FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101  
102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   >>   >|  
Certainly, or my husband would not have consented to leave me. Mrs. Heath was suddenly stricken with paralysis." Again Mrs. Farnum started, and bent a long, searching look upon her companion--a look that made Virgie feel very uncomfortable and wonder what it meant. "Is--is she still living?" the woman asked, still regarding Virgie searchingly. "Yes--at least, she was the last I heard; but her condition was still considered so critical that she could not bear the least excitement." "Then it is some time since you have heard from her?" remarked Mrs. Farnum, pointedly. Virgie bridled a trifle at being so closely questioned. She thought her guest was trespassing beyond the bounds of good breeding. But, after a moment, feeling as if she must share her burden with some one, she said, in an unsteady voice: "No, I have not, and--I am afraid that my husband's letters have miscarried, and the suspense has been very trying." "Ahem! Mrs. Heath, there is something very strange--very inexplicable about what you have told me," Mrs. Farnum said, in a grave tone. Virgie looked up, astonished both at the words and tone. "I do not understand you," she returned. "You know, of course, that we are English people," began her companion. "Yes. Miss Sadie mentioned the fact to me during the first of our acquaintance." "Did she ever tell you that we know people in England by the name of Heath?" "No. Do you?" Virgie cried, eagerly, her face lighting as she thought perhaps she might learn something regarding her long silent husband. "Yes, and they are a very fine family. They belong in Hampshire, and I may as well tell you that they are a very proud and aristocratic family, laying great stress upon their unimpeachable honor and untarnished name." Virgie flushed a painful crimson at this, which her companion noticed with a thrill of exultation, and then resumed: "The oldest daughter, who married a peer of the realm, has been my most intimate friend for many years. Sir William, also----" "Sir William!" Virgie interrupted, catching her breath, face growing radiant. "Yes, that's the name of the son and heir. I was about to remark that he is a baronet and that it is a singular coincidence that he should also have been here in America while his mother was stricken with paralysis. It is strange, too, that his first name should be the same as your husband's; but----" "Oh, Mrs. Farnum," cried Virgie, leaning forwar
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101  
102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Virgie
 

Farnum

 

husband

 

companion

 

strange

 

thought

 
William
 
family
 

stricken

 
paralysis

people

 

laying

 
England
 

aristocratic

 

acquaintance

 

unimpeachable

 

stress

 

silent

 
eagerly
 
Hampshire

belong

 

lighting

 
remark
 
baronet
 

singular

 

coincidence

 

catching

 
breath
 

growing

 

radiant


America

 

leaning

 

forwar

 

mother

 
interrupted
 

thrill

 
exultation
 

resumed

 
noticed
 

flushed


painful

 

crimson

 

oldest

 
intimate
 

friend

 

daughter

 

married

 

untarnished

 

excitement

 
condition