“Mamma, mamma!� cried little Robbie, frantic with alarm, trying to open her eyes with his little brown fingers. “Mamma! Is she dead?�
“No, Robbie, not dead. Oh, my child!� cried Alice; “if Mark would only come!�
“Uncle Mark is coming,� cried Robbie, and Alice lifted her head with a silent prayer of thanksgiving as she heard the sound of horses’ footsteps over the soft earth.
“How glad I am you’ve come!� she sobbed, as a few moments later he reached her side. “What can have happened to poor Nellie? Some dreadful news, I’m afraid.�
Mark lifted the letter, which still remained in her nerveless fingers. An enclosure fell from it to the ground. He picked it up and hastily looked it over. It was evidently a legal document, and as he read the first line his face grew pale with surprise and anger.
“Great Scott! What is this! Oh, my poor little girl!� And the great-hearted Mark Cramer turned away his head and groaned aloud. He turned to see Elinor staring at him with rigid eyes, full of wonder.
“What has happened, Mark—Alice? Oh, I know, I know!� and again the blue eyes were covered with the heavy eyelids. Then Mark lifted her in his arms, and bearing her as lightly as though she were a child, he carried her into the cabin and laid her upon a couch.
“Poor child, poor child!� he muttered. “It is her only chance of forgetfulness. It would be better almost if she never wakened.�
“Mark Cramer, will you tell me what has happened?� cried Alice, who had followed him in and now stood holding Robbie’s hand, her eyes dilated and expectant. Mark hesitated, but finally said through closed teeth:
“That paper is a copy of a bill of divorcement from Nellie.�