St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-01-13
NUMBER 2.


When Alice found that Hugh was
expected, although Louis and his fa-
ther for reasons they could scarcely
have explained, kept the real reason
of his coming profound secret, she
almost despaired of carrying on her
plans, knowing his weakness of pur-
pose, and the solemn ordeal he would
be subjected to at Louis death-bed.
Trembling for her secret, she still re-
solved to use her influence over him
to the utmost. and in the event of his
denouncing her, to deny evers; thing thing
and throw herself on his undoubted
good character, and near relationship
to Helen, as proofs of her innocence.
Hugh arrived a few days from the
time Of his receiving the summons,
and being told that Louis was asleep,
and his cousin was watching with him,
went into little parlor that was
shown him, to wait for awhile. Louis
was sleeping, and Alice sat by his
side, listening to his short breathing
with an aching heart, wishing that
she had no fearful mystery to separate
her spirit from his, that q wrong so
unnecessary had not been committed,
since it drew Louis no nearer her, and
had woven q web round herself that
tangled her more and more, and must
bring ruin at last, when she heard
Hugh's entrance and inquiry for Louis
and for her. His voice brought back
the sense of her immediate danger,
and the thought of selfpreservation,
and creeping out of the sick room she
went down, to send up domestic,
and then glidcd into the parlor where
Hugh waited. First looking round to
see that no one was near, she threw
herself into his arms with well affected
joy, calling him tender names, and
thanking him for coming to her SO
soon, until the young man was almost
beside himself with happiness. New
er dreaming that she could be over
heard, she charged him not to be in
fluenced by Louis questions to di-
vulge anything, to choose between
her love and future prosperity, and
disgrace and perpetual banishment
from her presence, before he went into
the sick room or answered single
question.
"But it seems awful to lie to a dy-
ing person, Alice,' Hugh said, shud-
dering. "And then, I'm afraid Helen
will die too before this is done with.
She looks dreadfully, and isn't able to
to so out at all now."
"All the better for you and me,
Hugh" Alice said, though her cheek
paled when she said it. "Residcs,
she necdnt have yielded to the temp
tation. 1t was not necessary that she
should have been wicked because VIC
leave her an opportunity"
a. never could understand why or
how she took it SO easily, and why
she wouldn't confess afterward, when
it would have been better for her. |
think there is something you haven't
told me of, Alice"
"Havc you no more confidence in
me, Hugh? Do you dare to suspect
me of anything ?" she said, between
her teeth, rising from his arms, and
standing before him haughtily. "Then.
perhaps, we had better part at once
"Oh, not that, Alice, not that l
will say anything, keep all secret.
You shall dictate anything to me, but
do not give me up"
She would have replied to him, but
at that moment her Uncle stood before
her. "What is the meaning of this,
Alice ?" he asked in voice stern but
trembling.
Alice drew herself up haughtily.
" You have no right to question me.
| am my own mistress, and have
right to do and speak as choose"
she said
"But not to injure and deceive those
who trust in you," Mr. Wetherell re-
piled. "Will you tell me all, Alice,
or must | compel your"
She laughed dcrisively. "You will
hardly institute proceedings against
your own flesh and blood, | think"
she said AS for you, Hugh, remcm-
Der what have told you.'
Hugh looked after her as she swept
past him, and stopped at the foot Of
the staircase to flash back one look
upon him. That look was sufficient.
No commands or entreaties from his
employer could bring him to say any
thing more, and Louis solemn appeal
had no better effect. All depended
now on Helen. A letter was hastily
written, giving her such information
as Mr.. Wetherell had accidentally OBJ
tanned, and asking her to fill up the
blank. In due time an answer was
obtained, but not the one they wished.
Helen was very i'll, and it would be
dangerous to propose any exciting
subject to her, Mrs. Granger said.
She had held out a long time. perhaps,
from the strength Of her constitution,
but had given up at last.
Louis lived but week after the re-
ceipt of this letter, dying so gently
that for some time they thought him
asleep. He had desired to see his
cousin the day before his death, for
she had been refused the privilege of
coming in until she would explain all
she knew Of the affair When she
was so deeply agitated that even Mr..
Wetherell could not but pity her, but
to the last moment of the interview
she would not answer their questions.
IL was so bitter to know that even in
death he loved her rival, and had full
confidence in her innocence, that Alice
would not give him the additional
comfort of certainty, much as she
loved him.
1t was late spring when Louis de-
parted, and Mr. Wetherell at once
started with his remains for home.
He had heard that Helen was better,
and satisfied with that, he scarcely
thought of anything but his great loss
1t seemed to him when he returned to
the dreary house. after laying the low
ed remains beside his wife's that
twenty years had gone over him, since
the summer day when he had driven
up the avenue with Louis, SO much