Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-18

hcf VOICE WdTuCu HIN Gllab she was SIrug-
Cling with strong emotion. In one respect
men are all alike; they hate to see woman
in tears. Linley treated her like child; he
smiled, and patted her on the shoulder
''Nonsensep' he said, gayly. ''There is no
merit in being kind to my good little govern
esS"
She took that comforting hand-it was a
harmless impulse that she was unable TO re-
sst-she bent over it and kissed it gratefully.
He drew his hand away from her as if the
soft touch of her lips had been fire that bu,1.-
ed it. "Oh," she cried, shave l done wrong?'
No. my dear-no, no."
There was an embarrassment in his man.
ner the inevitable result of his fear of him
self if he faItered in the resolute exercise of
self-Testraint which was perfectly incompre-
hensible to Sydney. He moved his seat back
little, so as to place himself farther away.
Something in that action, at that time, shock
ed and Inundated her. Completely misun-
derstanding him, she thought he was remind
ing her of the distance that separated them
in social rank. Oh, the shame of it! the
shame of it! Would other governesses have
taken a liberty with their master? A fit of
hysterical sobbing burst its way through her
last reserves of self-control; she started to
her feet and ran out of the summer honsa
Alarmed and distressed, he followed her
instantly.
She was leaning against the pedestal of a
statue in the garden, painting, shuddering, a
sight to touch the heart of far less sensitive
man than the man who now approached her.
Sydney" he said. Dear little Sydneyr'
She tried to speak to him in return. Breath
and strength failed her together; she lifted
her hand, vainly grasping at the broad Pc
destal behind her; she would have fallen if
he had not caught her in his arms. Her head
sank family backward on his breast He
looked at the poor little tortured face turned
up toward him in the lovely moonlight.
Again and again he had honOrably restrain
ed himSelf-he was human: he was man
in one mad moment it was done, hotly pas
SiOnately dOne-he kissed her.
For the first time in her maiden life mans
lips touched her lips All that had been per-
picking and strange, all that had been inno-
Gently wonderful to herself in the feeling
that bound Sydney to her first friend, was a
mystery no more. Love lifted its veil. Nat
ure revealed its secrets in the one supreme
moment Of that kiss. She threw her arms
around his neck with low cry of delight
and returned his kiss.
Sydney" he whispered, 81 love you!'
She heard him in rapturous silence Her
kiss had answered for her.
At that crisis III their lives they were saved
by an accident; a poor little common acct
dent that happens every day. The spring in
the bracelet that Sydney wore gave way as
she held him to her; the bright trinket fell
on the grass at her feet. The man never no
ticed it. The woman saw her pretty orna-
ment as it dropped from her arnl-saw, and
remembered Mrs. Linley's gift.
Cold and pale-with horror Of herself con-
fessed in the action, simple as it was-she
drew back from him in dead silence.
He was astOunded. In tones that trembled
with agitation he said to her: Are you ill?'
shameless and wicked" she answered
mot ILL.," She pointed to the bracelet on
the grass. ''Take it up; am not fit to touch
it. Look on the inner side"
He remembered the inscription: ''To sgd
ney Westerfeld with Catherine Linley's
love-" His head sank on his breast; he I'M
derstoOd her at last. 'sIo on despise me- he
said; land L deserve it."
mo; | deSpiSe myself | have lived
among vile people, and l am vile like them"
She moved g few steps away with a heavy
little Kitty!'
He followed her. why are you thinking
Of the child,'' he asked, lat such a time as
this?''
She replied without returning or looking
round; distruSt Of herself had inspired her
with terror of Linley from the time when the
bracelet had dropped on the grass.
Il can make but one atOnement," she said.
1--WE must see each other no more. / must
say good-by to Kitty-I must go. Help me
to submit to my hard lot; must CO."
He set her no example of designations; he
shrank from the prospect that she presented
to him. ''Where are you to go if you leave
uS?' he asked.
away from England! The farther away
from on the better for both of us. Help me
with your interest; have me sent to the new
world in the west with other emigrantS Give
me something to look forward to that is not
shame and despair. Let me do something
thatis innocent and good may find trace
OF my poor lost brother. Oh, let me go! Let
me gO!'
Her resolution shamed him. He rose to
her level in spite of himself.
Il dare not tell you that you are wrong"
he said. Il only ask you to wait little till
we are calmer before you speak Of the future
again." He pointed to the summer house.
go in, my poor girl. Rest and compose
yourself while l try to think"
He left her and paced up and down the
formal walks in the garden. Away from the
maddening fascination of her presence his
mind grew clearer. He resisted the tempta-
ton to think Of her tenderly; he set himself
to consider what it would be we'll to do next
The moonlight was seen no more. Misty
and starless, the dark sky spread its majestic
obscurity over the earth. Linley looked
YEARLY toward the eastern heaven. The
darkness daunted him; he saw in it the shad-
ow Of his own sense of guilt. The gray glim-
mering of the dawn, the songs of birds as the
pure light softly climbed the sky, reused and
relieved him. With the first radiant rising
of the sun he returned to the summer house.
do disturb you?" he asked waiting at
the door.
NO"
''Will you come out and speak to me"'
She appeared at the door, waiting to hear
what he had to say to her.
II must ask you to submit to a sacrifice of
your own feelings" he began. when l
kept away from you in the draWing-room
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