Audrey

In the room upstairs lay Darden's Audrey, with crossed hands and head put

slightly back. She lay still, upon the edge of death, nor seemed to care

that it was so. Her eyes were closed, and at intervals one sitting at the

bed head laid touch upon her pulse, or held before her lips a slight

ringlet of her hair. Mary Stagg sat by the window and wept, but Haward,

kneeling, hid his face in the covering of the bed. The form upon it was

not more still than he; Mistress Stagg, also, stifled her sobs, for it

seemed not a place for loud grief.

In the room below, amidst the tinsel frippery of small wares, waited

others whose lives had touched the life that was ebbing away. Now and then

one spoke in a hushed voice, a window was raised, a servant bringing in

fresh candles trod too heavily; then the quiet closed in again. Late in

the night came through the open windows a distant clamor, and presently a

man ran down Palace Street, and as he ran called aloud some tidings.

MacLean, standing near the door, went softly out. When he returned,

Colonel Byrd, sitting at the table, lifted inquiring brows. "They took

him in the reeds near the Capitol landing," said the Highlander grimly.

"He's in the gaol now, but whether the people will leave him there"-The night wore on, grew old, passed into the cold melancholy of its latest

hour. Darden's Audrey sighed and stirred, and a little strength coming to

her parting spirit, she opened her eyes and loosed her hands. The

physician held to her lips the cordial, and she drank a very little.

Haward lifted his head, and as Contesse passed him to set down the cup,

caught him by the sleeve. The other looked pityingly at the man into whose

face had come a flush of hope. "'T is but the last flickering of the

flame," he said. "Soon even the spark will vanish."

Audrey began to speak. At first her words were wild and wandering, but,

the mist lifting somewhat, she presently knew Mistress Stagg, and liked to

have her take the doctor's place beside her. At Haward she looked

doubtfully, with wide eyes, as scarce understanding. When he called her

name she faintly shook her head, then turned it slightly from him and

veiled her eyes. It came to him with a terrible pang that the memory of

their latest meetings was wiped from her brain, and that she was afraid of

his broken words and the tears upon her hand.

When she spoke again it was to ask for the minister. He was below, and

Mistress Stagg went weeping down the stairs to summon him. He came, but

would not touch the girl; only stood, with his hat in his hand, and looked

down upon her with bleared eyes and a heavy countenance.