Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
A DREADFUL TEMPTATION. 45
‘But after awhile she became composed and fell asleep—
did she not?” continued Mrs, St. John.
Mrs. Carroll bowed, her lips moving continually ina
vain and yearning effort after words.
‘“‘And then you lay down upon the lounge to snatch a
few minutes of repose?” asserted Xenie.
Again she received an affirmative reply. .
‘* Mamma, did you sleep long?” was the next question.
Mrs. Carroll shook her head with great energy. .
‘‘Oh! no, of course you did not!” exclaimed Xenie,
quickly, ‘‘for it was midnight when I left you, and if Lora
was wakeful and restless it must have been several hours
before either one fell asleep. And it is not daylight yet, so
you must have slept a very little while. Were you
awakened by any noise, mamma?”
The question was instantly negatived.
‘“You were nervous and illat ease, then, and simply
awoke of yourself?” continued Mrs. St. John, anxiously.
Mrs. Carroll’s earnest, dark’ eyes said yes almost as
plainly as her bowed head.
‘‘And when you woke, Lora and the babe were gone,
mamma, and the front door stood wide open—is that the
-way of it, mamma?” continued Xenie, anxiously watching
her mother’s face for the confirmation of her question.
Mrs. Carroll gave assent to it while a hoarse wail of an-
guish issued from her drawn, white lips. >
Xenie echoed the wail, and for a moment her white face
was hidden in her hands while. the. most terrible apprehen-
sion stabbed her to the heart.
Then she looked up and said quickly:
‘*She must have wandered away in a momentary fit of
flightiness—don’t you think so?”
And again Mrs. Carroll gave a quick motion of assent.
‘“‘Then I must find her, mamma,” said Xenie, quickly.
‘‘She cannot have gone very far. She was too weak to get
away from us unless Oh! my God! she cannot have
gone to the water!” moaned Xenie, clasping her hands in
horror. .
Mrs. Carroll looked as if she were going into a fit at the
bare suggestion. .
Her face turned purple again, her eyes stared wildly, she
clutched at her throat like one choking.
‘Xenie forced her back upon the lounge, applied restora-
tives, then exclaimed wildly: .
‘‘Mamma, I cannot bear to leave you thus, but I must
go and seek for my sister. Even now she may be perish-
ing in reach of our hands. Ninon, the maid, will be here
ina little while. She will care for you, and
back my poor little Lora,”
Se ed
I will bring ~-