Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
peo
case,
a dread >
Man wae
che field:
hand wat
“ponies. |
‘Claud
na smal:
yposed ti:
cy stron
: ee .
e Stata.
he dirs!
saw hig:
mn of tht:
S absea:
ice," she
mn. Whi:
r to his,
You st,
eybridg:
rized.”
ssion, bil:
ind, th}
vad rsh:
yes ; be:
ho killel,
ords, bl
arms sit:
Adria’
ng ala
| fean
"DL
a at Ok
{ not lit
romblitg.
| the st
nis bith
ich. St
tory, ane
THE SHADOW OF A SIMD om
opened the windows in that room also, to admit currents
of fresh air. Lady Vaughan withdrew with noiseless step
to another room for a glass of cool water. Adrian ‘bent
_ over the wholly unconscious form of his darling, his face
almost as white as her own in his anxiety. Suddenly he -
remembered that he had acquired a slight knowledge of
surgery in his University life, and drawing a lancet from
his pocket, he made a slight incision in the beautifuj_
snowy arm that lay so limp and lifeless upon his hand.‘
One or two drops of blood from the cut stained his fim.
_gers. . Passionately he kissed the wound that he had made
in his love, but though a slight moan escaped her lipsj,
Hyacinth did not yet move nor awaken from her swoon, ——
The old people returned, and Lady Vaughan moistened
the pallid brow and ‘colorless lips. Again that moan
came, the girl moved, and presently the white lips parted
with a sigh, and the eyes opened with a look of terrorin ~~
them which Adrian never forgot.
‘IT am so frightened!” she said. .
“My darling!” cried Adrian, “I am sorry you heard
anything about it. Why need you be frightened?”
“T am shocked,” she said, and the ghastly fear deepened |
in her eyes. .
“Of course you are—one so young, so fair, so gentle.
The very word ‘murder’ is enough to terrify you.”
Then she lay perfectly still—holding her lover’s hand in
hers, looking at him with such wordless sorrow, such un-
utterable woe in her face.. Lady Vaughan brought her a
glass of wine ; she drank it, hardly knowing what she did,
_ and then the elder lady, bending over her, kissed her face.
“Vou must not be so sensitive, my dear,” she said.
“ How will you get through life if you feel for everybody’s
trouble in this fashion? Of course we are all deeply
grieved for the young man, but he is nothing to us.” _
Her words fell on dulled ears and an unconscious brain ; "
the girl, still holding her lover’s hand, turned her face to
the wall. She had not been-able to collect her thoughts” -
—they were in astate of chaos. Of all that crowded upon
her, that seemed to burn into her brain, that crushed and,
crowded like living figures around her, one stood out
clear, distinct, and terrible—Claude was innocent, and no .
one in the world knew it but herself. Look where she
- would, these words seemed to‘be before her, in great red
letters—“ No one but myself!” She turned her white
face suddenly to Adrian Darcy: oO oo
Se oes Bip dend nnisant hoje mod PCRASE NEE SEN. sant OEE tO
™