Part 2 (2/2)

He heard for a while the lively chit-chat within--the humorous joke--the joy-excited laughter, all of which only aroused his indignation to greater fierceness. But at that moment, when ready to put his threats into execution the right hand of his soul arrested suddenly the uplifted weapon of his evil heart. He wheeled about as if it were instinctively, fled from the house, and directed his course homeward with hasty steps.

Having quietly slipped himself into his bedroom he retired to his couch; but there was no rest there for his unhappy soul, which, even during a few moments of slumber was distracted with dreams of the most hideous character imaginable.

Next morning Fred was not astir as usual. His mother, at length, dreading increased illness as the cause, entered his room. Fred looked up with a woe-begone countenance, which of itself was sufficient to verify her apprehensions.

”Are you worse, Fred?” his mother interrogated. ”I don't feel quite as well, mother,” he replied.

”Ah, Fred, I thought you would get more cold by going out last evening,”

said she. ”Why Fred, my son, you are quite feverish,” she exclaimed resting her hand upon his forehead. ”I shall get father to go for Dr.

Guernsey immediately.”

”Mother, I beg of you not to do so, my throat is not worse. The want of sufficient sleep last night has had a tendency to make me feel debilated. Rather bring me a cup of coffee than send for the doctor.”

Mrs. Charlston at once hurried to the kitchen and told Amelia to prepare a strong cup of coffee and a slice of toast as quickly as possible.

Shortly afterwards Mrs. C. entered Frederick's room with the coffee and toast, followed by his father and sisters.

Fred strengthened himself for the occasion. He rose up on the bed quite vigorously, and took breakfast with an apparently good appet.i.te. His mother having cooled his face with a wet towel he laid himself down to repose, and the others withdrew from the room. Ere long the tender finger of nature closed his weary eyelids, and during nearly all the rest of the day poor Fred lay calmly enlocked in the arms of sleep.

On the following morning Fred was considerably better, and continued in a convalescent state.

However, he kept himself closely confined to his room for several days.

On the second evening Clara called to see the child; and on the following, Charlie also made a visit, as he said, to see Fred; but neither of them saw him as his room-door was locked, and he was supposed to be fast asleep. In less than a week afterwards Clara again called.

Fred was in the sitting-room when she entered; but, on seeing her, he instantly sprang from his seat, and without opening his lips, abruptly left the room.

Clara at once discovered in his appearance and actions that something of a serious nature had effected these results. However, she endeavored as well as she could to restrain her feelings. The others of the family also noticed the abrupt mariner in which Fred absconded; but excused his doing so by attributing it to the bashfulness of his bad looks rendered so by his illness.

”Why, Fred,” said Eliza after Clara was gone, ”what caused you to make such a runaway as that?”

”Why, Fred,” cried Amelia, ”you sprang up as if you had been startled by a shock of electricity?”

”I thought, Fred,” exclaimed Charlotte, ”was going to play 'hide-and-go-seek', with Clara, when I saw him jump up and run off so fast.”

”Perhaps he intended that to be the play,” said Mrs. Charlston, with a sly wink looking to Fred.

”Ah, the deceiver that she is!” exclaimed Fred irritably. ”She is a vile woman.”

”Why, Fred, Fred, why all this! are you really going mad?”

”No, mother, I am not mad, although I have been bitten deeply enough to have made me as mad as a raving maniac.”

”Why, Fred,” said she, ”do tell us what is the matter with you then--the why and wherefore also.”

”Well, mother, had you not asked of me to do so I would not of my own accord; but since you demand an explanation, I will give you my reasons, and then leave you to judge seriously whether I have acted right or wrong.”

Fred then related all that he had seen and heard respecting Clara and Charlie Holstrom.

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