Rolling Stones Page: 215

                                
Lord OUaI',,rl.'s (' 'uS'

II
A carriage drove rapidly up the avenue and stopped at
the door. Sir Everhard FitzArmond, the famous Londlo
physician, who had been telegraphed for, alighted and
quickly ascended the marble steps. Lady Oakhurst met
him at the door, her lovely face expressing great anxiety
and grief. "Oh, Sir Everhard, I am so glad you have
come. IHe seems to be sinking rapidly. Did you bring
the cream almonds I mentioned in the telegram?"
Sir Everhard did not reply, but silently handed her a
package, and, slipping a couple of cloves into his mouth,
ascended the stairs that led to Lord Oakhurst's apartmenlli.
Lady Oakhurst followed.
Sir Everhard approached the bedside of his patient and
laid his hand gently on this sick man's diagnosis. A slhwdh
of feeling passed over his professional countenance as ]!I
gravely and solemnly pronounced  t lCe.s word; : "  l
your husband has croaked."
Lady Oakhurst at first did ilot .inprhienld lis tI'chnli,':
language, and her lovely mouth let up for a momellt n!I
the cream ahnlmonds. But soon his meaning flashed upon
her,andshe seized an axe that her husband was accustom l
to keep by his bedside to mangle his servants with, a d
struck open Lord Oakhurst's cabinet containing his pri-
vate papers, and with eager hands opened the document
which she took therefrom. Then, with a wild, unearthly
shriek that would have made a steam piano go out behind a
barn and kick itself in despair, she fell senseless to the floor.
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