Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-20

smell tinted ear. he Is fr6Q Ronald |
dearest friend, and be sure he knows
all regarding that little episode there is
to know"
But the only answer the girl vouch-
safed this friendly piece of advice was
a shrug ofthe white shoulders, cleaning
through the black lace Of her gown.
A fortnight passed, and the hotel Cos
sips again found food in Miss Fielding's
latest conquest, for, by this time, so
Max Eliot was doomed.
He understood now the infatuation
that had possession of his friend, not by
experience-for he told himself that
each day he learned to scorn this
woman more-but listening to the low,
musical infections of her voice, and
looking into her eyes, which sometimes
softened to a marvellous softness, he
acknowledged her acting perfect.
Only to him who knew it to be acting
was there involved no danger. but was
he, intrenched in his own fortress, max
ing the girl feel? Was he gaining the
power to made her suffer? Once his,
he would employ it ruthlessly, but first
he must know that he possessed it.
Sometimes he turned in q moment
from warmth into GOODNESS. She made
no comment on his change of mood.
Sometimes he feigned indifference to
her presence Indifferent still, when
the other moths, kept in allegiance by
his superior stronghold, futtered round
the candle; but save by a little, tired
look, he saw from his covert and distant
observation in her eyes, she welcomed
his return to her, all unquestioning his
absence. He found himself growing
irritated, almost angry.
"Will you drive with me this after
noOn?" she asked him, one morning,
eyes," he answered.
And at five o'clock, the perfect little
trap stood waiting its mistress occu-
pancy-the horses paving impatiently,
while the groom held their heads, and
he Longing near, waiting Miss Field
ing's advent.
Fifteen, twenty minutes passed, and
she did not come. The half hour had
struck before, with hasty apology for
her delay, she took her seat, and gath
ering up the reins in her little gloved
hand, gave the ponies an impatient
touch of the whip, which made the
groom's scramble for his place almost
q " aterlOO.
Max, quickly observing her, noted
that her face was unusually pale, and
although there was no redness about
her eyes, he could have fancied there
had been recent tears there. However,
she talked merrily and brightly as was
her wont, and soon the sea air brought
back the color to here cheek, and
chased the lament look of sadness from
her eyes.
''What lovely sky" she exclaimed,
as a sudden turn in the road brought
them IN full view of sky and ocean,
and at that moment the sunset gun
doomed from the fort.
The horses made sharp swerve.
The road was very narrow, with large
bOulders on either side. Almost be-
fore anyone could realize how or when
it was done, the wheel Of the phaeton
had struck one of these, and the girl,
totally unprepared to resist the sudden
shock, was thrown heavily to the
ground. Almost as rapidly, Max was
beside her.
For the instant he thought her dead.
Her head had struck small stone, and
a tiny stream of blood was trickling
from her temple, making her pallor
more CHASTITY. The thought that she
might be dead came to him with
sickening awfulness. Death and this
bright, beautiful being seemed SO wide
asunder; and yet IN q moment, per-
haps, they had been united; but al
most with the dreadful fear came its
relief.
She opened the lovely eyes, and tn e
white lips quivered, while she made a
feeble motion to rise. He drew a
brandy-hask from his pocket, and
made her drink then, when she had
grown a little stronger, he lifted her in
to the carriage, and supporting her
with one arm, he drove slowly home.
AS they approached the hotel, she
called strength and will into action,
and gaining the first entrance, escaped
with but little assistance into the house.
By mutual consent they madeno men
ton of the accident.
For 81 day or two she was confined to
her room but when she reappeared,
save that she was trife paler, She had
never before looked more lovely.
II thank you SO much, Mr.. Elliot, for
your kind care for me-" she said, as
they stood together on the moonlit
piazza.
"Do not mention it." he answered,
coldly.
These past three days had been filled
to him with q strange experience. His
revenge had grown distasteful to him,
he told himself. 1t could not mend
Fred's broken heart, and his own
| could only harbor scorn.
The next week he saw but little of
Miss Fielding. He avoided her where.
ever he could do so, although he noted
that she was growing wan and pale.
'What are you doing, Max Elliot"
asked Mrs. Redfern, one morning, as
she came upon him seated by an open
window of the long drawing-room. 81
told you once that Nora Fielding's
fault lay not in her non-possession of
heart, but that no man had touched
#. could not say that to-day. Have
you no scruples, no remorse?"
None. If what YOU tell me be true,
| should only exult. What could I feel
but scorn for woman who could lead
a man on to wrecking his life at her
feet? But you need have no fear.
Miss Fielding is a capital actress, that
is ALL
"Mark what I say-you will recall
those words" prophesied the little
matron, sweeping angrily away.
Never !" mentally calculated the
man, vaulting through the low window