e. She wrote that her niece was ill and had asked
her to write and request him to see Mrs. Lancaster, who would explain
something to him. She did not say what it was. She added that she wished
she had never heard of New York. It was a cry of anguish.

Keith's heart sank like lead. For the first time in his life he had a
presentiment. Lois Huntington would die, and he would never see her
again. Despair took hold of him. Keith could stand it no longer. He went
to Brookford.

The Lawns was one of those old-fashioned country places, a few miles
outside of the town, such as our people of means used to have a few
generations ago, before they had lost the landholding instinct of their
English ancestors and gained the herding proclivity of modern life. The
extensive yard and grounds were filled with shrubbery--lilacs,
rose-bushes, and evergreens--and shaded by fine old trees, among which
the birds were singing as Keith drove up the curving road, and over all
was an air of quietude and peace which filled his heart with tenderness.

"This is the bower she came from," he thought to himself, gazing around.
"Here is the country garden where the rose grew."

Miss Brooke was unfeignedly surprised to see Keith.

She greeted him most civilly. Lois had long since explained everything
to her, and she made Keith a more than ample apology for her letter.
"But you must admit," she said, "that your actions were very
suspicious.--When a New York man is handing dancing-women to their
carriages!" A gesture and nod completed the sentence.

"But I am not a New York man," said Keith.

"Oh, you are getting to be a very fair counterfeit," said the old lady,
half grimly.

Lois was very ill. She had been under a great strain in New York, and
had finally broken down.

Among other items of interest that Keith gleaned was that Dr. Locaman,
the resident physician at Brookford, was a suitor of Lois. Keith asked
leave to send for a friend who was a man of large experience and a
capital doctor.

"Well, I should be glad to have him sent for. These men here are
dividing her up into separate pieces, and meantime she is going down the
hill every day. Send for any one who will treat her as a whole human
being and get her well."

So Keith telegraphed that day for Dr. Balsam, saying that he wanted him
badly, and would be under lasting obligations if he would come to
Brookford at once.

Brookford! The name called up many associations to the old physici