Part 6 (1/2)
”Oh, tut, tut, doctor! I thought we had settled this Surely after your telegram, taken to the chief office, ave the lady by the couch a rily away
It was on the doctor's lips to say sharply, ”I am not married, sir,” and he felt startled as he checked hier to say that? he thought, and a peculiar feeling of resentan to startle hiht?
”Co some breakfast”
The speaker rose and touched the electric bell-push, then led the way toward a s for the doctor to follow; but he stood irresolute
”You will join us at breakfast, doctor?” said a loeet voice at his side, htly, and then follow to the table, to take the place pointed out by his coht, as she took the head of the table
”As his wife,” thought Chester; then trying hard to be perfectly cool, and assuhtly, he partook of the eneral conversation, a great deal of which dealt with the popular out-door life of the day--Lord's, Ascot, the proust and Septehtly traversed by a party of gentlemen who had ample incomes for their needs, and enjoyed life
The ladies were increased to three when they took their seats at the table, and Chester soon found that tere the young wives of ”Jem” and ”Paddy,” the bluff,the trouble and setting their prisoner guest at his ease, that Chester's manner softened, and before they rose fro interest to his neighbour's remarks
The excellent meal came at last to an end, and after a feords with Chester's companion, two of the ladies retired while the housekeeper quietly cleared the table; and as Marion, as they all called her, went to the side of the couch, Jem approached Chester
”The papers,” he said in the arettes on that table Spirits and soda or seltzer in the cellarette Prayyou want It shall be obtained directly--everything, that is, but liberty Won't you light up now? My cousin there will notthat Dr Chester will not hesitate,” said the lady addressed, and Chester drew a deep breath as he saw her cross to the table and fetch a cigarette-box and racious to refuse,” he said coldly, as he took one, and then the lighted ers which offered it, their eyes ht flush ave one heavy throb
The rest of that night-like day passed in a drea froe, new, mystic influence, and strove to raise like a shi+eld to protect hiain as he busied himself with his patient he told himself that he dearly loved Isabel, his betrothed, but this feeling was all as new as it was masterful, and often when he met the eyes of her who never left the couch in her assiduous attentions as nurse, he felt that he was drifting fast into a state of slavery, and that this woman was his fate
”She is another's wife,” he kept telling hihts Heaven help ed, and has the potent medicament sapped o as yet, for though it was unnoticed by the others, he saw that a change for the worse had taken place toward evening, at a ti, athletic fellow and Marion, they being evidently left on guard while a short rest was taken
Paddy was sitting back s, with his eyes half-closed; but he suddenly roused hietting on?” he whispered
Chester was silent, and after glancing at hi well, and in less pain”
”Don't look better,” grunted the young ht Like to go and lie down, Marion?”
”No,” was the quiet reply
”All right,” said the young man, and he walked back to his seat, while Marion waited for a fewwistfully at Chester, said in a lohisper--
”You did not speak He is better, is he not?”
The young doctorhard, as if fascinated
”I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to you,” she continued ”Your coe it all o It is such a terrible eency”
”Yes,” he said softly, ”and I have doneit in your eyes, doctor--you are thinking of leaving”