Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-08-12

far from sharing her aversion to the per-
SOnal associations which were connected
with the hotel, he found his one consolation
III visiting the scenes which reminded him
OF the beloved woman whom he had lost
The reason for this was not far to seek. His
was the largest nature and his had been the
most devoted love.
AS usual his letters We're forwarded to him
from his place of residence il London.
Those addressed in handwritings that he
knew were the first that he read. The others
he took out with him to that Seques:ered
part OF the garden IN which he had passed
the happiest hours of lis life by GATHERINGS
side.
He had been thinking of her all the morn
ing; he was thinking of her now.
His unopened correspondence offered a
harmless occupation to his thoughts, in the
meanwhile. One after another he read the
letters with an attention constantly wander
ing and constantly recalled, until he opened
the last Of them that remained. In a mo-
ment more his interest was absorbed The
first sentences in the letter told him that the
deserted creature whom he had met in the
garden-the stranger to whom he had offered
help and consolation in the present and in
the future-was no other than the lost girl of
whom he had been SO long in search; the
daughter Of Roderick Westerfield, once his
dearest and oldest friend.
In the pages that followed the writer con-
tided to him her sad story, leaving it to her
fathers friend to decide whether she was
worthy of the sympathy which he had Of
fered to her when he thought she was a
stranger.
orf Of nr
repetition of what Bennydeck had read in
the confession which Catherine had address
ed to him. That generous woman had been
guilty of one, and but one, conceaIment of
the truth In relating the circumstances
under which the elopement from Mount
Morven had taken place, she had abstained,
in justice to the sincerity of Sydney's re-
pentance, from mentioning Sydney's name.
Another instance" the captain thought
bitterly as he closed the letter, ''of the vir-
tues which might have made the happiness
of my life!'
But he was bound to remember-and he
did remember-that there was now new
interest tenderly associating itself with his
life to come. The one best way of telling
Sydney how dear she was to him already,
for her fathers sake, would be to answer
her in person. He hurried away to London
by the first train, and drove at once to Ran
daPS place of abode to ask for Sydney's adj
dress.
Wondering what had become of the post
script to his letter, which had given Benny
deck the information of which he was now
in search, Randall complied with his friends
request, and then ventured to allude to the
report of the captains marriage engagement.
Am 20 congratulate yOu?' he asked.
Congratulate me on having discovered
Roderick Westerfield's daughter"
That reply, and the tone in which it was
given, led Randall to ask if the engagement
had been prematurely announced.
There is no engagement at all' Benny
deck answered, with look which suggested
that it might be wise not to dwell on the
subject.
But the discovery was welcome to Randall,
for his brothers sake. He ran the risk of
consequences, and inquired if Catherine was
still to be found at the hotel.
The captain answered by a sign IN the
negative.
Randall persisted. DO you know where
she has gOne"'
Nobody knows but her lawyer"
''ln that case" Randall concluded, Il shall
get the information that WANT Noticing
that Bennydeck looked SURPRISED, he men
toned his motive. Herbert is pining to see
Kitty" he continued, land l mean to help
him. He has done all that man could do
to atone for the past. AS things are, firmly
believe | shall not offend Catherine if | SEND
him straight to the place i'll which Kitty and
her mother are now living"
They left the house together-one to go to
Sydney'S lOdwingS the other on his wav tn
Mr.. SarraZn'S office.