Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24

hotel in a fit of vexation.
''Why, where have you been?" cried
Anna Harwel, who was waiting for
her. ''You know you asked me to bring
up my new tea-gown after the perform
ance, and I've been waiting l don't
know how longr
'trm Sorrow" Maya said Indifferent
ly. Il forgot all about it,
ave great mind to bundle it
downstairs again" said Anna with con.
siderable pigue.
"Oh no; don't do that Of course l
want to see it. 1t is China silk, isn't
it? Hand-embroidered, did you sayP
How beautifully those wild roses are
done! Oh, it is lovely, Annam she
cried, growing interested in spite of
herself. "WhO did you say did it?"
A lady in Sulliyan-street. She is a
lady, too-yery much reduced,
imagine, and an invalid. She works
beautifully. Lucie Knight got her to
do her trouSseau work, but she has
been i'll lately and can't do much.
'You must give me her address. I'd
like to see her when | go in town to-
morrow" Maya said. 81 never saw
anything so lovely.
Anna chatted while, but it was
growing late, and Maya did not detain
her long.
II wonder what she would say if
she knew that / went down on the
beach to speak to Professor Wiener
auskyP" Maya thought, as she I'M
coiled her thick brown hair. at was
mean of him not to speak to me I-Tll
never forgive him for that!'
Something like lump came up in
her throat, but she swallowed it brave
ly.
GAS long as l was willing" she
began; and then she said suddenly:
"He is going to give another enter
tainment tomorrow night at the
Beach House. am glad | am going in
town."
She left by an early train and had a
long day before her in the city. The
little business with her lawyer that
summoned her there was soon trans
acted, and she had a long wait till
the afternoon train back to the sea-
shore.
"What shall l doP" she queried.
DOu1 10 Oub VI "" A-OFGh III
dressmaker's away / think [ will go
and see the lady who embroiders. l
want screen for Annals birthday"
Miss Anderson, who embroidered
Miss Hartwell's gown lived in an out
of the way place, but Maya found her.
I'm afeard she's right sick, ma'am,"
said the Irishwoman who let her in
"I'Ve been up to see her twice the day,
but it's awful busy am, an I'd be glad
if some Teddy would come and stay a
bit wild Miss Anderson. It's awful
worrit | am about her all the toim, an
she to be left alone so!'
Maya found her way to little back
room and knocked.
A faint voice babe her enter.
She walked in. and there on the
pillows, her face peculiar blue color,
lay Helen Grafton.
And then the excitement seemed to
overpower her. Her face grew a dark
purplish hue; she gasped for breath
and seemed on the verge of dying.
'Helen! Good heavens, how i'll you
are! What can we do for your You
poor girln'
There, there, I am better nowr'
gasped the sick girl. ga little water,
please. Thanks! that will do. 1t was
good of you to come, Maya. How did
you ever find me?"
''By accident. [ never knew till /
opened your door. But Helen dear,
you are very i'll. Have you sent for a
doctorP"
"No. 1 was waiting for Mrs.
Moriarty to come up again. I was
taken worse at noon"
you must have doctor at once.
And your brother" Maya added, after
a moments hesitation-''shall | send
for himP"
mo. no! 1t would only worry him.
He will be back at midnight"
"How could he leave you here all
alone?" Maya cried. He oughtn't
to have done it."
A flush suffused the sick girls face.
"You do not know what you are
saying" she replied. ''There never
was a brother like mine-kind, de-
voted, self-sacriicing. Why, do you
knew what he is doing now for me?
Yes, it is for me he is doing 1t. He
lost his position, and we were very,
very poor. He wanted to send NE away
to some great cure, and he could not.
But he was always clever you know,
and he found that he could earn money
by giving entertainments at the sum-
mer hotels; so he has been doing that.
He is a slight-of-hand performer" she
said bitterly, ''but nobler man never
trod the earth"
II am sure of that" Maya said fer
vently. 81 know his pride of old.
l know what he must have suffered,
but it was right for him to do anything
honest, dear. There, there! you must
not excite yourself"
These words were echoed by the
doctor when he came. He pronounced
it sudden and dangerous complica.
ton of the heart.
Il Will not leave her." Maya said.
And when a sleeping-potion had
been given that night, she sat down by
Helen's side to watch.
1t was after midnight when she half
started from her chair at the sound of
a footstep. The door opened, and
Walter Grafton came in.
''Maya!" he cried involuntarily.
''You here?"
"Hushr she commanded. "Helen
IS very ILL.,"
No word of explanation passed be-
tween them. He accepted her presence
as a joyous fact and said nothing.
Together they watched and tended
Helen's bedside; but it was of no use
that a skilled physician returned after
midnight to minister to the poor girl.
She woke and knew her brother.
Fond words passed between them, but
ere the sun had risen on the morrow
her soul had fled.
"Oh, if had only not gone awayr'