The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-07-25
VOLUME 28.7

saw her pale wild face, and interpreted j
to his own satisfaction, and She harnesses
and perplexed as she was, felt comfort am
strength as Lewis put his arm round her
and told her how she had tormented him
and that henceforth he meant to take charg
of her entirely, and not let her sit dreamiu,
by the sea. Poor Lettice the temptation
was sore. Lewis was gentle and humb
that night, and, after all, what right haC
she to exact so much, or why should she b
Jealous Of what had gone before? WoulC
he still care for her if her own story wal
told, and worse still, her heart laid bare
Lettuce thought not; but determined the.
and there to risk it, and confess all at The
first opportunity. Not that night; she mus
wait and tell Mrs. Gawain first, then SUE
would be happier. And in the meantime
Lewis and she would meet as usual; there
would be no engagement, nothing more
| than there was at the present; but he would
stay at home more and when she was at
| the castle he would come to fetch her home:
| for the nights we're dark now, aud Mrs Ga
vain often kept her until the night set in,
aud only let Lefty escape when the Squire
would be returning from shooting. Mrs
]
tice, and now that she was i'll and weak.
Rachel would not allow her niece to thwart
her in her fancy to see her every day, say
ing such lancies were excusable under the
| circumstances.
One night, late in October, Lettice started
for home; she was earlier than usual; the
wind was coming over the bay in fitfu gusts
bringing heavy drops of rain Just as she
turned out Of the grounds into the fields
she met the Squire coming home from shoot
ing
''Its cold lonely walk, Miss Lcttice ="
he said, stopping, while the keeper walked
forward; but Lettuce only dropped curtesy
and passed on. Then he followed her. re
peating the words, but in lower toue, and
adding, How cross you are, Lefty; here
am out all day, wind or rain. to make it
more comfortable for you at the castle, and
even when meet you by chance, and speak
civil word that any man might say, YOU
won't vouchsafe look even What have
done to make you treat me this way?'
'lndeed. don't treat you any way
wong SIR"
Sir" exclaimed Gawain, with an oath;
what do you think | am made of, that you
mock me? You didn't call me sir in the
happy days | am always thinking of aud
curslng myself for having lost the right 10
make you remember. Why don't you speak
Lettice? he went on presently. 'Why
don't you scold, reproach, bully me? | de-
serve it all, for | am "a selfish beast to re-
mind you of old times, and tell you how
miserable am; but | must be selfish still.
| meant to meet you tonight; have some
thing to tell you that you must hear. Will
you stand l.ere a few minutes and listen, or
sit down upon the stile?-it is dry and shell
tered a little from this cursed wind. | wish
could see your face, Lefty; pve not seen
it this week, except in my Dreams and then
it always looks as it did that day sav, you
again on the rocks"
''You wanted to tell me something" said
Lettuce, desperately. All this talk was
play to him, but death to her; she could not
listen to his voice or feel her dress touch
him without the old poison stealing through
her life again. She was weak as a child in
his presence; and in her heart she was wish
ing that Lewis, who generally came to meet
her, would come.
eff heard him coming, | would speak
out,-shame would make me better girl. "
she thought But Lewis did not come, and
Mr.. Gawain told her what he had to say
told her that his wife was dying; that the
doctor, who had seen her the week before,
had confirmed the opinion already given
that she might live until the spring, but
only by going to warmer climate I'VE
must go at once; and, Lefty, he paused,
and drew little nearer; she could feel him
STOPPING over her. and fancied she heard his
heart beating; her own was throbbing so
fast that she had to consider again before
she was quite sure that she had heard his
next words right: "Come with us, Lefty"
he said, speaking low and hurriedly; and
when | am free you shall be my wife!"
The wind was blowing harder than ever,
beating down the slender heads of the young
tir wood through which the path lay, scat
tering their perfume around, and all her life
after watt Of scent from fir plantation
brought back to Lettuce the scene of her
temptation temptation which Providence
suddenly turned aside, for clear upon the
cold blast came the ring of a mans whistle
''Who's that?' asked the Squire, as Lefty
sprang to her feet.
"My cousin Lewis; he always comes to
meet me, said Lettice, a sense of protec
ton coming upon her. although at the same
moment she felt as if she loathed and hated
her cousin; and all the love and old visions
OF happiness flashed up--love and happiness
now offered her; but ere she had time to
think, Gawain had thrown his arm round
her, and pressing his lips to her face, wits
pered passiOnately,-
''Iake care what you do, for, by G.!
am desperate mani | bartered you away
once, for money. but the Mint itself SHALL
not come between us now if can help it "
The whistle was close to them now, and
the footstep audible With a desperate eff.
fort Lettice freed herself from Gawaiu, and
clambered over the stile almost falling into
Lewis's arms, and the Squire heard him ex-
claim,-
"Hallo, Lefty! what a hurry you are in.
Why you are shaking like leaf, darling.
Has anything frightened you? Why didn't
you wait, and I'd have been at the gate
am rather late for the Squire has been up al
the farm, and mother stopped me to tell
how he'd been saying his wife was i'll, auc
had to go away"
And then their voices died away in tn,
distance, and Mr.. GaWaln turned home
wards, coming up with the keeper where h,
had left him a quarter of an hour before
and half inclined to think he had beer
watching him. He gave the man rating
which he did not forget in a hurry, anC
which, curiously enough, raised Lettic
greatly in his opinion, concluding that she
having given the Squire "a setting down,
had thus rufiad his temper
AS they walked on, a figure came SLOUGH
ing along the path close under the hedge
Who's that" said Mr. GawaiD, drawn,
back.
Sam Bach, Sir; he lives up at the farm
and follows Miss Lettice about like a shad
ow'
rs he lover of hers?"
The keeper laughed Hes an idiot, sir
"a madman aud Suffered to run abou
this way p
[ 4, -