Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-11-06

j
| iety, she burst into tears when shut the
door on her
Poor Kate those tears were ominors
| In the course of twenty minutes ar o.
| Mr. Quincy, whose wanderings had Grad
| ually subsidized, sank into a sort of siean
and leaving Mrs. Quincy by the he'd I
| went down to tell Kate and get Gun of
tea. The drawingroom door stood aiar
and as | was about to enter, heard Scars,
dalo's voice say in low, caressing tones.
katie, Katie, darling, let me he vour
comforter always. Hush! don't sneak
Think how long l have loved you, and 7
know you love me little. Give me your
hand in token of it, my own, my pets
She was standing by the fire, her arm
on the chimney piece and her gaze bent
upon it-weeping still, | thought The
gas was not yet lighed, and the firelirht
flashed upon the long, sweeping curves of
her 1.-the figure, on the pure, pale oval of
cheek and chin, the waving bands of gold
brown hair. Round all the fair womanlv
form it chung with loving clasp; and
then it leaped out and flung a broad
blaze or the dark, handsome face bend
ing over her. But even as he spoke she
had lifted the slender white hand HANG.
ing so YEARLY at her side, and stretch
ed 1t to him trustfully as child
might have done; and his last words
were said with his arms about her waist
and her sweet pale face hidden on his
breast.
| went away very softly, and did not
ask Tor any tea that evening; but when
Miss Quincy came up stairs about ten
minutes later, there was a new, warm
light in her eyes, which told me that even
if the blow fell which would make her
fatherless, she would not be left as one
utterly bereft of comfort
Mr.. Quincy died a week later. l doubt
If he ever heard Of his daughters engage
ment; and OF course in that season of
trouble nothing was said of it beyond the
family; but though his daughter grieved
bitterly over her fathers death, and work
ed harder than ever to supply his place at
home and abroad, she did not grow any
paler, and the new light never left her ewes.
Lieutenant Scarsdale called every other
day, and | knew that in the midst of her
sorrow there was deep, wonderful hap
piness in her gentle heart-a well spring
of joy, which made her manner to all
around more tender and winning day by
day.
About this time the Hussars were order
ed to Ireland, and for some days after
their departure the tender rose-color faded
out Of the girls cheek; and if one spoke
OF absent friends, there would come lit
tie culver over the sensitive mouth, which
told me of whom she was thinking. Also,
if | was spending the evening there, | no.
ticed that her manner grew a little-just
litt1e-distrdit toward ten O'Clock. She
would turn her head as if listening to the
pOstman's knock, and when it came at
log hrIfr h+ f,,cI
into her face, her lips would part, and even
the busy, quiet fingers tremble till the
maid brought her in the expected letter.
Then, after one little glance at the we'll
loved writing, her hands would close ten
derby over it, the sweet look of peace
would come back to her fair face, and she
would strive by extra cordially and at
tentiOn TO atone for her momentary dis
traction. 1t must be said that, in pity to
her and myself, | never tried her patience
many minutes after the post came in.
am lingering over-long on this part OF
Miss Gurney's story, yet God knows it
lasted brief enough time. How soon he
began to tire Of his love | know not, but
it cannot have been many weeks after it
found its requital. 1t had come to be ar
ranged that they were to be married at
the end of the first years mourning
Friends had offered their gratulations,
and once and again Mrs. Quincy spoke to
me of the impending event, asking me
some advice as to future arrangements,
etc. | think she guessed in some way at
my love for her daughter, though it was
never alluded to, and SO knew [ could
share in her anxiety for the one being left
her. She was weak, clinging woman,
this widow-lady, kind-hearted and pious,
but not gifted with much penetration or
quick feeling; and you may be sure |
never let her know how the subject
| panied me.
1t was in this way that l came to learn
| by and by that Miss Quincy was not as
| happy as heretofore. The mother would
ask me some little question about the
Irish mails, or whether the Fifteenth was
still at the Curragh, showing that they
did not hear as regularly as before; and
| though | stayed purposely after ten on
several evenings, and Kate would watch
for the post as wistfully as ever, no knock
came at the door; and it was piteous to
| see the anxious, beaten look in her face as
the rapid "rat-tat" passed down the
street, dying gradually away in the dis
lance | used to set myself then to amuse
and divert her; but though she answered
with ever-ready sympathy, the paling
cheek and saddened voice showed me a
wound too deep for friendly salve
And it was only three months since her
engagement.
The blow came at last For more than
| six weeks her strength had been visibly
failing; so Visibly, indeed, that it went to
my heart to see the deepening pillows
under the gray eyes, the harrassed, expec-
tant look in the white-rose face. One day
| was driven to mention it to her mother
and then it came out that Lieutenant
Scarsdale's letters, which had been grow
ing briefer and colder for some time, had
of late ceased altogether, although 1t had
come to them through a mutual friend
that he was not only well, but flirting
away as vigorously as ever IN the merry
city of Dublin.
Il wanted her to write sharply to him"
said the mother in her confidence, "or at
least to tell him what people are saying;
but she will not, DIR. Elliott She
says that she knew he was light and
changeable when she accepted him; II
was for that reason chiefly that she hesl-
tated before; and when at last his lmpOr-
tunities prevailed, and she promised to be
his wife, she promised also to trust hlln
through good and i'll report to be patient
and true to him even when he seemed un-
true to her, and never to leave him till he
should bid her do so; and so, Or. Elllott,
she will not even write to him again iest
she should seem distrustful or exactlng
neither will she let any one say word OF
blame of him; and all the time IL is Kill
ing her"