A Little Queen of Hearts - An International Story

you please we will just take a look right away at the snug little English cottage to which Chris Hartley hurried the same April morning that he reluctantly took leave of Marie-Celeste at the steamer

ndow bear witness to the generous service she renders. Within the little cottage all is as prim and dainty and neat as without, for the sweet-faced old housewife gives as close heed to the household as the "gudeman" of the house to the flock and the cow and the hedgerows. And this was the home to which Chris had come-to the grandparents who had cared for his orphaned boyhood, and whom he never would have left but for the more certain prospect of well-paid work across the water. And now five years have gone by, and having grown strong and manly, meantime, through his contact with the world, Chris is back on h

ked the entrance to the lane and watch the people as they passed. There were always more or less college men among them, driving in stylish drags behind spirited horses or in shabby livery turn-outs, according to their station in life, or rather the condition of their pocket-books. And so it chanced that Chris noticed on this particular June evening-as, in fact, no one could help noticing-a very merry party who rolled by in a dog-cart. They were far too merry, in fact, and so noisy that teams in front of them were glad to make way for them, and those they met most desirous to give them a wide berth. It was evident, however, that the young fellow who held the reins knew perfectly well what he was about, and how to handle his horses, so that no danger was actually to be feared in that direction. But what was true at

ople; "I will be down in a moment," and instantly recalling the party he had seen d

. Hartley, in gray wrapper and frilled

Chris," she said, her ha

but you'd best let

m within fell upon them; and then as Chris held the door wide open

badly hurt," he added, but speaking roughly, as though even his pity could scarce con

ave his wits about him. The other two had at once made their way to the nearest chairs, and

him?" he asked, unfastening the cl

st as though he might be dying, doesn't it?" and the young fellow sto

rse," for the whole party were covered with mud and dirt from head to foo

ould have been killed surely, for it fell on top of me in some way, and as it was, I could scarcely get from under it;" and the young fellow's blanched face grew a shade whiter as he realized how narrow had been his escape. Meanwhile, with a little maid to

sing the poor fellow's head, Chris pressed the glass to his lips. As he swallowed the

Do you suppose one of your friends there can help me harness?" but one of the friends was already a

ld-fashioned, large-patterned dressing-gown, had arrived rather tardily upon the sce

awing a deep sigh with the next breath at the thought of that best spare-room being put to so ignoble a service. Chris had himself be

them into the room there you can put them to bed, can't you? while I go for the doctor;" and in a voice scarcely audible from mortification the young fellow rep

e maid. So great was her horror, either by education or intuition, of the state of inebriety, that the moment she surmised that at least two of these midnight visitors were bordering on the same, she could conceive of no means strong enough to express her disapproval. Every time she had come anywhere near them she had gathered her skirts about her as

Mr. Hartley, after a long interva

lieve we had better talk. He seems to be gro

0

et flustered," bending over the freshly light

ide of the senseless fellow on the couch and, her old

alizing the need for haste, was out of the house before she had finished the sentence,

n't likely a strong-looking fellow

tellin'; strength don't count for mu

and the young man, closing it gently after

t?" he said in an almost agonized whisp

ed, that the face above was a good face, after all, her heart went out in sympathy, and she added gently, "but we'll hope for the best, dear-we'll hope for the best. Chris mu

artley solemnly, turning over the back-log of the

om and the crackling of the wood upon the andirons were the only sounds that broke the silence. Now and then Martha came in with a cloth freshly wet with cold water from the well-for Mrs. Hartley suspected some form of injury to the brain-and then slipped as noiselessly out again. At last

s name?" he asked as

ed that he had not given an honest answer, the doctor lo

over. Close beside him stood Mrs. Hartley, trying to read his conclusions in advance, and Martha stood just beyond, eager to rende

at last; "just how serious I cannot at once determine, but, f

ppropriated. Bring clean linen from the chest quickly, Martha;" and hurrying into the l

d another was done at the doctor's bidding, until at last there was need of nothing further, and old Mrs. Hartley, first sending the little maid to her room above stairs, crept off to bed, more utterly worn out and exhausted than f

convinced you have not done so, and then I want you to give me a true account of this whole de

wn to the doctor's side, his elbows on his knees and his chin resting on his tightly clasped hands

t it is the first time he has ever been mixed up in anything of this sort, and should he get over it, I wanted to spare him the mo

iven him will account for this heavy sleep. Everything

you feared"-trying to steady a voice t

weeks of car

us stay here,

ile. It would be out of t

ness!" and young Allyn, leaning back in his c

" said the doctor, scrutinizing him clos

r no credit in that, there is some excuse for Ted-he is youn

time of yours and young Harris's? Come, Mr. Allyn, don't wait for me to question you. If you are as anxious as you claim to

nd town as jolly good fellows; neither of them are college men, but they have dogged Harris's footsteps ever since they came to know him, a year or so ago, and have done all in their power to drag him down. To-night they have come pretty near making an end of

be in Oxford anyway, now that the

e having too good

e found out

oung Allyn's face assured the doctor that the l

Harris live,

ving trip to-morrow; so we're not expected up at Windsor, and Ted's the kind of fellow, Dr. Arnold, that if he found out that people knew about a scrape like this, I believe he'd grow perfectl

to-night, just how

tion of Mrs. Hartley's best room. "There was no doing anything with them, and finally one of them tried to get the reins from

of suspense, "if Mr. Harris's condition proves not t

e," as though he honestly

you told me you live at Windsor, I begi

the pity,

nother chance But we won't talk any more. Now wrap yourself in that comfo

g about him, muttering now and then a few delirious, incoherent words, and yet by degrees subsiding into a gentle, regular breat