"There's not a minute to lose," she said. "Even now it may be too late to raise the poor creetur to life again, so low as she has sunk." CHAPTER XIV. Farmer Thorn stepped out of the gate, and was about to proceed on his way, when his attention was arrested by the rather unusual sight of a gentleman tearing madly along the road on a fine black horse. The farmer was so impressed with the parting injunction of his wife as to the necessity of a physician's immediate presence, that a wild fancy that this hurrying horseman might belong to the medical fraternity darted directly into his mind. He accordingly lifted his hand as a signal for the impetuous rider to pause. The gentleman checked his impatient steed, and inquired with a smothered oath. "What the deuce is your business with me? I'm in a devil of a hurry!" "I mistrusted you might be a doctor?" said the farmer, inquiringly. "The devil! Who's sick?" was the exceedingly civil rejoinder. "A strange lady that we found in the road this morning. She's like to die," said Mr. Thorn. In the twinkling of an eye the rider was off his horse, with the bridle thrown over his arm. "Yes, I'm a doctor," he said, briskly. "Here, tie up my horse, and let me see the patient at once." Mr. Thorn was so impressed by the confident air of the man that he readily obeyed the somewhat arrogant command, and Mrs. Thorn and Jennie were somewhat surprised at his quick return, accompanied by an utter stranger. "I met a doctor right at the gate, wife," he explained; "so I did not go for Dr. Pillsbury." "Here's your patient, sir," said Mrs. Thorn, turning back the gay patchwork counterpane, in which she had carefully enveloped the unconscious Queenie. What was her surprise to see him fall upon his knees and clasp his hands, while his dark, handsome features became luminous with mingled joy and sorrow. "Oh, my dear sister, my sweet, unhappy girl!" he exclaimed, "is it thus I find you. Oh! madam, is she indeed dead?" he inquired, turning sadly to Mrs. Thorn. "Her heart beats just a little, sir," said Mrs. Thorn, looking at him in surprise. "Do you know the lady, sir?" asked Jennie Thorn, a little timidly. The man turned around, and looked at the farmer's exceedingly pretty daughter with a furtive look of admiration. Instead of answering her he spoke to the farmer. "Your daughter, I suppose, sir?" "Yes, sir, my daughter Jennie," said the farmer, with a glance of pride at his pretty daughter. "She's been out at service this three years, sir, but at present she's out of a place." "Ah!" he said, politely; then turning back to the motionless form before him, he said: "Yes, Miss Jennie, I know this lady. She is my own sister. Unfortunately she is insane--driven mad by an unhappy love affair. She persists in dressing herself in white and calling herself a bride. This morning, just before daybreak, she escaped from us, and I have been seeking her everywhere. It was a fortunate chance that led me here.