The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-05-11

more at ease whenever he thought Of
her.
He grew worse. The doctors did not
apprehend any Immediate danger; he
was only suffering from overtaxed
strength, from ills that might be rem
edied. lie did not even keep his room.
Sir Jasper himself was more alarmed
than the people about him. Strange
sensations came to him. There were
times when he fancied, as he walked
through the snady garden paths, that
strange voices called him he ssw
strange figures in his troubled sleep,
strange faces smiled at him from the
picture frames.
One day-how Veronica remembered
il afterwarl he had wal.sc.l in the
grounds, and when the sun grew yarn
he went into the drawing-room D r;-sS
on a coach. Veronica was there. lie
asked her to read to him, an shs al
SO until he fell asleep then she sat g-il
watch Il him, thinking how very ill nc
looiel, how white AMI sun,scn his fac:
was Suddenly she saw his pa,c i.rs
quiycr; he opened his arms rs .ao-.-A
to cl:'s? them round someone whom -.
loved crying in a passionate voice
"Giulia. Giulia, my hearts loyar' :
She touched him gently, and his cy,.5
opened and looked wildly at her.
"Giulia," he cried again, where sa1I
/? 1t is you, and yet another"
''Sir Jasper" said Veronica, @you arc
dreaming-you are i'll"
He looked in bewilderment ut her.
''GiuGa's eyes" he said, 'but another
face. What does it mean ?''
"You have been dreaming" remark
ed the girl quietly. "Can l get any
thing for you? Shall L bring Lady
Brandon ?'
lie gave a smOthered moan.
"I--you are right, Nerori ica-I W.
dreaming. No, do not cal. anyone;
want nothing. These June days are so
warm"
1T was Juno then, when the days
were at their longest, and the brirh:.
sweet hours we're all filled with bcc It,
June, when Queens Chace was a:
picture OF loneliness, with its lilies sd.
roses, ITS rich green foliage and vca-
OF flowers. Veronica was troa,lcl sA
she lookel at Sir Jasper, To- sic lad
grown to love him. She remembered
aiterward how he awoke from icycrcI
sleep AMI would have Katherine H.
Neronicas side. She Tcmcmi'=rcd
every detail OF that his las5 Gay on
earth. He would not 20 into the
dinnig-roon, aud it was Veronica 10y i-.s
own special request, who took him some
little dainties and coaxed him to ras
them. She knelt by his side, hoi&ir-
in her fingers ripe sunny peach.
''This is just like Katherine's check
she said, laughingly. And she looked
so like her mother at that moment that
he could have cried aloud in hi5 ic,:e-
ing love and pain.
you have learned to love Katherine,
Veronica ?'' be said, gently.
Better than l love my life" eiA
said, blushing to find that she no longer
said, Better than love anyone eise IA
the world"
He looked up at her suddenly.
"Have you learned to love nse,
Veronica ?" he asked.
'Yes, just as dearly" she replied.
Then they We're silent-he mute with
emotion, she wondering that he should
speak to her in this strain-he who had
always been so distant and so reserved,
Then he was restless ali the day. When
evening came, he asked katherine to
sing all her old songs to him-the songs
he loved best; and Veronic. iancied
that his eyes filed with tears. Then,
when it was growing later, he called
Katherine to him. She knelt down by
his side, and he drew her golden head
down on to his breast.
my child, my darling" he said,
shave 1 been kind to your
always, papa" she replied.
"Have you had happy hfe-Katie,
tell me-a happy life ?'
''Yes," she answered. "Papa, you
know that 1 have never had one mo-
ments care or trouble, one moments
sadness, ever since l was a child"
Thank Heaven for thatl" he said
| gently. "If L should die, Katie-die
and leave you-would anyone ever
make you think me unkind-ever
make you love me less ?''
"No, never, papa" she said, laughing
at the noton-"never'
"Kiss me. Tell me you love me-"
he said. "Will you remember in the
after years that l would have given my
life at any time to save you from
pain ?''
''Yes," replied Katherine, and, obey
ing his wish, she clasped her tender
arms round mis- neck. 81 love you very
dearly, papa" she said, more than I
can tell you, and L am longing for the
day 10 come when you will be strong
and well again"
To be Continued