ll about it."

By this time they had reached the Blank House.

They entered and went up into their parlor.

Rose was not there.

"Bless my soul, I hope the poor child is not ill. Go, Cora, and see if
she is in her room, and find out what is the matter with her," said old
Aaron Rockharrt, as he dropped wearily into the big arm chair.

Cora had just come from church, from hearing an eloquent sermon on
Christian charity, so she was in one of her very best moods.

She went at once into the bedroom occupied jointly by herself and her
traveling companion. She found Rose in a wrapper, with her hair down,
lying on the outside of her bed.

"Are you not well?" she inquired in a gentle tone.

"No, dear; I have a very severe neuralgic headache. It takes all my
strength of mind and nerve to keep me from screaming under the pain,"
answered Rose, in a faint and faltering voice.

"I am very sorry."

"It struck me--in the church--with the suddenness of a bullet--shot
through my brain."

"Indeed, I am very, very sorry. You should have told me. I would have
come out with you."

"No, dear. I did not--wish to disturb--anybody. I slipped out
noiselessly--while all were kneeling. No one heard me--no one saw me
except the sexton--who opened--the swing doors--silently to let me
pass."

"You should not have attempted to walk home alone in such a condition.
It was not safe. But I am talking to you, when I should be aiding you,"
said Cora; and she went to her dressing case and took from it a certain
family specific for neuralgic headaches which had been in great favor
with her grandmother. This she poured into a glass, added a little
water, and brought to the sufferer.

"Put it on the stand by the bed, dear. I will take it presently. Thank
you very much, dear Cora. Now will you please close all the shutters and
make the room as dark as a vault--and shut me up in it--I shall go to
sleep--and wake up relieved. The pain goes as suddenly as it comes,
dear," said Rose, still in a faint, faltering and hesitating voice.

Cora did all her bidding, put the tassel of the bell cord in her reach,
and softly left the room.

The chamber was not as dark as a vault, however. Enough of light came
through the slats of the shutters and the white lace curtains to enable
Rose to rise, take the medicine from the stand, cross the floor and pour
it in the wash basin, under a spigot. Then she turned on the water to
wash it down the drain. Then she tur