Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29

at NM. 1he con VuISlVe struggles Tor breath
which burst from a man in tears shook him
from head to foot.
My poor little darling"' he gasped. My
only childI'
All that was embarrassing in her position
passed from Sydney'S mind in an instant.
She stepped close up to him; she laid her
hand gently and fearlessly on his arm. ooh,
Mr.. Linley, what dreadful mistake is thiS!''
His dim eyes rested on her with a pteouS
expression of doubt. He heard her-and he
was afraid to believe her. She was too deep
ly distressed. too full of the truest pity for
him, to wait and think before she spoke.
"YeSi yesv' she cried under the impulse of
the moment. THE dear child knew me
again, the moment | spoke to her. Kitty'S
| recovery is only q matter of time"
He staggered back with livid change in
his face startling to see. The mischief done
by Mrs. Presty'S sense of injury had led al
| ready to serious results. If the thought in
| Linley at that moment had shaped itself into
words he would have said: And Catherine
| never told me itr' How bitterly he thought
| Of the woman who had left him in suspense
how gratefully he felt toward the woman
| who had lightened his heart of the heaviest
| burden ever laid on itr'
that she had aroused Sydney blamed her own
! want of discretion as the one cause OF the
| change that she perceived in him. 'How
| thOughtlesS, how cruel OF me-" she said, mot
| to have been more careful in telling you the
| good news. Pray forgive me-"
You thOughtlesS! you cruelT' At the
| bare idea of her speaking in that way of her.
| self his sense of what he owed to her detied
| all restraint. He seized her hands and COW
| cred them with grateful kisses. Dear sgd
| ney! Dear good Sydneyr'
She drew back from him; not abruptly,
| not as If she felt offended. Her fine percep-
| ton penetrated the meaning of those HARM
| less kisses-the uncomfortable outburSt of a
| sense Of relief beyond the reach Of express
! sion in words. But she changed the subject.
| Mrs. Linlcy (she told him) had kindly order
| ed fresh horses to be nut to the carriage, so
that she might go back to her duties if the
| doctor sanctioned it,
| She TUNED away to take mp her cloak
| Linley stopped her. ''YOu can't leave Kit
| ty," he said positively
A faint smile frightened her face for mo-
ment. kitty has fallen asleep-such a
| sweet, peaceful sleep! don't think [ should
| have left her but for that. The maid is
watching at the bedside and Mrs Linley is
| only away for a little while"
| ''Wait few minutes,' he pleaded; '.it's
SO long since we have seen each other"
| The tone in which he spoke warned her to
! persist in leaving him while her resolution
remained firm. Il had arranged with Mrs
| MacEdwin," she began. ''if all went we'll"
| Speak OF yourself" he tnterposed. Tell
me if you are happy"
| She let this pass without reply. THE
Ioo H.
| being away for a few hours Mrs. MacEd-
win has offered to send me here in the even
ing, so that can sleep in Kitty'S ROOM"
you don't look well, Sydney. You are
| pale and worll-yOu are not happy"
| She began to trembie. For the second time
she turned away to take up her cloak. For
the second time he stopped her.
mot just yet" he said. You don't know
how it diStresseS me to see you so sadly
changed. l remember the time when it was
such a pleasure to see you happy. Do you
remember that time?"
Don't ask me!' was all she could say.
He sighed as he looked at her. Its dread
full to think Of your young life, that ought to
be SO bright, wasting and whitening among
strangers" He said those words with in
creaSing agitation; his eyes rested on her
eagerly with wild look in them She made
resolute effort to speak to him coIdIy-she
called him ''Alr. Linley"-she babe him good
by.
1t was useless. He stood between her and
the door; he disregarded what she had said
as if he had not heard it. Hardly day
passes" he owned to her, that l don't think
of YOU
''YOu shouldn't tell me that!'
you?"
She burst out with last entreaty. For
Gods sake, let us say gOod-by"
His manner became undisguisedly tender:
his language changed in the cne way Of all
others that was most perilOus tS Eer-he ap-
pealed to her pity. ''Oh! Sydney, it's 50
hard to part with your
Spare meT she cried, passionateIy. 'You
don't know how l suffer-"
"Oh, know it-nO words can say how
feel for you! Are you sorry for me, Sydney?
Have you thought of me since we partes2g'
She had striven against herself, and against
him, till her last effort at resistance WAS ex-
hausted. In reckless despair she let the
truth escape her at last.
when do | ever think Of anything else i
am wretch unworthy OF all the kindness
that has been shown to NE. l don't deserve
your interest; don't even deserve your pity.
Send me away-be hard on me-be brutal TO
me. Have some mercy on miserable Great
ure whose life is one long, hopeless effort to
forget your Her voice, her look, madden
ed him. He drew her to his bosom; he held
her in his arms; she struggled yainiy to get
away from him. Oh she muEmuTeti, ''hOw
cruel you are! Remember, my dear one, re-
member how weak am Oh, Herbert, I'm
dying-dying-dy Her voice grew
fainter and fainter; her bead sank on his
breast. He lifted heY face TO him with whis-
pered words of love- He kissed her again
and again.
The curtains over the library entrance
moved noiselessly when they We're parted.
The footsteps of Catherine Linley were in
audible as she passed through and entered
the room.
She stood still for moment in silent hor-
rOr.
Not sound warned them when she adj
vanced. After hesitating for a moment she
raised her hand toward her husband, as if to
{oll hfor