StoryFen

"What shall I do?" exclaimed Mr. Etheridge. Stella came to him quickly, with a little cry of dismay. "What is it, uncle? Are you ill--is it bad news? Oh, what is the matter?" And she looked up into his pale and agitated face with anxious concern. His gaze was fixed on vacancy, but there was more than abstraction in his eyes--there was acute pain and anguish. "What is it, dear?" she asked, laying her hand on his arm. "Pray tell me." At the words he started slightly, and crushed the telegram in his hand. "No, no!" he…