TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2087, 23 July 1901, Page 6

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER.

Henry, I want you to go away

Mrs Brownleigh put her arm halfway I round her husband's neck and looked down into his face with an expression of mingled love, determination, regret, and self-sacri-fice. " You don't look as well as you did," she continued, "and 1 think a change would do you good." Brownleigh looked at h's wife in some surprise. "It's all very, well to talk of going away,"' he said, "but I cannot do it just now. In the .first place, I cannot leave my business; and, besides. I can't afford to ta-M the whole family away on a trip at this season of the year." Mrs Browneligh stopped him with an impatient gesture. "My dear," she said, earnestly, " all this may be true from your standpoint; but your health is the most important thing to consider. To-day I happened to see your doctor, and I knew from what he said that you need a change. The modern business man's life is too wearing; and as for me, I wouldn't think of letting you take me witli you. It wouldn't be the best thing for you. No, you must go alone, and you must go at once. Your face shows that vou are not well." Brownleigh's face began to take on that look of gratification and martyrdom assumed by all of us when the news of our own physical shortcomings is broken. He coughed slightly. "I don't know but you are right," he said, somewhat more feebly than he was wont to speak. " I've been so busy that I haven't had time to think of myself; but now that you refer to the matter, maybe a little change would do me good. I've applied myself so closely that I had no chance to notice how run down I was becoming. You are undoubtedly right, my dear " " It would not only do you good." replied his wife, "but I regard it as an absolute necessity. \ou must get ready to go at once." Brownleigh smiled an anticipatory smile, and almost forgot that he was not a well man, as he jumped up. went over to th(f bookcase, and got down an old guide book. \ He pulled out from his pocket a bundle \> of time tables and a railway ticket. / Mr Brownleigh stared at him. " You don't mean to say that you are going away to leave me all alone?" she exclaimed. "Why, of course!'' replied her "Didn't you tell me to? Didn't you in)m£ upon it?" Mrs Brownleigh drew herself up haughtily, while involuntarily her hand felt for her handkerchief. "Perhaps I did." she cried, hotly; "but I didn't suppose for one moment that you would do such a cruel, shameless, hateful, seltish thing! " .'lke works of watches are chiefly made at Prescot. r