THE DRAMA of a LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 20 January 1892, Page 7

THE DRAM A of a LIFE.

gy Jean Kate Ludlum,

r <John Winthrop's Defeat,' iukh Vnder a Cloud,' ' Under Oath.'

CHAPTER VIII. EMMA. I'accs! Omy God, ■ „ .i «» fucps'—men's .".no. women s. Wow" those faces w __ AUKOJ , A hlimu , _ Price lay upon the bed under the Lb Of his valet, deadly pale; not utterla groan, yet in silent, convulsed agony ; n °e band thrown out grasping the p.llow, rtoaeh to stiflo sound - HIS eyeS - W6re ,„!T but they opened in recognition as 5, T' m hart over him, a muttered impre£Hn his «p S for having been tempted f rß r t f me d a ? lass of water Conyers at J'hoeaid. 'I will get lurn in bed _Mto you ko for it. Go immediately.' X' latter order was superfluous, as fl_v!n bad disappeared ere it was utSSPa«d returned so quickly that even a. that time Graham wondered at his exmoments, between them, they lithe young man in bod, some powerS /administered, and he was in a i ir«w ,)ob Hk ,f iy i to be b /r en .« hours. Then Graham sent Conyers : Son Hastings and Mr, Leonard. Lh responded at once, and to each he X such explanations as he considered ITinblo. To the housekeeper he gavo instructions to have the house cleared of its !_*_ and quiet enforced, adding a comEXthe desired the. cream of which Sewaß eating at the time of at took to b oaietlv placed whore it would be sate BD t Ihe ordered it brought to him. •Much cream is mixed with dangerous B,attor,'he said, gravely and impressively. "I may possibly be that which caused his il!ne=s I wish to investigate it, Mrs Leonard; and if you will goo that Mrs Estobrook receives this note, she wil imnce the social part of the dismissal with ready tact.' Ho hastily wrote a few words upon a pago of his note-book and handed it to the housekeeper. ~,.,_ • i , •Of course, I shall see to that,' she said, a 9 she took the paper; ' but you surely don't think, you cannot think, doctor, that our poor dear young master has been poisoned! It couldn't bo the cream, because nobone mouthful of it wa3 bought. It was made right here in tho house—Emma attended to tbat-|ind then no one etae was '1 know that,' interrupted Graham, quietly, 'and I desire nothing said about it in the house, Mrs Leonard. Reserve me this plate of cream, and see that no one is alarmed. I think the young master will be all right to-morrow. I shall remain here

to-night.' His eyes were upon Conyers as he tittered these words, and very sharp eyes they were; but the man's pale, thin face did not betray thab he knew of this, or even that ho heard.

When Mrs Leonard was gone he turned to tho valet witM swift movement of dismissal.

' You may leave us now, Conyers,' he

| said. 'I shall remain. If 1 need you I I shall ring ; and'if Ido ring—' the man !' paused in the doorway, unmoved, but [, obedient to the commanding voice—' if j I dp ring, Conyers, come to _i 6 without / delay,' -

| 'I irilJ, sir,' was the oven reply, as the ' door closed noiselessly upon the speaker, i. : and the t\iro friends were alone ab one end ;/ of the room, within sight and sound of the man tvho'lay in unconscious sleep upon the bed. ' 'Well?' said Hastings, gravely. 'Woll?' said Grabatn, with equal gravity.

Thoir eyes met, and some strange comprehension flashed into each.' Whatever ohinpleasantness had come between them, bwing to Miss Polly's fickleness, Was now entirely'superseded by anxiety for their frjetid. Graham wheeled a chair noiselessly nearer tho window, where the cool night air stole in soft and refreshing after the night's .heated rooms. Hastings followed his example. 'Now, then ?' said the lattor, shortly, but m a satisfied tone, as though he expected every mystery or difficulty to be at once explained away. ■' I think that yon were right, Tom, to a certain extent,' was the cool rep!v, after a moment of silence. They could hear tfo indistinct murmur of voices in the lower rooms arl d upon, the piazza, and the deadened roll of wheels as tho Roata departed. 'I judge only from np[.C__jr«T.—' *" *■<£> I 'How-!' '■' I renfcfr P allenc e you shall discover,' rep to hedoct.or, calmly. • I should like toll ,T' n here with «o to-night-or-Plae W. Un W ° rld ls a tO PS.y-turvy Kn.l !•" Btral P h ton it in spite of ffi! M«* of the man who ztnZ 16nco ' my dear fellow - 1 X «.n ros l ,ectfui towards ib every J, as I lean, more o{ lta USO -and mis

tilwL! a 8 than surface nlean i"* fcendad! - but each apparently compreJi*J y ,J m | , t yon tell me of this now, tteiit' nt Hastln A'f?, in somedisappoinb'"kn ii Kuessed considerable.' conillt! • Re comes,'" said the doctor, Sfeback in his chair and claspJ .Su Ye ' moetin * fchose of his Th»L„ _~, bufc wisdom lingers," Tom. 2 d "l b ,° a ha,f - bad 'for one quaShi h9n Frice wakenß l BhaU «®? n ru m , oro than * have ever felb ab % Ll! c oro, If y° H aro P reient yo» Mture 0 f mvl,6fc enli 2htened as to the efe ' n - Ugs ancl chemicals and their flows't„ L besb ,iofc t0 lefc tlle other e ™wknow, however.' B «Bnn in'. wo T help !t - yea <' said r " c dlSiat isfaction ab this ; \Vh i ,atlon granted him. Tom™ you raake fc hab reservation,

i a f n riJSfced his shoulders. Their W08 i Corriedon in low toues loivlmU , clo,e companionship, bub »« fc? a trili -° noaror '•'- Prolan tinctij: c Wa3 stiU low er as he said dia-W-T o ,* °™ cnnnob see ' : »to tho future. *°B9aS c 0 " fe »ow yonder grows ■ fe^eS« oni r k -r ondb °°«u S o if there *l»m Prin« f horn T eo "l»aHy difliko and c "nyera iTI - S lt is t,lttt confounded tyu to Dle-it 1S f met l"ng too sly about *$£&£%%? """■""" * Pnsfw hi- ™ away ho said ' ' because I Tom." oom t0 '>is company myself,

s over tho l«L v upon fche hou?e and i eliv e with i ".•• one snorfc hour before ; „■ ! ' lant J 'fe- The guests had! ! bo «sehold a? \ tllose belonging to the Dn ly tho far _ n , !i £ llts wero out, and a l°n" Hip hi , y ,ow murmur of tho waves ■yiwwH, tC whero the tide was falling. heavy'; vit "f °l )0n windows the breeze stole, B<»<len Jp, la - ra »co from bhe lawn and the the water n .L P u Vay of silver lig,lt u P ori flowly giMi,? , Bhlf ted as the moon went BilU. '"§ down beyond the western ITh 00 3 , ound - cave these delicate aa aw tho quieb breathing of

the sleeper-save the low-toned voices of the physician and his friend keeping watch, as the dawn stole up the east, treading down lightly and mysteriously the tender rose of dying moonlight, and broadened and deepened-to amber and lilac and royal purples of sunrise and day, and wakened life below. ' But it was long after sunrise when Lee Price opened his eyes upon the day. Just at first ho did not recognise Doctor Graham, who was sitting by bhe east window, quietly reading, and could not recall what had occurred. Then the memory returned, and raising himself unsteadily upon one elbow and staring hard at his friend, he addressed him. Hastings had gone down-stairs for breakfast, and they were alone. ' Graham !' he said. His voice was very weak, and his band trembled as he brushed the hair up from his forehead in a habit peculiar to him when anxious or perplexed. •Yes?' replied Graham, immediately, but with entire composure, aa he laid a3ide his book, and rising, crossed to the bed. ' What is it, my dear follow !' 'That is what I would ask you,' said Price, weakly. ' You may ask innumerable questions if you will, Lee.' ' You will answer them—if you choose, I suppose !' was bhe pebulanb retort. ' I— was ill last night, Jack ?'

'Yes.' ' You brought me up here ?' 'Hastings had you brought here—yes.' ' Where are the guests ? What did they —think? What did you tell them ?' 'I presume they are lost in delightful dreams of the evening spent here, my dear boy,' was the physician's cool reply ; ' bub as to what they think, I cannot undertake to <;av. Your aunt and Hastings sent them off without the least scene. That aunb ot yours should be a politician, Lee, she can so easily manage people.'

' Where is she, Graham ?' ' I can't say. She came to the door once, to learn of your condition ; but I told her thab you must not be disturbed, and she obeys implicitly. You must do the same if you wish to be about soon.' ' That's like her.' said Price.

He had fallen back among the pillows, and Graham was standing beside him, holding' one hand, with his fingers_ lightly pressed upon the restless pulse stirring in tho wrist. Price lay silently watching him for a moment.

' Were you with me-then—Jack ?' he asked, presently. 'I cannot remember, I have tried, but my head feels boo much of a burden as it is.'

1 No,' Graham said, quietly, an intentnoss upon his face that his patient did not oven attempt to fathom. ' I was on the lawn. Conyers called me. Pie did not find mo sleeping too soundly this time.' Price did not speak, but his glanco quickened aa though with resentment ab this subtle hint of his valet's infidelity. Then he withdrew his hand from the doctor's hold and turned his head restlessly upon the pillow. ' Then you knew nothing about this attack—more than about the others, Graham?'

The doctor's eyes were narrowing and the intent expression deepened upon his face; ■

' Perhaps I do,' he said. ' You and Miss Dunbar and Miss Florence with Hastings were eating cream. You had eaten but little of the cream whon it made you violently ill—' ' How do you know ib was tho cream ?' demanded Price, shortly. One might think that he did nob like this insinuation.

'I am stating the case as it appeared,' was tho unruffled reply. 'I shall state it as it is truly, presently. Hastings had you removed presently and sent Conyers for me. How aro you feeling, my dear fellow ?'

" ' I feel as though there were forty horses treading down upon my head,' was tho irritable answer. ' Really, Graham, I believe if this thing continues much longer yon will have a lunatic upon your hands.' Graham nodded.

' I shall take good care thab nobbing of bhe sorb occurs, Price,' he said. ' And now I shall ask you ono or bwo quesbions, that you may consider impertinent —or would consider so if you were not perfectly certain thab ib ia your old friend who asks. Have you any new servants in your household ?'

Price stared ab him as though he believed that he were tho one threatened with insanity instead of himself. ' What possible interest can you have in that?' he asked, shortly. 'Every one of my servants is capable and faithful, if bhat is what you mean, and all have been with me for several years—excepting Emma. I know thab you dislike Conyers, when you have no oarthly reason for doing so ; bub if you attempb bo disbrust Emma you will be carrying your suspicions' pretty far, my dear Graham.'

' Now thab you havo relieved your feelings,' said the doebor, laughing, and undeterred from his path of investigation, ' will yon kindly inform me what were your sensations last night ?'

Price moved his head impatiently as though he would prefer to be silent upon his illness and il,s symptoms, but was compelled to reply, as the physician was awaiting his answer and he knew thab Jack Graham was not to bo moved from his path of dubv.

' I felb decidedly ill,' he said, flatly and sharply. ' Isn't that enough for you to know, Graham ? No ? You aro such a stony-hearted fellow when your mind is sot upon a bbing ! Well, bhen, Ifelb as though a beautiful Borgia were thrusting me through and through with a poisoned dagger to rid herself of me. I felt as though Medusa were paralysing me with her gaxe of stone. As though the Colossus of Rhodes were falling upon my head. I felt, to sum ib all up in one fine point, as though every earthly joy had faded and I didn't especially care.' There was fine sarcasm in his voice and upon his face, bub Doctor Graham was nob moved by ib. He merely nodded quiebly and his eyes searched the pale lace with concentrated thought.

' And after all this fine drama so cleverly put, you were brought up here ana have only just awakened to the fact bhe world still holds considerable to be lived for, Lee. That will do for this time. Wo will hear what Mrs Leonard has to say regarding bhe cream you 80 faithfully defend.' Disregarding Price's protestations, the young doctor crossed to tho bell and summoned tho housekeeper.' She repliod immediately, bub there was an unusual uneasiness in her manner, that this man with the keen eye detected at once. ' How is the young master, Doctor Graham?'

'Ho is better, Mrs Leonard. I should like you to send me the cream I ordered, immediately. Send it to tho adjoining room, I havo use for it.'

Ho had nob a doubb thab his instructions of the previous night- had been obeyed. He was accustomed to have his orders obeyed unquestioningly/

Hastings was ascending bhe stairs. A fainb flush of annoyance crept to the housekeeper's face. Unconsciously and nervously she lifted the embroidered bagthat hung ab her side, containing the household keys, and smoothed its ribbons as though so ehe would smooth out his displeasure.

' I am so sorry, Doctor,' she said, hesitatingly, ' but Emma forgot and threw that in with the rest of the waste. She did not mean td be careless, she is usually a very good girl—'

_ \ ■thunderstorm of anger was brewing: on tne doctor's brow. His eyes darkened and blazed.

'And you defend her,' he said, 'even though you know that your master's life may depend upon faibhfulness to my orderßl' His voice was even, but deeper than usual with suppressed indignation.

'She meant no harm, truly, Doctor. She ia young, and usually very careful —' ' Who is this Emma who is such a paragon ?' 4 One of the housemaids, Doctor Graham.' ' Send her to me, Mrs Leonard—and Conyers also.' He turned away, re-entering the room followed by Hastings, and closed the door. ' I sent for you, Conyers,' he said sternly, when the valet entered a few momenta later, accompanied by a bright-faced girl. ' Yes, sir.' 'You saw your master taken ill last night—you were near him ab the time?' ** 1 was in the servants' hall, sir. 1 could see that he was ill.'

' Wo wero watching the party from the hall, sir,' ventured Emma. ' Oh !' said the young doctor.with steelly sarcasm in his voice, his keen eye turned from the valeb to bhe girl. ' And you saw that he was ill, too, I suppose, Emma? You are Emma, I take it ?' ' Yes, sir.' 'It was while he was eating cream wibh friends V The eyes were like sword-points, bent upon the valeb rather than the girl, as though he would pierce down to his soul and fathom his thoughts. But the man stood silent, with downcast eyes and inscrubable face. ' And you disobeyed my orders regarding this cream ! Who told you to do it ?' The question was sudden and startling because of the questioner's voice, and the girl glanced up, frightened, first at him, then at the immovable valet, then about the room, her gaze falling again to the floor, and her hand pulled nervously at her apron. 'No one told me, sir. I—l did not think. I—l—' 'Did you not ?' was the scornful interruption, silencing her startled speech. ' Very well, Emma. See thab you obey my instructions in the future. You may goboth of you.' But as they turned away ab his command Jack Oldham caught a glance thab passed between them. A strange glanco; it puzzled him. Was it scorn or reproach or warning passing fromthevaleb'seyesbothe frightened eyes of the girl ? Then the door closed noiselessly upon them, and ho turned toward the bed.

(To he Continued.)