Beulah - Page 181/348

"You have had one of those attacks, though; I see from your face.

Has it passed off entirely?"

"No; and I want to be quiet. Beulah is going to read me to sleep

after a while. You may go down now."

"Beulah, you will be with us to-morrow, I suppose?"

"Yes."

"I am sorry I am obliged to dine out; I shall be at home, however,

most of the day. I called the other evening, but you were not at

home."

"Yes; I was sorry I did not see you," said Beulah, looking steadily

at his flushed face and sparkling eyes.

"Dine out, Eugene! For what, I should like to know?" cried Cornelia,

raising herself in her chair and fixing her eyes impatiently upon

him. "Henderson and Milbank are both here, you know, and I could not

refuse to join them in a Christmas dinner."

"Then why did you not invite them to dine at your own house?" Her

voice was angry; her glance searching.

"The party was made up before I knew anything about it. They will

all be here in the evening."

"I doubt it!" said she sneeringly. The flush deepened on his cheek

and he bit his lip; then, turning suddenly to Beulah, he said, as he

suffered his eyes to wander over her plain, fawn-colored merino

dress: "You have not yet heard Netta sing, I believe!"

"No."

"Where is she, Cornelia?"

"I have no idea."

"I hope my sister will be well enough to take part in the tableaux

to-morrow evening." Taking her beautifully molded hand, he looked at

her anxiously. Her piercing, black eyes were riveted on his

countenance, as she answered: "I don't know, Eugene; I have long since abandoned the hope of ever

being well again. Perhaps I may be able to get down to the parlors.

There is Antoinette in the passage. Good-night." She motioned him

away.

He kissed her tenderly, shook hands a second time with Beulah, and

left the room. Cornelia bowed her head on her palms; and, though her

features were concealed, Beulah thought she moaned, as if in pain.

"Cornelia, are you ill again? What can I do for you?"

The feeble woman lifted her haggard face, and answered: "What can you do? That remains to be seen. Something must be done.

Beulah, I may die at any hour, and you must save him."

"What do you mean?" Beulah's heart throbbed painfully as she asked

this simple question.