Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-07-14

hurt us with his angry look? Oh, dear,
how nice 1t is to lie down. / am so
tired, and baby is so cold; but | think
| can sleep now little and-forget."
She was half asleep already; the
| heavy lids had dropped together, the
small, pale face had dropped down
ward upon the little downy head that
lay against her bosom.
Her husband must be sent for"
said resolutely, when we found our
selves once more alone; and glanced
at an envelope l had taken from the
strangers pocket:
"MRs. TREMAYNE,
"Grantley Lodge,
"Grantley."
Mary stared at me aghast.
"Her husband, who hates her, and
would have killed her baby. Oh, John,
you would not be 80 cruel! She seems
so frightened Of him poor little thing
You may be sure he is some horrid
wicked tyrant. And if she really
killed her baby-Oh, dear, how sad it
is! Whatever will become of her?"
but, my dear child, if she has a
husband or friends we must restore her
to them. Why, she is little more than
a child! It's very strange, very, and
sad; but the mystery must be cleared
and the baby buried"
Mary still pronounced me cruel and
unfeeling beyond anything she could
have conceived.
"Of course her husband is madman
who will murder her as soon as he gets
her into his hands You know, John,
that husbands, are always numbering
their wives"
"Middle-aged wives. dear, or elderly,
whose lives are heavily insured. shall
telegraph at once"
''Then her death will be at your door
sir-mind thatp And too indignant
to waste upon me more words, away
went Mary to take last peep at our
own sleeping babes, at the dead baby,
about which there was so much mys-
terry, and the poor young mother whom
she had doomed to violent death.
She was still bending over her, and
had called me up to the bedside to no
tice the extraordinary length of the
lashes, and the beauty of the face in
repose, when we were startled by a
KNOCK at lne IrOnt uOOr
cts the husband; l know it is. Oh,
John, don't betray her; don't give her
up; you wouldn't be so cruel"
Nonsense, child; watch by her till
l return. If she awakes, say nothing
about"
"Her husband, as if l should"
Our household having long since re-
tired, long, indeed, before my return,
myself opened the door.
The street-lamp dimly lighted two
figures; one tall, stout and muttled.
''Mr. Merton?"
| answered in the Affirmative
"You have kindly given shelter to a
lady ?"
"Just so.
The speaker nodded to his compan-
ion, who touched his hat and vanish
ed.
The other stranger now entered the
hall and grasped my hand.
"Mr. Tremayne?' | asked hesitating-
ly.
"Capt. Tremayne. How is she?"
"Asleep under my wife's care-sleep-
ing as peacefully as a child"
| l.
an hour--iE such state"
/ saw long shudder run through
the tall, powerful frame.
"And the child?' he added, after a
pause, in horror-stricken whisper.
''She had it with her?''
/ hardly knew what to answer; but
he had thrown of his heavy ulster and
travelling cap, and now stood before
me as handsome and pleasant and
honestlooking young fellow as ever
saw, and my heart warmed to him.
! He was no assassin, or ruffian, or cow
ardly bully, whatever Mary might say.
The shadow of great horror that lay
| in the blue, mellow eyes had been laid
| there by terror, not crime.
''The child is Dead l said softly.
1t died two days ago--died suddenly
in commissions in her arms, and the
shock turned her brain. She was do
ing so well, poor little thing; but after
ward she grew delirious, and in her
rawlings she accused herself and me.
/ could do nothing; she would not lave
me near her; but beat me OFT with
her hands, as she could not bear the
sight of me. And | was so fond OF her,
and she of mel" Here the man broke
down. He walked to the window, then
turned and asked abruptly, May l go
to herr
thought of Mary, and hesitated.
"She is sleeping so peacefully Just
now: and if she awoke suddenly and
saw you"
'+She shall not see me-" he broke in
eagerly. 81 will be so quiet But l
must see her. | nursed her through a
| lono Illness a year AGO. and she would