ALAS FOR CHARLIE!
In spite of much internal rebellion, Charlie held fast to his resolution, and Aunt Clara, finding all persuasions vain, gave in and in a state of chronic indignation against the world in general and Rose in particular, prepared to accompany him.The poor girl had a hard time of it and, but for her uncle, would have fared still worse.He was a sort of shield upon which Mrs.Clara's lamentations, reproaches, and irate glances fell unavailingly instead of wounding the heart against which they were aimed.
The days passed very quickly now, for everyone seemed anxious to have the parting over and preparations went on rapidly.The big house was made ready to shut up for a year at least, comforts for the long voyage laid in, and farewell visits paid.The general activity and excitement rendered it impossible for Charlie to lead the life of an artistic hermit any longer and he fell into a restless condition which caused Rose to long for the departure of the Rajah when she felt that he would be safe, for these farewell festivities were dangerous to one who was just learning to say "no.""Half the month safely gone.If we can only get well over these last weeks, a great weight will be off my mind," thought Rose as she went down one wild, wet morning toward the end of February.
Opening the study door to greet her uncle, she exclaimed, "Why, Archie!"then paused upon the threshold, transfixed by fear, for in her cousin's white face she read the tidings of some great affliction.
"Hush! Don't be frightened.Come in and I'll tell you," he whispered, putting down the bottle he had just taken from the doctor's medicine closet.
Rose understood and obeyed, for Aunt Plenty was poorly with her rheumatism and depended on her morning doze.
"What is it?" she said, looking about the room with a shiver, as if expecting to see again what she saw there New Year's night.Archie was alone, however, and, drawing her toward the closet, answered with an evident effort to be quite calm and steady"Charlie is hurt! Uncle wants more ether and the wide bandages in some drawer or other.He told me, but Iforget.You keep this place in orderfind them for me.Quick!"Before he had done, Rose was at the drawer, turning over the bandages with hands that trembled as they searched.
"All narrow! I must make some.Can you wait?" And, catching up a piece of old linen, she tore it into wide strips, adding, in the same quick tone, as she began to roll them, "Now, tell me.""I can waitthose are not needed just yet.I didn't mean anyone should know, you least of all," began Archie, smoothing out the strips as they lay across the table and evidently surprised at the girl's nerve and skill.
"I can bear itmake haste! Is he much hurt?""I'm afraid he is.Uncle looks sober, and the poor boy suffers so, Icouldn't stay," answered Archie, turning still whiter about the lips that never had so hard a tale to tell before.
"You see, he went to town last evening to meet the man who is going to buy Brutus""And Brutus did it? I knew he would!" cried Rose, dropping her work to wring her hands, as if she guessed the ending of the story now.
"Yes, and if he wasn't shot already I'd do it myself with pleasure, for he's done his best to kill Charlie," muttered Charlie's mate with a grim look, then gave a great sigh and added with averted face, "I shouldn't blame the brute, it wasn't his fault.He needed a firm hand and" He stopped there, but Rose said quickly: "Go on.I must know.""Charlie met some of his old cronies, quite by accident; there was a dinner party, and they made him go, just for a good-bye, they said.He couldn't refuse, and it was too much for him.He would come home alone in the storm, though they tried to keep him, as he wasn't fit.Down by the new bridgethat high embankment, you knowthe wind had put the lantern outhe forgotor something scared Brutus, and all went down together."Archie had spoken fast and brokenly but Rose understood and at the last word hid her face with a little moan, as if she saw it all.
"Drink this and never mind the rest," he said, dashing into the next room and coming back with a glass of water, longing to be done and away, for this sort of pain seemed almost as bad as that he had left.
Rose drank, but held his arm tightly, as he would have turned away, saying in a tone of command he could not disobey: "Don't keep anything backtell me the worst at once.""We knew nothing of it," he went on obediently."Aunt Clara thought he was with me, and no one found him till early this morning.A workman recognized him and he was brought home, dead they thought.I came for Uncle an hour ago.Charlie is conscious now, but awfully hurt, and I'm afraid from the way Mac and Uncle looked at one another thatOh! Think of it, Rose! Crushed and helpless, alone in the rain all night, and I never knew, I never knew!"With that, poor Archie broke down entirely and, flinging himself into a chair, laid his face on the table, sobbing like a girl.Rose had never seen a man cry before, and it was so unlike a woman's gentler grief that it moved her very much.Putting by her own anguish, she tried to comfort his and, going to him, lifted up his head and made him lean on her, for in such hours as this women are the stronger.It was a very little to do, but it did comfort Archie, for the poor fellow felt as if fate was very hard upon him just then, and in this faithful bosom he could pour his brief but pathetic plaint.
"Phebe's gone, and now if Charlie's taken, I don't see how I can bear it!""Phebe will come back, dear, and let us hope poor Charlie isn't going to be taken yet.Such things always seem worst at first, I've heard people say, so cheer up and hope for the best," answered Rose, seeking for some comfortable words to say and finding very few.
