Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-19

WITHOUT Iatuef OF notfs2T, brother or sister,
The blood Of my family did not flow in an7
living veins but my own. had once loved,
but she who gained the empire Of M heart
proved false and unworthy; and I then dis
covered that knowledge, without a motive to
employ it, is as impotent to bless, or even
| please, as would be pile of dried timber to
warm the shivering wretch who had not the
means to kindle fire.
u therefore submitted INCREASINGLY to the
natural ravages of age, cold, hunger, toll and
WEAKNESS of the world The result was the
frail, helpless old man who came one night to
your gate"
And what has happened since your arri-
val at Horribly, to render that desirable which
before was Indifferent, if not abhorrent. to
YOU? The palmer gazed straight into the
lady's eyes as he replied, and she felt quick
electric thrill dart through every nerve and
fibre of her frame.
Since then, o most noble and beauteous.
and yet most abused lady, have seen one
whose eyes have rekindled the extinguisbed
fires Of my youth-one whose voice is sweeter
than the nightingale's and whose beauty is as
the sun in the heavens, warming and illumin-
ing all that it shines upon. Lady, | have
seen you and since then | have learned to
prize the knowledge which before had des-
pissed"
The lady of Horribly blushed; pretended to
be--nay, in a certain sense, really was-an.
cry, and told the cunning palmer that he must
never again presume to talk of such things
in her presence.
But the palmer saw the advantage he had
gained; and, like daring, INSCRIPTIONS mis-
creant as he was, he pushed the advantage to
the utmost.
On their way back to the castle, he in
stllled into her ear the fatal poison of zeal
ousy. He told her that there were fair la
dies at King Henry's Court, and that, to the
destinations Of one Of these, not to his soyer-
eign's command, the prolonged and unexpect-
ed absence Of her lord was attributable, The
lady either was, or affected to be, incredu.
Ious. She would not believe any evil of her
lord
Then it was that, upon their return, he. by
means OF some very simple optical inst u
ments, and rough drawing of man and wo-
man, pretended to give ocular demonstration
of the unfaithtGlness Of her husband.
Why prolong our tale Of woman's weak.
ness andmans viliainy? The lady of Horn
by fell, and became the willing, happy para
mour Of the palmer.
In the meantime, Reginald St Quintys had
transacted his business in London, and. after
return to the castle. Previous to setting out
on his homeward journey, he dispatched
messenger to inform his wife of the time
when she might expect to see him. She was
greatly troubled at this announcement: but
the palmer gave her all the comfort which he
could, by his assurance that their intercourse
was not known, Or even suspected, by any
one.
Two days and nights of the time appointed
for the husbands arrival had still to expire.
when Reginald st. QUintys with his attend
ants, arrived at an hostelro by the side Of the
Aire.
Here he intended to put up for the night,
and had alighted and taken possession of his
apartment when word was brought to him
that venerable pilgrim, lying sick-perhaps
dying-wished earnestly to speak with him
The Lord Of Horribly was much surprised at
the message, but he almost instantly fastened
to obey it.
When he entered the room where the pill
grim was laid, feeble voice thanked him,
and told him to approach the bed. Having
done this he beheld an old man of venerable
and even majestic presence-pale, painting
for breath, and seemingly not far from the
gate Of death.
d" | heard your name mentioned by some
had heard my prayers, which were to see and
speak with you before quitting this earthly
scene"
Reginald St. Quiptys expressed his extreme
surprise.
" l am" said the pilgrim, messenger from
your brother"
my brother!" exclaimed the Lord of
Hornby in surprise.
Yes, your brother, but pray do not inter
rupt me, for my breath is scant, and I may
not be able to deliver my message. Your
brother is captive to the Sedan Of Egypt !;
he is well treated and may be ransomed-
This [ was commissioned to inform you"
Reginald could no longer restrain himself
but straightway related to the pilgrim how a
holy palmer came to Horribly and delivered
unto him similar message, together with
certain tokens which proved him to be the
accredited agent Of his brother.
That" said the PROSTATE pilgrim, "must
be the false palmer who accompanied me part
of the way, learned my secrets and my mis-
sion, then set upon me, robbed, and then, as
he thought murdered me. But the kind souls
who found me, add the generous hospitality
which | had experienced here, have frustra-
ted his wicked design, and have lived to ex-
ecute my promise to your valiant brother"
A fearful light flashed upon the brain of
Reginald. He knew that he had been har-
boring an impostor under his roof
"To horse-to horse !" was the loud and
| imperative cry.
But there was only one fresh horse availa-
BILE, and that he took and set forth alone
He rode all night and next day Next
night he arrived after the inmates of HOmbv
had retired to rest. But there was a secret
passage which enabled the excited husband
to find his way into his wife's bed-chamber ;
and there he beheld a sight which more than
realized his very worst apprehensions But
the impostor anticipated the vengeance of
the injured husband. With the alertness of
a tiger the false palmer sprang to his feet
and seized dagger which lay on the table,
and with the quickness Of lightning sheathed
it in the heart of the Lord Of Horribly
Reginald st. Quintys fell with groan
across the bed, and his hearts blood bathed
his unfaithful spouse.
Her agony was intense, and her horror of
herself and her paramount, as the author of
the fearful deed, even more so. But she did
not give expression to her feelings, either in
words or tears. When she recovered from
her first Supplying terror of the crime, she
was pale, calm, and passionless as a marble
statue.
Her seducer foolishly attributed this de-
meanor TO Indifference to her murdered lord
He then unfold.d his real character and
future plans to the wretched woman.
q am" he said, the real heir and right
full owner of Horribly. Your dead husband,
who was my cousin, usurped and possessed nv
inheritance. As for his brother, he will new
er return from his captivity; and even if he
did, l shall be too strong in the kings favor
to be dispossessed by him. | therefore shall