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��MARY'S REWARD.
��was rivalled by the gleaming whiteness of the cold, dead face. Kneeling by her side was the form of his sister. She was calm now, but it was the calmness of de- spair. Eugene saw all this at one glance, and a groan that seemed to come from the depth of his heart burst from the pale lips and told Mary of his presence there. She sprang to her feet, turning toward him.
"Oh, Mary, my sister, would I were dead too!" he groaned, as he staggered into the room and sank down by his dead mother's side, weeping bitter, passionate tears, begging her to speak to him once more — to forgive him. In vain Mary be- sought him to arise, to calm himself— the dawning day found him still there, burn- ing with the fever that was consuming him. The disgrace that awaited him, the anguish that greeted him, together with the exposure out in the storm, had done their work, and a brain fever was the re- sult.
CHAPTER IV.
Two weeks have passed since the events related above. There had been a quiet funeral, and the body of Mrs. Ross had been placed in the tomb. It had been her request to be laid in the ceme- teiynear her old home at Maplewood, be- side her husband, but Eugene's terri- ble illness had prevented, therefore they had placed the body in a tomb, and awaited the coming of summer before laying her in her last resting-place. Eu- gene still hovered between life and death, and Mary's sweet face grew daily more pale and wan. Mrs. Wilmot, a true and tried friend, still remained with the worn- out girl.
One afternoon, as Mary sat by her brother's bedside, Mrs. Wilmot entered the room — the sitting room had been con- verted into a sick room — and approached Mary, saying in a low voice :
" Mary, Mr. Carr awaits you in the parlor."
Mary arose, and motioning the lady to the seat she vacated, glided from the room. As she entered the parlor, Theo- dore arose from a seat near the window and advanced to meet her. He greeted her warmly, saying, as he led her to an easy chair :
��'• You are looking pale and ill , Mary." His dark, handsome face grew sad as he gazed into the worn, white face of the girl.
" Mr. Carr, I have sent for you that I might learn the meaning of my brother's wild ravings, and also to know if my worst feats are realized. This morning I accidentally found a letter which was addressed to Mr. Jacob Bartlett of this city. I opened it, as it was not sealed, and I thought it might throw some light upon his strange and to me incomprehen- sible words, and I found your signature at the bottom of the sheet. In it you stated that you would send by the bear- er, Eugene Ross, the sum of two thou- sand dollars which was his — Mr. Bart- lett's— due. Will you tell me if he car- ried the money to the gentleman, or — " she paused, and her head drooped upon her hands, while heavy sobs shook her frame.
" Miss Ross — Mary — I would have spared you all knowledge of this if I could have done so. Believe me, I would rather lose twice the amount than see you sutler like this."
" Did he lose the money at, the gaming table, or was he robbed while intoxicat- ed?" she demanded, raising her face again in its almost deathly pallor.
For a moment Theodore hesitated, then, deeming it best to tell the truth at once, he said sadly :
" He lost it at the gaming table, Mary, but do not let this worry you. If he lives he may be able to repay me; at any rate, I shall never trouble him or you for it. I shall never miss it, Mary, so do not take this to heart so deeply."
Mary arose slowly to her feet and held out her hand to Theo. with a sweet, wo- manly gesture peculiarly her own, and then said firmly :
'•You say you will never trouble us for it. Do you think I could rest easy with such a burden upon me? Wait a little, until- Eugene is better, or — "' she paused a moment, her voice faltering, then she resumed more firmly, " As soon as possible you shall be repaid. This house must be sold, and I hope it will bring enough to pay all debts. I thiuk It will ;" then, seeing the look of sorrow
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