Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-15

| D0Oy 70 cn0cA Tie FuInOuS eXPeh0eS DuS my
| selfT'
Mrs. Linley's thoughts naturally turned to
| RandaPs prolonged absence. What can BIZ
| keeping him ali this time in London?" she
said.
| Linley's falling patience suffered severe
| trial.
Don't you know" he broke out ''that |
| have inherited my poor mothers property in
England, saddled with lawsuit? Have you
never heard Of delays and disappointments,
and bubbles and false pretenses, encounter
| cd by unfortunate wretches like me who are
| obliged to 20 to law? God only knows when
| Randall will be free to return, Or what bad
news he may bring with him when he does
| come back
| "You have many anXieties Herbert; and
| I ought to have remembered them"
| That gentle answer touched him. He made
| the best apology in his power; he said his
nerves were out OF order, and asked her to
| excuse him if he had spoken roughly There
was no unfriendly feeling on either side, and
| yet there was something wanting in the re-
Cancellation. Mrs. Linley left her husband,
| shaken by conflict of feelings. At one mo-
| ment she felt angry with herself.
| With the best intentions las usuar Mrs.
| Presty made mischief, nevertheless. Observ-
| ing that her daughter was in tears, and feel
| ing sincerely distressed by the discovery, she
| was eager to administer consolation. "Make
| your mind easy, my dear. if you have any
| doubt about HerbertS movements when he
| is away from home. [ followed him myself
| the day before yesterday when he went out.
| A long walk for an old woman-but can
| assure you that he does really go to the farm"
Implicitly trusting her husband-and right
| ly trusting him-Linley's wife replied by
| look which Mrs. PreSty received in silent in
| dignatiOn. She summoned her dignity and
marched out Of the room.
Five minutes afterward Mrs Linley re-
ceived an intimstion that her mother was
seriously offended in the form Of little
note:
II find that my maternal interest in your
welfare and my devoted efforts to serve you
are only rewarded with furious looks. The
less we see Of each other the better. Permit
me to thank you for your invitation, and to
decline accompanying you when you leave
Mount Morven Tomorrow"
Mrs. Linley answered the note in person.
The next day Kitty's grandmother-ripe for
more mischief on the next favorable occasion
altered her mind and thoroughly enjoyed
her journey to the ;-aside.
| XVI.
| During the first week there was an I'M
| provement in the child's health, which justi-
! fed the doctors hopeful anticipations. Mrs.
| Linley wrote cheerfuily to her husband; and
| the better nature Of Mrs. Lnley's mother
| seemed, by some inScrutable process, to
! thrive morally under the encouraging infu-
ences of the sea air. 1t may be bold thing
tn h,,&S
depend greatly on the state of our health.
During the second week the reports sent to
Mount Morven were less encouraging. The
Improvement in Kitty was maintained; but
| it'made no further progress.
The lapse of the third week brought with
| it depressing results. There could be no
| doubt now that the child was losing ground
Bitterly disappointed Mrs. Linley wrote to
her medical adviser, describing the symptoms
and asking for instructions. The doctor
wrote back: Find out where your supply
of drinking water comes from. If from a
WELL let me know how it is situated An
swer by telegraph" The reply arrived: "a
well near the parish church" The doctors
advice ran back along the wires: "Come
home instantly"
They returned the same day-and they re-
turned too late.
Kitty's first night at home was wakeful
and restless; her little hands felt feveriSh,
and she was tormented by perpetual thirst.
The good doctor still spoke hopefully, attrib-
uting the symptoms to fatigue after the
journey. But, as the days followed each
other, his medical visits were paid at shorter
intervals. The mother noticed that his pleas
ant face became grave and anxious. and inn
plored him to tell her the truth. The truth
I
fever"
A day or two later the doctor spoke pri-
vately with Mr.. Linley. The chid's debiIi-
tated conditon-that lowered state of the
vital power which he had observed when
Kitty's case was first submitted to him
placed terrible obstacle in the way Of sue
cessful resistance to the advance Of the dis
ease. Say nothing to Mrs. Linley just yet.
There is no absolute danger so far, unless
delirium sets ill.," DO you think it likely?"
Linley asked. The doctor shook his head
and said God knows"
On the next evening but one the fatal
symptom showed itself. There was nothing
violent in the delirium. Unconscious Of past
events in the family life, the poor child sup
posed that her goyerness was living in the
house as usual. She piteousty wondered
why Sydney remained downstairs in the
school-room. "Oh, don't keep her away
from me! want Sgd! want Sydv' That
was her one cry. When exhaustion silenced
her they hoped that the sad delusion was at
an end. No! AS the slow fire of the fever
famed up again the same words were on the
child's lips-the same fond hope was in her
sinking heart.
The doctor led Mrs. Linley out of the room.
''lt this the governess?' he asked.
'Yesr'
us she within easy reach?''
She is employed in the family of friend
of ours, living nine miles away from US"
''Send for her instantly"
Mrs. Linley looked at him with wildly
| mingled expression of hope and fear. She
was not thinking of herself-she was not
even thinking, for that one moment, Of the
child. What would her husband say, if she
(who had extorted his promise never to see
the governess again) brought Sydney West
ertield back to the lreuse?
The doctor spoke to her more strongly still.
Il don't presume to inquire into your pri-
Vate reasons for heSitatinp to follow nv adj