Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-06-19

visiting here were singing the other
night; we were sitting in the moonlight,
and l set the door open for her to listen.
| haven't spoken to MIR. Gervais since
the night Mrs. Whyte SO emphaticslly
announced my intentions. l have left
the room as he entered on his daily call.
| have walked on roads he never takes.
But I never fail to encounter him, and
it makes my blood run cold to look at
him, to recall Mrs. Whyte's lesson, to
observe his aptness at learning. He
did send me some new books-nob!esse
obige: [ told James to put them back
on his hesk. And he put bunch of
violets in my hand as he passed while |
spoke with Miss Julia's doctor: | left
them on the hall table. Sunday before
last he sat in the great square pew,
where he could look me full in the face;
but after the first | never glanced up,
and last Sunday didn't go to church.
Yet see his troubled ana pale; per-
haps he is to marry Miss Mayne in spite
CT his aversion, and it worries him. All,
that is shameful. I would not have
thought it of one like him-so perfect
as he is, as he is! To-day Mrs. Whyte
casually remarked to Miss Julia that
she thought Gervais would go to Europe
if he married Miss Mayne. He speaks
all the modern languages" said she.
"That is an advantage SAID I; for
his future wife can not even speak En-
glish."
81 am glad" said Miss Julia, after
ward, "that there's some one beside me
not afraid of Mrs. Whyte. Not that I'm
not afraid of her: | often feel like COW,
ering and whimpering when she opens
the door. But [ call up all my nerves
instead, and snap at her."
at isn't right" I said; and I'm scr.
ry | am so i'll natured. But who could
help it?"
Nobody, my child, And you're not
| ill-natured-you'r perfection"
And 1 think she really believes it. But,
as said, we were sitting in the moon.
light, listening to the singing, when !
saw shadow in the door, and Mr.. Ger
vais came in and shut it behind him.
"Now you've shut out the music
said Miss Julia.
"Do you call that music?' he asked.
"Antoine here can sing thousand
times better, anyway" said she. can
tome, sing me that German song again. y
Sing for Mr.. Gervais! And who had
never asked me.
you are dreaming, Miss julia" ]
said.
"Let me dream too, Miss Antoine, y
said Mr. Gervais. won't you sing the
song?"
l thought had better sing than make
scene. So did. l sang "Adelaide.'
l don't know why it moved me so; but
1t did. 1t did, although l was SO angry
wish myself. | felt as if were liRger,
ing beside my grave, and saying those
passionate things to my lover, and, to
save me, | couldn't hinder the tears
rolling over my cheeks; and when ]
looked up tEere were tears In his eyes
too; saw them shine in the moonlight
at is divine" said he, coming and ia k
ing my hand. "Good heavens! your
hand is cold as death p
81 have been singing a death-song,
l said.
And then he turned abruptly and
went out of the room. [ suppose he car
not help himself now-he is pledged
but OIL why did ever come here? why
did ever come here? why did [ even
come here?
"You were singing death-song, and
your voice sounded like an angels,
said Miss Julia. 81 wish you could have
seen yourself, with your black hair a1C
your blue eyes, and the tears falling il
the moonshine, and the purple shadow
of the room about you. think Ger
vais is in love with you, Antoine"
cousin julia" cried harsh voice
as the Duchess of Mangel-Wurzel sailed
in, 81 will be obliged to you to cease
such childish talk. You may as vel
understand, once for all, that 3ervais is
to marry very different"
"Hoity-toity !" cried Cousin Julia. 81
will be obliged to you to leave my room. ,
And if the Duchess of Mangel- Wurzel
had not obeyed at once, smart tap o
the crutch would have hurried her. She
went, without doubt, to tell Gervai,
what we were talking of.
"That surprises you," said Miss Julia
odd you think this is Mrs. Whyte'
house? Well, it's not. It's my house
while / live, and then it's the Alton Bay
Lock Insurance Company's." Cousin
Julia's mind doesn't wander as much as
it did when she was alone so much.
Il know all about it," said [.
"That's good" said she. 81 wanted
you to be informed there was no for
tune to be had from me-"
"And, Miss julia" said [, "have vol
ever told them about me and Care
cross ?"
"Not one word" said she. Dear lit
tie Miss Julia [ couldn't have believes
| would care about her so.
The next day was St. Valentines
The mail was late, and the young ladies
fiocked into the hall when the bas
came, and they had handfuls Of 6Rets
dOu9. was looking for my weekly let
tiers from Craecross, and leaning over
the balustrade. "Why don't you have
some valentines, Miss Purcell? p CRIED
Miss Mayne, holding up her pack. JUS
then James put my letter into my
hand, and | went back. But it wasn't
my Carecross letter. 1t was letter
from Mr.. Gervais--I knew his peculiar
hand. What could he have to say tC
me? Nothing! slipped it unopened
into another envelope, directed it tc
choice. | should despise myself
oh, to think to think that I
March 1O.-Poor Miss Julia's heart
disease, that has kept her in her chain
for thirty years, gave her release thi:
morning. She died at sunrise. Last
night cry awoke me, and hand or
my shoulder, and voice far off crying
Follow mel" I threw on my MranneI