Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-08-14

u. "
God, this also +" And she fell faintinp
ut his feet
Fritz turned and looked at her. and
then, as if afraid of himself. strobe t.
the bell-rope, and, summoning a servant
with apparent unconcern, babe him re-
move the fainting woman to her apart
ment, ordering that, should she ask for
message from him, she should be given
note he would presently write, and
then be sped on her way with every COM
fort and dispatch.
one refuge gone, to whom, like prodi-
gal, she was returning to crave forgive
ness, and to pray him to grant home
and his blessing, if not to her. at least
to her unoaending child. Where should
she now turn? Led away by childish
vanity, she had listened to the promises
of the young Count Dona that he would
make her lady and elevate her to his
own rank. Firmly believing the mock
ceremony that had taken place to have
been true marriage, on his subsequent
desertlon and her consequent cruel dis
Illusion she had bravely struggled to
gain her own and her child's living, and
for years had sought by steady work and
exemplary conduct to deaden the shame
that preyed upon her heart, till the little
story becoming known in the little COM
munity where she had sought refuge,
she was forced in her despair to go
away, which led her to seek once more
the love and protection of her fathers
roof.
Without taking into accout the rigor-
GUS season of the year, the impossible
state of the roads, or her own slender
resources, she had hastily put together
her few belongings, and with her child
In her arms had set forth In o condition
OF half.dream, with only sense enough
to cover her little one from the cold and
TO ask her way, till, wandering she knew
not how long, the snow clogged her
footsteps, the chill air benumbed her,
and she kew nothing till she found
herself III th' forester's house. "Fritz's
house." she moaned, as she lay pros
trate on her bed in an agony of grief and
despair.
AS she lay thus, Barbara, the servant,
came into the room, carrying the child
In her arms.
Madame" she said, "the little one
is surely very sick; her face burns with
fever, and she is moaning, as ii in pain.
See, she does not even ask to go to you. p"
Kathleen was at her side instantly.
She seized the child, and. pressing it
convulsively to her heart, "Oh, my
darling" y she cried, ado not you, too,
leave me Barbara" she said, address,
ing the woman, 81 cannot have her
sick. must leave this house this very
night. l must go.
Then, madame, you will imperil the
little ones life, for she is sickening of
child's illness, and will require careful
nursing and rest. Tile Her Forster will
never allow you to go, madame. You
do not know how good he is. If he
knows the child is sick he will insist on
you remaining" And before Kathleen
could prevent her the woman had gone.
Kathleen knelt down by the bed, en-
clrcllng her child i'll her arms. Pres
emily firm step passed along the floor.
She did not need TO look up. She knew
who stood there
Kathleen he said, and his voice
sounded softer ana husllier than it had
the short hour before; Kathleen, YOU
must stay You must not inlpenl Your
child's life by going. We shall not meet
any more than we did before, for had
you not sought me we had neither of us
known that tho same roof sheltered us
two"
There was silence in the room, save
for the little ones means then "If
you have any-any oHe--whom your long
absence will render anxious ! will send
messenger, if You VIII tell me to whom"
The great leads stood on Fritz's fore
head. Ii had cost him much to say
this.
" have no one but my child"
A thrill OF joy transhxed him at this
answer. He steadied his voice:
g You are. then, widow?"
She raised her head slowly, with her
eyes on his, which watched her with
nameless fascination
81 was never a wife," she said,
/" though | believed was" and dropped
her head again.
He stood in silence over her. His
frm-set mouth worked ominously; he
clenched his hands; some storm was
brewing within him, but he beat it down.
Finally he said, gravely:
"The doctor will be here tomorrow.
Your child shall lack for nothing May
she be spared to you. Farewell p He
turned to leave the room.
Fritz" she cried, holding out her
clasped hands imploringly toward him;
" Fritz, do not leave me-" for she felt
this to be farewell forever and vet she
knew that he loved her still, and she
chung to him and could not bear that he
should leave her thus.
He paused with his hand on the lock
of the door. Then, coming toward her
and resting it gently on her head,
&c Hush," he said, "you will disturb
your child, and opening the door he
quietly left the room.
After this Fritz went steadily and
sternly about his daily work. He never
saw Kathleen, but he understood that a
fearful time was ensuing, and that she
battling with death for the possession
of her child, whose disease had been
pronounced scarlet-fever, of the most
virulent type. He still loved her blind
ly, madly the sight of her had brought
him back from death to life he knew
her free and vet he hesitatcd. How
could he forget all that was past with
the child always before him? A fierce
jealousy consumed him. The child
might die This thought he brooded
over till it became his one wild hope and
desire.
One day he met Kathleen in the pas
sage. He was startled by the change in
her. Her face was wan and pinched
with care her eyes, unnaturally large,
were dim and sunken with sleeplessness
and weeping. Der whole aspect was
piteous. She chung for support against
the walls as she slowly stumbled along.
When Fritz saw her grief he felt
ashamed of his wicked hope. All his
generous nature sprang up in love and
protection toward her and her little
one.
Kathleen" he said, taking her hand,
/" let me nurse your child with you. l
have had much experience with the sick
1 may be able to help you"
She opened the door and drew him
into the room. The nurse who watched
the child motioned Them to be quiet,
and, as the mother took her place beside
the couch, whispered, "She sleeps
this is the crisis, and left the room.
Kathleen knelt down by the bedside,
leaning her wan cheek on the child's
little hand. A lovely, tender expression
rested ON her face. She was praying.
Fritz stood behind her and looked on.
The child's little face, which he had
seen last so radiant and sunny, was wan
and deathlike. The silken, faxen hair
hung over the pillow, matted and damp,
while the breath came so softly that she