Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-05-23

ever, and poor Lura resigned herself to q
| fortnight's imprisonment with the best
grace possible She had no thought OF
dispntlng the wisdom Of DR.. Colton's dag
nosis. 10 Lura bis word, OF all men in the
world, was law She regarded Arthur
Cotton as the wisest man on Toe globe, and
as good as he was wise She always felt
her inferiority while in his presence, and
this often embarrassed her so that
she shrank within herself and ceased
70 shine with the full glow OF
her vivacious womanhood. Possibly
the doctor understood more than his inn
movable countenance revealed. He always
treated Lura as a child-with grave Sc
robustness that awed without chilling
IL was late one afternoon OF a cold day in
autumn that Lura Joyce dismounted from
the stage at Lone Hollow. Three weeks had
elapsed since she left by the same convey
ance, and during that time not word had
reached her from the inmates
''rhey might all be dead for all the stir
they make" unused the girl, as she glanced
up at the curtained windows and solemn
gray walls Of the old house. II wrote, but
not one had the courtesy TO answer. IL
seems TO me that Grace ought TO be out be-
fore nown
where she could view the window of
Grace's room. She saw nothing Of her
cousin, and at once retraced her steps, a
strange misgiving at her heart.
"Of course, nothing very bad has hap
pened or / should have heard of it." de-
clared Lura to herself, by way Of shilling the
rising premonitions Of evil.
She tried the front door 10 find it yielding
TO her touch, and a moment later she was
gliding along the wide hall. The room oc-
cupied by Grace during her illness was on
the ground floor. Here Lura passed quick
ly, only to find the chamber empty.
She must be well and IN her own coy
chamber thought the girl, going at once
up the stairs TO the room where she had
passed many happy hours with her fair
cousin.
A tiny rap on the door was answered by
"come in - from beyond, IN low voice.
Scarcely had Lura Joyce crossed the
threshold of the room than she came TO
halt and stood regarding the low couch,
with its wealth of covering, in amazement.
At the bedside sat the colored maid Lucy,
while among the pillows was face so thin,
so faded, so CHASTITY as TO quite startle Lura
Joyce.
Could it be possible that this was Grace
Penroy, whom she had left but three weeks
since almost restored 10 healthf
After moment of hesitancy Lura I'D
vanced swiftly and stood by the bedside,
gazing into the corpse-hke countenance on
the pillow 1t was Grace, surely, but oh,
how changed To Lura it seemed that
harsh touch or breath of air would break
the brittle thread Of life.
What does this meant" the young girl
found v0ipp 10 aFfiofalafa NJ lar
Lucy DID not seem to comprehend.
"ps so glad you's come" she said
young missus been wantin' you so bad all
de time"
"Yes, indeed" articulated the sick girl,
family. II feared / should never see you
again in this world"
you may go for the present." Lura said
TO Lucy; then, after the girl had departed,
she locked the door and seated herself be-
side the sick couch.
"Now, Grace, have you strength to tell
me what this meansW
1T means that we were all deceived,
Lura. ! am going to die. For myself I
would not mind, but-but poor Austin"
She broke down then and began tocry in
a way that showed utter exhaustion.
Don't trouble yourself about Austin"
soothed Lura He is well, and will try
TO get him on here to see you il you promise
to be good and not worry Now, tell me how
it happens that you are so i'll. When left
you the glow Of returning health was on
your cheek"
"And this is why you did not comeer
mo, indeed. met with an acciden& that
laid me up in Stonefield I've been with
you in thought all these weeks"
"And he told me you were tired Of con-
slant waiting on me, and would come no
more"
''Hean
"Mr. Starbright.n
1.-THE miserable scoundrelw
Lura was too indignant to keep back the
hot words. although regretting them the
next moment
Grace could not command her feelings 10
speak for long time, but lay white and ST.
lent, with hot tears raining over her hollow
cheeks.
"Never mind, Grace, dear" soothed Luro.
"You shall tell me at another time You
are not strong enough now"
Then Lura Joyce came 70 her feet and
turned to adjust the clothing about the sick
one as the door was tried by hand with
out. Going thither Lura turned the key
and admitted Captain Starbright.