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The Allen House by T. S. (Timothy Shay) Arthur
page 8 of 310 (02%)
the mantlepiece, and then to the window. All was still again for
some minutes. My heart beat like a hammer, as one vague suggestion
after another floated through my mind. Then he crossed the room with
a slow step; turned and went back again; and so kept on walking to
and fro. I listened, waiting for the sound to cease; nut he walked
on and on, backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards, tramp,
tramp, tramp, until it seemed as if every jarring footfall was on my
heart. Oh, Doctor! I never had anything to affect me so before in my
whole life. An hour passed, and still he walked the floor of his
room. I could bear it no longer, and went and called to him. But he
seemed deaf, and made no reply. I rattled at the lock and called
again and again. Then he came close to the door, and said, speaking
a little impatiently for him--

'Mother! Mother! For Heaven's sake don't trouble me! I don't feel
just right, and you must let me alone for the present.'

"Well, he kept on walking for an hour longer, and then everything
was still in his room for the night. This morning on trying his door
it was unfastened. I went in. He was lying in bed wide awake. But,
oh! such a change as I saw in his face. It was colorless as on the
evening before; but less expressive of emotion. A dead calm seemed
to have settled upon it. I took his hand; it was cold. I pressed his
forehead; it was cold also. 'Henry, my son, how are you?' I asked.
He did not reply; but looked in my face with a cold, steady gaze
that chilled me. 'Are you sick, my son?' He merely shook his head
slowly. 'Has anything happened? What has happened?' I pressed my
question upon him; but it was of no use. He would not satisfy me. I
then asked if he would not rise. 'Not yet,' he said. 'Shall I bring
you some breakfast?' 'No--no--I cannot eat.' And he shook his head
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