The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-02-23


Who has taken care of me-? have
had an uncomfortable notion of ghost
hovering about me-for Rachel's death
was in the paper-I saw it with my own
Rachel's daughter has been here
since the first day. You would have
died but for her."
al wish l had, rather than have been
kept alive by one OF that treacherous
brood, Rachers daughter, a thin, col
orless girl, with eyes deep as wells, who
would not do any harm for conscience's
sake, but will take your life in herquiet
way, smiling family at everybody all the
WHILE"
"Rachel's daughter has done nothing
worse than to keep yeur house and
nurse you night and day for a week."
said Shirley severely. III
80 Shirley, my boy, son of my old
ager' cried Miss Temperance in an
asonized tone. have lost you. Ar
thur said those very words Of her moth
er. You have grown to love her."
eyes, have" burst out Shirley,
with the force of torrent breaking
bounds. "She is the one woman OF all
the world to me, and none shall say an
i'll word of her in my hearing"
.Mr. Shirley, YOU are beside your
self" said Rachel, Selling his arm.
"Think of her weakness. Would you
kill her with hard words? am going
away at once, Miss Strong, and l will
never come again until you send for me.
hope you will do me the justice to be-
lieve there has been no love.making over
YOUR sick-bed. This is the first word or
sign that Mr.. Shirley has given of his
love for me-"
She went out quickly, and Shirley's
quick ear heard her mount the stairs.
He gave the quieting draught to his pa
tent which had been left for her to take
when che returned to consciousness.
When Rachel came down Shirley
met her in the hall. She was again
"the girl in grey" with her bag in her
hand.
"If yoa 60 away ! 60 with you" said
Shirley desperately.
"No," said Rachel, "your place is
here. If we belong to each other we
shall meet again."
"Ifr" repeated Shirley contemptu-
ously.
A radiant smile made Rachers face
beautiful for an instant. Shirley became
somehow possessed of both her hands
and drew her toward him with a sort
of awful wonder at his own boldness-
butthe dropping of the lag reused Miss
Temperance
"Shirley, where are you?" she called
ENORMOUSLY. And Shirley obeyed the
call, carrying Rachel's last words in his
heart for his only solace:
"When Miss Temperance can endure
the sight of me will come again."
What dull, homely old room that
sitting-room was, to be sure, when Shir-
lev could 20 back to it, for he found no
Rachel there. and he had no clew to her
destination. He spent the evening in
searching for nurse for Miss Temper.
ance. The bustling, good. natured
neighbor who finally took Rachers
place in the house was a thorn in the
flesh of both of them. Shirley endured
his wretched uncertainty till Miss
Strong was able to sit in her armchair
and knit little protest. He was walk
ing nervously up and down the room
rs his father used to walk the deck
whe nhe met her wistful eyes.
my boy" she said gently.
ats of no use staying here" he said
bending his cheek down to hers.
you can spare me now I'll make thai
visit to Lennox."
"You are going to Rachel?"
al wish were, but l have no ide;
where she is"
"Did she give you no address
"No."
"She must be either NOR or less thar
q woman to hear you say you loved he
and yet 60 away without giving you
chance to say it again."
"She said she would come back wher
you were willing to receive her,"
~ doubt she's more like Arthur
than that wishy-washy mother Of hers
Is she pretty, Shirley"
81 don't know; / never thought o
it," said Shirley, beginning to walk VI
and down again.
Miss Temperance raised her eyebrow
till they were nearly lost in her hair
but she said no more of Rachel, an
made no objection TO Shirley goin
away next day. He was no sooner gone
however; than she drew q little slip o
paper from her knitting basket, and
after studying long time, knitting al
the while, she wrote letter to Rache
The latter had written her address an
stuck it on Miss Strong's knittin
needles, knowing that she would SEQ
find it in that spot, while it would b
safe from Shirley.
On the third day Rachel walke
quietly into the familiar sitting roor
and offered her hand to Miss Tempe
ance, who glared at it over her spect'
cles as if it had been a new kind of Ii
ard, but took it nevertheless.