Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-11-30

70 a set expression or pride and de-
fiance as she rose from her knees. do
not think shall envy you. II St. Law
renee had loyed me. dare say i should
have tired OF him-a poor landscape
painter without a name. am more
lifted for the life have chosen. 1t is
better as it is. think / have been mad
tonight; forget it. and 60 to sleep
again. She took up her lamp as she
spoke. but set it down again, putting
up her hand to her brow on which there
was an expression Of pain. MY head
is dizzy" she said. II dare not be
alone. Let me lie down by you"
Bertha, much alarmed, made room
for her sister beside her. Though she
had no doubt that much Of what Lena
had said had been merely the fevered
imaginings of delirium, yet it betoken-
ed a mind i'll at ease: and, notwith-
standing the dreaded day that was to
seal her sisters fate was now so near,
she vet expected some revelation to
take place, some event to occur, that
would put bar to the marriage, but as
to what it would be she could form no
conjecture. Would it not be well il
Lena should prove to be really suffer-
ing so that the day would have to be
postponed?" she asked herself. Was
She wrong in almost wishing it might
be SOP The night before she had gone
to sleep absorbed in dreams of her own
happiness; now the fears and troubles
arising from what she had observed of
her sisters state of mind, and from the
vague warnings she had received, re-
turned, in full force.
: xtrao
and dressed herself, leaving her sister
still sleeping. She heard Sarah setting
out the breakfast things in the room
below, and then she heard her mother
moving about. Soon after Lena opened
her eyes. Raising herself on her elbow,
she looked bewildered at first on finding
herself in Bertha's bed, and then she
remembered.
''Are you there, Bertha?" she said.
81 think must have had bad dream
last night. was talking nonsense,
wasn't I?,.'
"How do you feel now?" Bertha
asked, coming to her side. Are you
betterp Will you have your breakfast
up-stairs?"
Lena caught at the idea.
4"Yes. bring it to me, that's a dear.
But am quite well now. You must
not think anything of what l have said,
and do not say anything to mamma.
except that my head aches rather and l
want to rest while longer"
"You are certainly not looking your
| best" said Bertha. II will go and get
you a cup of coffee. Stay quietly here;
no one shall disturb you"
Lena went downstairs before one
o'clock, the hour at which Fancourt
usually paid his first visit; but at one
| o'clock Fancourt did not make his ap-
| pearance.
About half-past two Sarah came.into
the small parlor where they were sit
ting in the midst of bridal favors, to say
that a young woman was in the kitchen
| wanting to see Miss Lena"
''She seems quite upset 'm," said Sa-
rah: but she won't tell her business to
none but Miss Dalton, she says"
"Wants to see me? How very odd!''
said Lena, rising and going out.
She soon came back, looking much
disturbed.
ats the strangest thing, mamma y
she said. 81 can't quite make it out
Her mistress is dying, the young woman
says, and has sent her for me. She says
she has something to communicate tC
me or she cannot die in peace. She tolt
the girl to say it was the lady who hat
the opal ring"
dear. dear, how very inconvenient
am sure / cannot manage to go witt
you,n said Mrs. Dalton, fretfully.
II don't know that shall CO." sale
Lena. ut is not very pleasant busines:
to see dying woman"
''Pray go-you do not know what may
depend upon it, Bertha cried. 'Mam
ma, cannot we 60 together? 1 know al
about how to get there-you know
gave lessons once to a pupil at Dorking
Lena, let us go together"
Il don't see what need there is fo
you to excite yourself so much,'' salt
Lena, still hesitating; but the wish t.
gain possession of the real ring deter
mined her-the imitation had not beel
satisfactory. .
"Well, if Bertha goes with you, I d
not see that there can be any objection
and it would be pity not to get tn
ring. hope you'll take. better care Q
it than Bertha did" said Mrs. Dalton
"But what shall say to poor Mr.. Fan
court when he comes?"
'Poor Mr.. Fancourt must consol
himself" Lena replied, with a curl Q
the lip. Eyes, 1 will go. Come, Bel
tha."
Directly. I will be ready as soon a
yeu," Bertha answered.
BY the time the cab arrived they wer
ready. and, taking the young woman
with them, they were driven rapidly O
in order to catch the next train.