CHAPTER XXX.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXX.

' IN THE MIDST 01? LIFE WE ARE IX DEATIT.' It was Christmas Eve. Flora Ashford and her brother were seated in the drawingroom at Scudmore House, awaiting tho arrival of Ashford, who had gone to Ashton • Park the day previous, to personally superintend arrangements for making the season a joyous one to his tenants and their poorer j neighbours. It was past the time when he

should have arrived, but then the trains are often late at Christmas time. , Flora was anxious and* looked alternately ' at the clock on the manbolpioce and her ( watch, her poor heart fluttering. At last she ox claimed : - - ' Oh ! Bertie, I am sure something has happened. Tho train surely would have been in before. Hark ! horo he is ! 1 hear the carriage. ' The carriage had arrived, but it passed tbo door and entered tho stablc-yai'd. ' Oh ! Berbie,' she cried, now intensely alarmed, ' something has happened.' And she rang the bell vioiontly. Escombo rushed out of the room and met a footman in the hall, whose face told but too surely that something was wrong, 'Wbati&it?' ' If you please, sir, there's been a accident oo the line, and master is in it. Tho station-master said as we'd better wait while he inquired. He telegraphed to Littlemero and got a answer back saying as 'o\v there was five killed md master very badly hinjured. They don't expect as 'c will live.' ' Good God !' exclaimod Escombo. Flora, who had heard their voices, rushed into tho hall, and heard the last words tho man spoke. She cried : ' Oh, take mo to him,' and fainted in her brother's arms. Escombe, after a moment's consideration, ordered a carriage and fro&h horses. ' I suppo&e there is no chance of our getting a train,' ho said. ' No, sir, I think not, sir, there's no train till ten o'clock, aud that don't stop 'ere generally, but per'aps they would, sir, to-night.' 'Oh ! that's no good, we will drive. How far i& it ?' ' It's ten good miles by road, sir. ' By this time Flora had shown signs of reviving and speedily recovered consciousness. ' Oh ! Beitic. Borlie,' she cried, ' tell me the worst : is he dead ?' ' No, darling. Try to be strong ; ho is badly hurt, but these reports are always exaggerated. I have ordered the caniage. Go and put your things on, and wo will be there in no time. Try to look at the brightest side, Flora. God is good, you know.' ' Oh ! what shall I do— what shall I do ? % moaned the poor woman. ' Get ready, darling, as soon as possible. That is all you can do at present. I trust wo shall find things better than they have been represented.' They reached Littlemero in fifty minutes. It was good speed, but to Flora each minute seemed an hour. They drove to the principal inn, and there Ihoy found poor Mr Ashford. He had been asking for his wife, having only a few minutes previous to their arrival tecoveied consciousness. Had she been forbidden to entcrjthe room, she would have heeded not. She seemed like one in a dream. But the people of the house mado way for her, and showed her the room where lay her dearly-loved husband. A doctor was with him, but she saw him nob. All she saw was her own clear husband lying on the bed, his head bandaged. He knew her and raised his arms to her. ' My own darling,' he cried, and oxpircd. Poor Ashtord. It was a cruel death ; but it was better that ho should die than live the life that would havo been his had he rallied. His legs were torn from his body — literally torn away. All had Deon done for him that was possible to alleviate his sufferings, bub there was no hope from the iirsb. A telegiam had been sent to Mrs A&hford, but she had left homo ere it arrived. The poor widow's grief at this sad bereavement was fearful, and it would be useless to attempt to depict it — indeed, were it possible, it were better left alone. Escombe did his best to comfort her ; not with useless, pitying woids ; not with vain exhortations to be cheerful sach as well-meaning persons employ towaul those who are in tioubie scorning by the very act to increase their giief — nob by such idle attempts as these did Escombe try to assuage the almost killing sorrow of his beloved sister. She was with difficulty induced to leave the bed side of her dead husband, and expressed her intention of staying at the inn until the body should be lemoved to Scudraoie House. It was deemed necessary that a coroner's inqueet should be held, and Escombe thought it best that his sister should return home before that took place. He at once sent for his father and mother, who hastened to the side of their grief-stricken daughter, and with parental love, which, though for a timo arrested, had never died, tried to soothe their pooi child. Nor did they try in vain. After tho first poignancy of her grief had in a measure subsided, Flora quietly resigned herself to the inevitable, and in her dear mother's gentle love found great comfort. 'Twas like a healing balm to an inflamed 'vound— this deep, pure love of her gentle mother.