Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-11-08

You shouldn't have taken that" she
said; 1T was not intended for you to
read"
Lawrence loved all along-and you
knew itln she went on, her hooking
tone changing to one of anger.
mo; did not know it till last night,
Bertha replied with a very bright
blush. AT one time 1 hoped it and
then made up my mind | had been
mistaken when he no longer came to the
house."
And it was for Douglass sake he
stayed away-and Douglas loved you
too.' Lena exclaimed. ''Oh, Bertha,
why could you not have loved HIM
WHY did YOU not marry him?'' she cried
wildly "WhY need you have won st.
Lawrence too? He might have loved
me once"
Lena, are you mad?" exclaimed
Bertha. looking with frightened eyes at
her sisters flushed and agitated counte-
nance. "What have you to do with st.
Lawrence's love? You are to be bride
before many hours"
Lena pressed her hands to her tenn
pies, and fell on her knees by the bed
side.
"a bride-yesI I have made my
choice, haven't |? And | would do tho
same again. And yet | loved another
all the While. Bertha, you cannot mar
~ St. Lawrence" she went on in wild
voice; you shall not marry him. He
is disgraced man, going under an as
sumed name. Our mother will never
give her consent"
You are speaking of you know not
what lena" Bertha reioinad. with diff
fculty retaining her calmness. mo
disgrace can ever attach to Eustace St.
Lawrence. | know the name he goes
by is not his own, but, If the mystery
that hangs over him should never be
cleared up, l shall not doubt him. If
he called upon me to be his wife and to
follow him tomorrow. | would go with
him with the most perfect trust to the
very ends of the earth. But we are not
thinking of marrying yet" she added,
checking herself in the gush of feeling
that had prompted her words. There
is no need to trouble mamma at pres
ent."
II tell you you shall not marry himi"
cried Lena, still more fiercely, clutching
the bedclOthes in her hands, as she
knelt. why should you be happy and
| miserable?n
LENA, dear Lena, you don't know
what you say" Bertha returned, more
and more frightened by her sisters
manner. "Why should you be misera-
bic? You do not love Mr.. Fancourt;
tell him so even now at the eleventh
hOur-give up this hateful marriage.
What does it matter what the world
may say? We will go abroad for while
we will do anything you wish. Oh,
Lena, listen to me, for the sake of your
life's happiness your souls peace!"
Bertha took her sisters cold hands in
hers as she spoke, but Lena snatched
them away.
What will you do for me?" she de-
manded. "Will you give up st. Law
renCeY
No" Bertha replied firmly; NOR
him my faith; if broke it, l should be
false to him and to myself"
''Then neither will / give up" Lena
replied. her cOuntenance hardening in
to set expression of pride and de-
fance as she rose from her knees. do
not think | shall envy you. If St. Law
renee had loved me, dare say | should
have tired of nina poor landscape
painter without name. | am more
fitted for the life | have chosen. 1t is
better as it is. | think | have been mad
tonight; forget it, and go to sleep
again" She took up her lamp as she
spoke, but set it down again, putting
up her hand to her brow on which there
was an expression of pain. My head
is dizzy" she said. Il dare not be
alone. Let me lie down by you"
Bertha, much alarmed, made room
for her SISTER beside her. Though she
had no doubt that much of what Lena
had said had been merely the fevered
imaginings of delirium, yet it betOken-
ed mind i'll at ease; and, nOtWith-
standing the dreaded day that was to
seal her sisters fate was now so near,
she yet expected some revelation to
take place, some event to occur, that
would put a bar to the marriage, but as
to what it would be she could form no
conjecture Would it not be well if
Lena should prove to be really suffer
ing 50 that the day would have to be
poStpOnedT" she asked herself. Was
sue wrong in almost wishing it might
be so? The night before she had gone
to sleep absorbed in dreams of her own
happiness; now tie fears and troubles
arising from what she had observed of
her sisters state of mind, and from the
vague warnings she had received, re-
turned, in full force.
As soon as it was daylight she rose
and dressed herself, leaving her sister
still sleeping. She heard Sarah setting
out the breakfast things in the room
below, and then she heard her mother
moving about. Soon after Lena opened
her eyes. Raising herself on her elbow,
she looked bewildered at first on finding
herself i'll Bertha'S bed, and then she
remembered.
Are you there, Bertha?" she said.
81 think must have had a bad dream
last night. | was talking nonsense,
wasn't I?''
"How do you feel now?" Bertha
asked, coming to her side Are you
better? VIII you have your breakfast
up-stairS?"
Lena caught at the idea.
Yes, bring it to me, that's a dear.
But [ am quite well now. You must
not think anything of what l have said,
and do not say anything to mamma,
except that my head aches rather and |
want to rest while longer"
You are certainly not looking your
BEST" said Bertha. Il will go and get
you cup of coffee. Stay quietly here;
no one shall disturb you"
Lena went downstairs before one
O'Clock, the hour at which Fancourt
usually paid his first visit; but at one
o'clock Fancourt did not make his ap-
pearance.
About half-past two Sarah came into
the small parlor where they were sit
ting in the midst of bridal favors, to say
that young woman was in the kitchen
wanting to see Miss Lena"
''She seems quite upset M" said Sa-
rah; but she won't tell her business to
none but Miss Dalton, she says"
Wants to see me? How very oddl"
said Lena, rising and going out.
She soon came back, looking much
disturbed.
Its the strangeSt thing, mamma"
she said. Il can't quite make it out
Her mistress is dying, the young woman
says, and has sent her for me. She SAYS
she has something to communicate to
me or she cannot die in peace. She told
the girl to say it was the lady who had
the opal ring"
Dear, dear, how very inconvenientl
am sure cannot manage to go with
you, said Mrs. Dalton, fretfully.
Il don't know that l shall 60" said
Lena. 1t is not very pleasant business
to see dying woman"
Pray go-you do not know what may
depend upon IL, ;" SS--:tA.a cried. MANI
ma, cannot we go together? know all
ahnut how to get there-you know l
gave lessons once to a pupil at Dorking.
Lena, let us go together"
Il don't see what need there is for
you to excite yourself so much" said
Lena, still hesitating; but the wish to
gain possession of the real ring deter
mined her-the imitation had not been
satisfactory.
well, if Bertha goes with you, 1 do