Cord and Creese
Page 53
CHAPTER LIII.
THE COTTAGE.
When Despard had bound Clark he returned to look after Langhetti. He layfeebly and motionless upon the ground. Despard carefully examined hiswounds. His injuries were very severe. His arms were lacerated, and hisshoulder torn; blood also was issuing from a wound on the side of hisneck. Despard bound these as best he could, and then sat wondering whatcould be done next.
He judged that he might be four or five miles from Denton, and saw thatthis was the place to which he must go. Besides, Beatrice was there,and she could nurse Langhetti. But how could he get there?--that was thequestion. It was impossible for Langhetti to go on horseback. He triedto form some plan by which this might be done. He began to make a sortof litter to be hung between two horses, and had already cut down withhis knife two small trees or rather bushes for this purpose, when thenoise of wheels on the road before him attracted his attention.
It was a farmer's wagon, and it was coming from the direction of Denton.Despard stopped it, explained his situation, and offered to pay anything if the farmer would turn back and convey his friend and hisprisoner to Denton. It did not take long to strike a bargain; the farmerturned his horses, some soft shrubs and ferns were strewn on the bottomof the wagon, and on these Langhetti was deposited carefully. Clark,who by this time had come to himself, was put at one end, where hesat grimly and sulkily; the three horses were led behind, and Despard,riding on the wagon, supported the head of Langhetti on his knees.
Slowly and carefully they went to the village. Despard had no difficultyin finding the cottage. It was where the letter had described it. Thevillage inn stood near on the opposite side of the road.
It was about nine o'clock in the evening when they reached the cottage.Lights were burning in the windows. Despard jumped out hastily andknocked. A servant came. Despard asked for the mistress, and Beatriceappeared. As she recognized him her face lighted up with joy. ButDespard's face was sad and gloomy. He pressed her hand in silence andsaid:
"My dear adopted sister, I bring you our beloved Langhetti."
"Langhetti!" she exclaimed, fearfully.
"He has met with an accident. Is there a doctor in the place? Send yourservant at once."
Beatrice hurried in and returned with a servant.
"We will first lift him out," said Despard. "Is there a bed ready?"
"Oh yes! Bring him in!" cried Beatrice, who was now in an agony ofsuspense.
She hurried after them to the wagon. They lifted Langhetti out and tookhim into a room which Beatrice showed them. They tenderly laid him onthe bed. Meanwhile the servant had hurried off for a doctor, who soonappeared.
Beatrice sat by his bedside; she kissed the brow of the almostunconscious sufferer, and tried in every possible way to alleviate hispain. The doctor soon arrived, dressed his wounds, and left directionsfor his care, which consisted chiefly in constant watchfulness.
Leaving Langhetti under the charge of Beatrice, Despard went in searchof a magistrate. He found one without any difficulty, and before an hourClark was safe in jail. The information which Despard lodged against himwas corroborated by the brands on his back, which showed him to be a manof desperate character, who had formerly been transported for crime.
Despard next wrote a letter to Mrs. Thornton. He told her aboutLanghetti, and urged her to come on immediately and bring Edithwith her. Then he returned to the cottage and wished to sit up withLanghetti. Beatrice, however, would not let him. She said that noone should deprive her of the place by his bedside. Despard remained,however, and the two devoted equal attention to the sufferer. Langhettispoke only once. He was so faint that his voice was scarce audible.Beatrice put her ear close to his mouth.
"What is it?" asked Despard.
"He wants Edith," said Beatrice.
"I have written for her," said Despard.
Beatrice whispered this to Langhetti. An ecstatic smile passed over hisface.
"It is well," he murmured.