Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-01
Never mind that. I have something to

Never mind that. have something to
say to her"
You can't do it, Herbert"
Can You do it? VIII you give her mes
sage?"
Let me hear what it is first.
He lifted his head. and laid his hand ear
nestly on his brothers. arm. When he said
his next words he was almost like his old
self again.
Say that I'm lonely; say that I'm dying
for want of little cOmfort-aSk her to let
me see Kitty.
His tone touched Randall to the quick. Il
feel for you, Herbert" he said, warmly.
She shall have your message; all that L can
Go to persuade her shall be done.
las soon as possible?
Yes: as soon as possible.
ssAnd YOU won't IOrget? No, no; of course
you won't forget He tried to rise, and fell
back again into his chair. Let me rest
little" he pleaded. IF I'm not in the way.
I'll go when you tell me.
Randall refused to let him go at all. You
will stay here with me; and If l happen to
be away there will be somebody i'll the house
who is almost as fond of you as / am" He
mentioned the name of one OF the old sery
ants at Mount MorVen, who had attached
himself to Randall after the breakup of the
family. And now rest, he said; land let
me nut this cushion Under your head" Her
bert answered: Its like being at home
again''-and composed himself to rest.
CHAPTER XII.
On the next day but one Randall arranged
his departure for Sydenham, so as to arrive
at the hotel an hour before the time appoint
49,, i; tf,1,SI
in pleading for a favorable reception OF his
brothers message were so uncertain that lie
refrained-in fear of raising hopes which he
might not be able to justify-from taking
Herbert into his confidence. No one knew
on what errand he was bent when he left
the house As he took his place in the car
rage the newspaper boy appeared 1T the
window as usual. The new number OF
popular weekly journal had that day been
published. Randall bought it.
After reading one or two of the political
articles he arrived at the columns specially
devoted to Questionable Intelligence" Car
ing nothing for that sort of news he was
turning over the pages in search OF the lit
erary and dramatic articles. when a name
not unfamiliar to him caught his eye. He
read the paragraph in which it appeared.
THE charming widow, Mrs. OrmOnd, is,
we hear, among the distinguished guests
staying at Bucks hotel. 1t is whispered that
the lady is to be shortly united to retired
naval officer of arctic fame-nOW better
known, perhaps, as one Of our leading phi
lanthrOpists."
The allusiOn to Bennydecl was too plain
to be mistaken. Randall looked again at the
first words in the paragraph THE charm
ing widowr' Was it possible that this last
word referred to Catherine! TOSuppOSe her
capable of assuming to be a widow, and-if
the child asked queStiOns-of telling Kitty
that her father was dead, was, in RandaIS
estimation, to wrong her cruelty. With his
own suspicious steadily cOntradcting him,
he arrived at the hotel obstinately believing
that ''the charming widow" would prove to
| be a stranger.
A first disappointment was in store for him
when he entered the house. Mrs. OmOnd
and her little girl were out driving with a
friend, and were expected to return in good
time for dinner Mrs. Presty was at home;
she was reported to be in the garden Of the
! hotel.
Randall found her comfortably established
in a summer house, with her knitting in her
hands and newspaper on her lap. She adj
vanced to meet him, all smiles and anna
blity. "How nice of you to come SO soon,"
she began. Her keen penetration discover
ed something in his face which checked the
gayety Of her welcome. You don't mean
to say that you are going to spoil our pleas
ant little dinner by bringing bad news?' she
added, looking at him suspiciouSly
ut depends on you to decide that" Ran
dial replied.
How very complimentary to a poor, use
less old woman. Don't be mysterious my
dear. | don't belong to the generation which
raises storms in teacups and calls slirmishes
with sayages battles. Out with it!'
Randall handed his paper to her, open at
the right place. There is my news" he
said.
(To BE CONTINUED.)