Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-07

| Intentionally | have done him a great
wrong; he should have had this legacy"
she added in low tone, sand poor as
this reparation is, it is all I can do, and
must do it if possible"
pretended to study the papers before
me but the lines danced and mingled, az
if, by great effort, forced my eyes to
distinguish word, it conveyed not the
slightest meaning to my whirling brain.
Every drop of blood in my body seem
ed induced with a separate consciousness,
and to be tingling and rushing to the
side next to her, whose presence within a
short distance of me was the only thing
| of which I had a distant perception.
hung my head to hide from her the
emotion of which l was thoroughly
| ashamed.
1t may well be believed that was in no
condition to give professional opinion,
but got over the difficulty by telling her
that must have time to study the case,
and promised to let her know the result.
"You are a tiresome creature" she said
with a little hayward, coquettish air: 81
really expected that for once in your life,
and for friend, too, you might have got
rid of the laws delays and given me your
opinion in half an hour, so far, at least,
as TO tell me whether there is a probabili-
| ty of doing what [ wish. But [ see you
are just like the rest of the lawyers
time, time, time 1 suppose now you'll
wait until am dead, and then 1t will go
| to my heirs in the course of the law
IF rObably it will not require more than
half an hour to ascertain so much when
| can direct my thoughts to it for that
space of time" replied, and I know that
the words ratified like shot out of my
mouth; 'but would you be so unreason-
able as to require an artist to draw a
straight line when he was under a fit Of
delirium tremens?"
"You are an incomprehensible person"
she replied, rather coldly, $50 l shall leave
you to your legal and lawful studies. But
if you are going to have an attack of de-
lirium tremers, perhaps. L had better
send in the doctor. Shall II"
'Well, don't anticipate an attack this
morning." I answered with a forced
laugh, $50 will not trouble you. The
fact is, have been violently Ggitated a
short time since, and my mind has not
quite recovered its equilibrium.
We talked a few minutes longer, she
qu1zzing me in her light, playful way, and
delighted 10 be teased, standing stupid
AID dumb, scarcely able to say a word
through my very anxiety to prolong the
precious moments by keeping up a war
of bandiage. At length she went to the
door, and I was about to escort her down
stairs when we heard some one speaking
below.
Good heavensr' she exclaimed, cling
ing wildly TO my arm; "thatis my uncle's
voice. If he finds me here am ruined
He is SO dreadful particular"
"D0n't be alarmed" said endeavoring
to assure her; "you came here upon bust
ness. He could only love you all she
more for it,"
"You don't know about that as we'll as
d." she said, shuddering convulsively
she is jealous Jealous of you
He dislikes you. He has other notions
for me. Hide me somewhere, for mercy
sakes"
I don't know how it happened but ny
arm was around her, and half carried
her across the room TO a large book closet
"Can you stay here?" I asked, hastily,
81 will leave the door jar for air."
"No; shut it-lock it-take away the
key or I shall not feel safe. There i:
plenty of air." and she sprang into the
recess.
For one moment her eyes met mine
! ne u6XG L udQ Iu0 UOO1 upOu lily
treasure, thrown the papers she haC
brought into a drawer and was apparent
ly busy pen in hand, when my friend
entered. He commenced in roundabout
way, to question me upon sundry points
of the law respecting Wills ETC., and after
tedious amount of circumlution, he
gave nae to understand that all this re-
garded a desired transfer of some prop
erty of his niece's to his owp hands. He
had come, in fact upon the same errand
as that generous creature. He also had
a copy of her relatives wills, and these
was compelled to examine closely, tor he
was desperately tenacious, and would MOI
be put off, | was mad at the thought OF
what his poor neice must be suffering
pent up in that narrow prison, and | fei'
that could have kicked her uncle out OF
doors for keeping her there. At last he
made a move as if togo. l started ut
and stood ready 10 bow him out
So" said he, tying up his papers with
Horrible deliberation, nothing, you say
but my neice's death can put me in pos
session of this money. l want it very
much, but nobody will sus poet me of de-
string her death for the sake of having ii
a little sooner"
He laughed at his own jest, and l mad
a sort of hyena chorus to 1t that sounded
strange and hysterical, even in my own
ears. He went at last, but stopped again
on the stairs, ard detained me there full
five minutes. My throat seemed sweiled,
my forehead bursting. Great heavens!
will he never be gone? Will he stand
there gossiping about the weather and
generalities of law, while his lovely nelce,
who came to sacrafce her individual
| interests for his sake dies terrible and
lingering death? He is gone. [ rush
back to the room. A step behind me
makes me turn around. L. is my clerk
curses on him. l ground my teeth in un
awaiting rage. / could have hurled him
headlong down stairs. But my violence
would have com promised her. In mo-
ment my brain was clear again.
watson" I cried, "Mr. Simpson has
just left. He has gone up Broadway, I
think; run after him and ask him to
leave those papers with me. Say | want
TO examine them more at my leisure
Run-run quickly and you will overtake
| him"
Watson disappeared I tuln ned the key
in the outer door and sprang toward the
| closet. As l unlocked it [ remembered
the look she had given me as shut it,
and / wondered with beating heart if the
same expression would greet my en-
raptured gazs when l opened it. There
she stood with her eyes fixed calmly on
mine.
You are safe, dearest" l murmured.
she did not rebuke me for calling her
so: aud emboldened by her silence | took
! her hand to lead her from her narrow
| fall n