Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-03
HER PUNISHMENT.

inquired a feverish voice. at must be
hours since ] sent for him."
''It is only just thirty minutes by the
clock, dear uncle, since John started
to fetch him 7"
The sick man groaned, and moved
uneasily upon his pillow. Perfect sill
ence reigned as the Ormolu clock licked
away fifteen minutes more within that
darkened richly furnished apartment
where old Martin Dillon lay, stricken
down with his last sickness. The fur
niture was of the cOstlieSt, the carpet
thick pile of velvet moss. The windows
were darkened by the heavy crimson
brocade curtains, drawn closely togeth-
er. The old mans niece sat by one
window, her white face bedded in the
rich curtains, which she had pushed
aside just enough to enable her to see
out her brain busy with the projected
visit Of her uncle'S lawyer. She Won
dered if it portended evil to her-if her
uncle thought to revoke former will
which she knew was all in her favor.
Had his heart sOftened toward her
cousin Jessie, who had married two
years before and gone south with her
husband, heartlessly deserting him in
his old age, as the old man peevishly
declared? And although sweet Jessie
Carleton had been brought up as his
daughter, and with expectations of be-
coming his heiress, the old man had,
in his unjust anger, made = will leaving
all to her cousin, Lola Desmond, who
had only been with him few months.
Lola felt slightly consoled for losing
no 70 hn had
Jessie, when she learned that her uncle's
vast wealth was to be hers. What If
this too were going to be lost to her
now? Her face grew dark at the
thought. Her meditations were inter-
rupted by tap at the door, and rising
she admitted little, wizen-faced man,
sharp and shrewd, who had been her
uncle's lawyer for years.
The sick mans face frightened as
Biggs came to the bedside with soft,
cat-like tread, and bent over him. His
eyes roved toward his niece.
lola, you may go, now, and leave
us alone. | have important business
with Biggs. He will call you as he
goes down." said the old man, feebly.
Lola arose and left the room. She
went down stairs, but Immediately tip
toed back again, and stopped, in a
listening attitude, at the door of the
sick-cham Der.
She could hear very little distinctly,
but that was enough 10 cause her to
clench her hands in anger and despair,
and she crept away, fearing she should
be discovered, and feeling that she had
heard all she cared to hear, when her
uncle told the lawyer he wanted to
chance his will.
Like q Gagged tigress, Lola swept up
and down her room. Why, oh, why
were some to have everything, and
others nothing? Jessie had robbed her
of her lover, and now she would have
her uncle's wealth, while she must 90
forth again to earn her own bread.
Bitterly at that moment she hated her
absent cousin; she almost felt there
was murder in her heart toward her.
All, if she might but have that courage,
everything would vet be hers, perhaps
even the love of Clarence; and then the
girl grew cold, and shuddered, at her
own dark thoughts.
20 Heavenn' she murmured. SIS
my brain turning, that l can think of
such terrible things?"
Then again grew strong upon her q
desire to hear of what those two were
talking, and stealing back she listened
at the key-hole,
''Biggs. she heard the old man say,
put the viii under my head between
the mattress and bed. 1t will be as
safe there as anywhere"
Lola heard this, and knew that Biggs
was about to depart, so tip-toed back
again.
A moment later she heard him call,
''Miss Desmond! Miss Desmond! and
she fastened to her uncle'S side.
This business has tired me, Lola"
he said feebly. L feel as if | could
drop asleep very easily. Sit yonder.
child, and remain with me. Don't
leave me as she did. You have been q
good girl to me the past two years"
And he had rewarded her by turning
her pennilcss upon the world again,
thought Lola, bitterly, as she glided to
a chair by one of the windows and
gazed out upon the chill March wealth
er, with gusts of wind and fitful dashes
OF rain against the window pane How
cold and dreary and desolate every
thing was, thought Lola, quite in keep
ing with her own sad thoughts.
A fire had been burning upon the
broad hearth, and it was getting low.
Lola arose to replenish it, when she
saw that her uncle was asleep-with
the paper that robbed her of his wealth
under his pillow.
What am | thinking about?' she
muttered. turning to the fire; but she
hesitated and turned back again; then
stepped forward, then, closing her lips
together with set, determined look,
her hand beneath the mattress, clutch
ed the paper and drew it forth. She
must not stop a moment, no, not long
enough to examine it, for fear sho