Incronsos tho power to succeed. Tho half hour heforo bodtlmo should bo spent quietly.