a state of confusion. Several negroes were
on the lookout for him; and as soon as they saw him ran to the house.

"What is the meaning of all this?" he inquired, detaining one of the
hindmost.

"Oh, Marse Thuster, sir! oh, sir!" exclaimed the boy, rolling his eyes
quite wildly.

"What is the matter with the fool?"

"Oh, sir; my poor ole marse! my poor ole marse!"

"What has happened to your master? Can't you be plain, sir?"

"Oh, Marse Thuster, sir! he done fell down inter a fit, an had to be
toted off to bed."

"A fit! good heavens! has a doctor been summoned?" exclaimed Thurston,
springing from his seat.

"Oh, yes, sir! Jase be done gone arter de doctor."

Thurston stopped to inquire no farther, but ran into the house and up
into his grandfather's chamber.

There a distressing scene met his eyes. The old man, with his limbs
distorted, and his face swollen and discolored, lay in a state of
insensibility upon the bed. Two or three negro women were gathered
around him, variously occupied with rubbing his hands, chafing his
temples and wiping the oozing foam from his lips. At the foot of the bed
stood poor daft Fanny, with disheveled hair and dilated eyes, chanting a
grotesque monologue, and keeping time with a see-saw motion from side to
side. The first thing Thurston did, was to take the hand of this poor
crazed, but docile creature, and lead her from the sick-room up into her
own. He bade her remain there, and then returned to his grandfather's
bedside. In reply to his anxious questioning, he was informed that the
old man had fallen into a fit about an hour before--that a boy had been
instantly sent for the doctor, and the patient carried to bed; but that
he had not spoken since they laid him there. It would yet be an hour
before the doctor could possibly arrive, and the state of the patient
demanded instant attention.

And withal Thurston was growing very anxious upon Marian's account. The
sun was now sinking under a dark bank of clouds. The hour of his
appointed meeting with her was approaching. He felt, of course, that his
scheme must for the present be deferred--even if its accomplishment
should again seem necessary, which was scarcely possible. But Marian
would expect him. And how should he prevent her coming to the beach and
waiting for him there? He did not know where a message would most likely
now to find her, whether at Luckenough, at Old Fields or at Colonel
Thornton's. But he momentarily expec