CHAPTER XXXI.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 219, 10 September 1887, Page 8

CHAPTER XXXI.

AN ACCIDENT. A window opened from Mrs Coxon's room upon the vorandah, and Ruby, unfastening a blind and putting her head inside, saw the woman seated at her table, darning .stockings. "Mrs Coxon, have you a spare bed tonight?" sho asked, as the housekeeper looked up at the intrusion. " Yes, half a dozen. Who wants one?" she replied, suspending hor darning opera tions, and glancing up over the rim of her spectacles. "A benighted and weather-bound traveller, who is also a favourite of youru, I believe." "I have but one favourite, and that is Mr Walter ; if lie wants a bed he's welcome to the best in the house," Mrs Coxon returned. "Ah, I &&or"e r " she zidded, as Walter bent hi< tall form and looked in upon her, " you've been caught in the .shower. Come in, you leeklebs young folks, out of the rain, or you'll catch your death of cold." She arose, and unfastened the door for them, and her face was all aglow with pleasure and hospitality, as bhe shook hands v, ith Walter. "I am afraid it will make you trouble, if 1 stay," he .said. "Nob a bit of it>; it docs my old eyes gjod to see you, and I'd be glad to be troubled in the .same way oftunei." ; " You were always kind to me, Mrs Co\on," returned the young man, "and 1 hope some time I .shall be able to make it up to you." "I'll tell )ou how," retoi ted the housekeeper, with a twinkle in her eyo, as she glanced from one to the other, with a wise look, " when you two get married, let me conic and keep house for you.*' Walter laughed heartily, while Ruby blushed to the hue of her nanio. " I should like nothing better, I'm sure," t-aid the young man, " but you know we aro both as poor as church mice, and can't afford such a luxury as that-" " Poor as church mice, indeed," sniffed the woman, indignantly, " you've no busiii>-» to be poor, let me tell you. If the truth uas known, I believe you'd have plenty ; folks may say what they've a mind to, but if I didn't sign a will for Mr Ralph Cai penter. I should like to know what kind ot a document it was." " Well, Mi\s Coxon," returned Walter, uood-natiuedly, seeing that she was gettin excited o\ or the topic, "it doesn't do any good to keep agitating that question ; si roe there was no will forthcoming, we nui-t take it for granted that there was none." j " It's granting too much altogether, and, mark my word, the time will come when the cat will got out of bhe bag. But sic down, 3'oung folks, and make yourselves at home, while I go and air tho sheets anil got > our room ready." " Where are you going to put me, Mrs Covon ? Almost anywhere will do," said Walter, not liking to make trouble. "I guess 'almost anywhere ' won't do," she i etoi ted. " You'll have your own room, of couise. No other would seem like home to you." And she bustled away, while the lovers sit down to enjo3 r another chat until sho should return. They were of course unconscious that they had been followed, and that Edmund Carpenter had crept upon the verandah, and close under the still open window, intent upon learning more of their plans. He was boiling with rage over Mrs Coxon's plain speaking regarding his father's will, and began to feel that she might be a dangerous person to have about the house. He had always felt very secure regaiding: the will until now ; but if his housekeeper was as suspicious as she appeared to be, there was no knowing to what lengths she might carry her interest for Walter, and he began to grow uneasy, and towi-hthat the document was destroyed, and beyond all danger of discovery. He remained nearly an hour beneath the v indow learning all that was possible of the lovers' plans, and when at length Walter'-* room was ready, and he took leave of Ruby, knowing he would not see her in the morning because of being obliged to go away so early, Edmund Carpenter stole away in the darkness and storm, maturing a plan to tuin the young man. The .stoim continued throughout the night, but the morning broke as clear and tranquil as if no cloud had over obscured the sky. Walter arose with tho dawn, and stole quietl}- fiom the house, in order not to disturb anyone, and made his way as i apidly as possible back to the cioy, where ho partook of an early breakfast, after which he took tho six-o'clock train for Chester, where he was superintending the election of a handsome edilice. As he alighted and turned to leave the station he saw an elderly woman just getting out of the Southern Express. Sho was tall and commanding in figure, with bright, pleasant black eyes, and rather massive features, yet upon the whole very attractive, while her forehead was crowned with clustering masses of snow-white hair, which gave her a very venerable appearance. Sho was richly, though not showily, clad, and she moved with an air of dignity and pride. She stopped as she stepped from the car, and appeared to be looking for someone. At this moment a heavily-loaded baggage truck came thundering along. The platform was-, a little on tho down grado just at that point, which gave a sudden impetus to the truck, and the woman, seeing it, stepped back against the car to be farther away from it and out of danger. But whether the man who had charge of it was careless, or something in the formation of the platform sent the truck out of line, no one was ever able to tell ; but it suddenly vceied to tho right, and before Walter, who instantly saw the danger, could spring forward to render assistance, it had run directly into the noble-looking stranger and pinned her close against tho car. "What arc you thinking of?" Walter shouted to tho truck-man, as he dashed to the rescue, and, exerting all his strength, pushed the heavily laden vehicle to one side, and released the sufferer from her perilous and painful situation. Tho woman had not cried out or made a .sign that she was hurt, bub her face was as white as the hair clustering about her temples, and as she was freed from the c;/u.shiugwcighbthabhadbeen forced againsb her, one arm dropped broken and helpless at her side, and the other hand, from which the had been torn, was badly bruised and bleeding. ! " You are seriously hurt I fear, madam," Waller said, as he stooped to recover her

traveiftng-bag, which she had drooped, " Whafc c do for an Iyou ?" Before replying she lifted her keen eyes and searched his face. Evidently she was satisfied that he was trustworthy, for she said : "If you will kindly assist- me to the ladies' room I will thank you," She spoke composedly, bixfc her very lips* were white now, and Walter could see that it was only by a weighty effort of her will tliit slio concealed the agony she was suffering. "Certainly," he said, and supporting her by the arm, for &he was unable- to- take Ids, ho leu her into the ladies' «oom, and seated her in a chair. " You are very kind/ she iouimuired ; " and now have you a sharp knife-?" " Yes, madam." And he- drew it quickly from his pocket and opened it. "Please out oil" my gloves," she said; " my hands are swelling; rapidly,, and they are painful." Walter knelt before her and,, taking the hand that he had noticed was bleeding,, quickly cut the glove away, revealing more painly the livid and mangied flesh and bruises beneath. lie then turned to the other arm, which still hung limp and helpless at her f*ide. " Lift it into my lap. [t is broken, I fear, for I have no power over it ;, but the J glove must come off immediately.'' the woman said, as he hesitated to touch it~ Ho did as she commanded, but the .sight, that met his eyes when he had removed the glove nearly unmanned him ; for the bones of the wrist were bioken and almost protruding through the flesh, while he was .sure theie was Ptill another break farther up. But she was very biavc and self-possessed, thanking him for hi.s aid, and she even smiled upon him as he lifted his own pale face to hers, saying : " Let mo go for a surgeon." " No, not yet," s.he replied ; " I must get homo h rot. I expected my carnage to be here to meet me, but 1 .saw nothing of my coachman and fear my telegram was not received. If you will get me a public conveyance and help me into it, I will 1 trouble you no further." " Have you baggage ?" Walter inquired, springing to hits ieet to execute her commission, and thinking bho was the bravest lady he had over seen. " Yes, and I shall need it, too. You will find my cheques in the pocket of my travel-ling-bag." He found them and darted from the room. Ho secured a carnage, and then assisted the man in transferring the baggage to it, noting that the tiunkb v.cie marked " Mrs M. E. Howland," and that they had come from St. Louis. This accomplished, he returned to the waiting-room for the injured woman, whom he a&Msted to the coach, where he made her as comfortable as it was possible to do, and then asked her addre^. "Number 6 — avenue," she told him, and would have thanked him for his kindness, but he quickly closed the cairiagcdoor, and springing upon the box with the drher, told him" to get her home -\\ ith all possible despatch. Ann ing at No. 6 — avenue, Mis Howland. appeared somewhat surprised when Walter again presented himself at the door to assist her to alight. But she looked gratiiied too, in .spite of her pain, which wa» every moment increasing. q^a^uS! w^ Very gently he helped her into the hou^e, which, a single glance was sufficient to tell him, was a most luxurious one, and where in less than three minute-, she had as many servants about her, eager to give her the care and assistance folio so much needed. Her ih-st order was for her coachman to j go for a .suigeon, and then she calmly gave directionsfor certain remedies to be brought and applied to relieve her until he should arrive, and was so brave and cheerful, in spite of her helplessness, that Walter was filled with admiration for her. He helped the driver get the trucks into i the house, paid and dismissed him, and ! then went to ask if thcio was anything ! more that he could do. " Yes, my young friend ; tell me your name, that I may know to whom 1 am indebted for so much kindness," Mrs Howland answered, while sho studied hLs fine face earnestly. "My name is Richardsoa — Walter. Richardson,'' the young man replied. " Walter Richardson !" she repeated in a peculiar tone. " Where do you live ?" " In Philadelphia usually ;. but just at present I am engaged upon a building contract in this place." " Where do your parents reside ?" " I have none ; I was born in New York city, where both my father and mother died. But, madam, pray do not let me trouble you with my affairs while you arc suffering so. I had better leave you now," Walter concluded, seeing how very ill she suddenly seemed to have grown, "Yes," she returned, leaning wearily back in her chair, while her face was ghastly white, though her eyes were- fastened with a look of eager inquiry upon his face, u yes, go now, but promise that you will come to see me again soon ; I viust see you again, for — for you have been very kind." "1 Mill come," Walter promised, and then went away,, just as the surgeon came bustling in, and repaired to his place of business. But all day long, and for several days, his thoughts were with that grand woman who had displayed so much nerve and courage at a time when almost anyone else would have been prostrated by the painful ordeal through which she had passed.

(To be Continued.)