Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-26

But she shook her head.
ST suffer too much ever to laugh at such
feelings as these" she said, in half-whis
per- IT do not wish to think it, but it is as
though knew something dreadful was
Oh, / cannot, / dare not clothe the terrible
thought in words. That would make it
seem so real-so almost certain. DR.. Gray
can this be the punishment for my disc
bedience-come so soon?n she asked in
aweStruck tones.
l could not answer, but proposed that
she should wrap mantle round her and
come with me into the garden TO watch
for her husband. She thanked me CRATE
fully, and l carried out basket seat fol-
her and placed it on the lawn.
Sitting with her hands clasped about hel
knees-paler, more fragile, more childish
looking than l had ever seen her-of q
sudden l felt, rather than saw, that a
change had come TO her. She bent for
ward as though listening intently, and at
the same moment distant sound struck
on my ear-the galloping of horse on the
high road.
Was there ever before on human coun-
tenance such beautified expression as
that which dawned and deepened on Mrs.
Wilton's as the sound approached? 1t was
close to US now, but the trees in the gar
den hid the road from our view Without
slackening speed the horse galloped in at
the open gate.
"Oh, Charliel Charliel Oh thank Godi''
cried the girl, in what seemed wild, I'M
governable ecstacy of gratitude and joy.
But pulled her back or the horse would
have been upon her.
Then / saw that the animal was rider
less, covered with dirt and foam; that the
bride hung loose, dragging on the gravel.
A groom who had been on the watch
came out. In another moment all the
household were assembled on the lawn.
Mrs. Wilton had fallen back, as 1
thought, fainting in my arms. But no,
her senses had not forsaken her. She
raised herself and pointed in the direction
the horse had come.
HE lies there-therer' she cried, and,
pushing me from her, ran forward to-
ward the gate. / babe the servants bring
lanterns and follow me. To Mrs. Wilton,
who was out in the road by this time, I
said all / could say to dissuade her from
going with me; but my words fell on deaf
ears. Feeling it was useless-in one sense
cruel-to persist, l compelled her to take
my arm. Endowed for the time, by
excitement, with almost superhuman
strength, she seemed to drag me forward
rather than to lean on me. After proceed
ing about mile, we came to bit of level
road which for some distance in front
showed clear and distinct in the moon
light. Here, 1 felt certain, we had lost all
traPa nf tha hnrSa'S Shna orb which
hitherto had been every now and then per-
ceptible in the dusty highway.
'"There is a shorter cuff he knew of
it," said, and stopped.
''Then if there is he would come by it
he would be sure to find out and come by
it," she cried.
And l led her back a little distance to a
gate at the entrance of wood, where sure
enough were traces sufficient to show we
were again on the right track. Servants
with lanterns had oyertaken US by this
time; So calling out at intervals and list
ening in vain for a response, we entered
the dark wood. Through it was an almost
bridal path, considered
somewhat unsafe by day, but particularly
so at night; the gnarled roots of trees
formed network upon the ground. 1t
was with considerable difficulty we made
our way. Mrs. Wilton stumbled many
times, and would have fallen but for my
support. At last she loosed my arm and
ran forward, signing me not to follow her.
In another moment the wood resounded
with wild and piercing cry. She had
seen what the rest of US had failed to see,
and when | came up to her she was kneel-
ing beside her husband, her hands clasped
about his neck, her face close pressed to
his. One agonized look she gave me as 1
bent over them. MY dreamr' she said.
l understood.
There was an ugly wound on the back
of poor Charlie Wilton's head; the body
was still warm, but the heart had ceased
to beat. Though Mrs Wilton did not
speak again, she never completely lost her
senses, but her mind seemed stunned.
We put some hurdles together and carried
him back thus to Croft house.
An inquest was held, every particular of
which was infinitely reported in the coun-
ty newspaper, to appear in condensed form
in most of the journals of the day. But
no friends of the dead man ever came for
ward, nor was it satisfactorily proved
his death had been the result of
violence or of an accidental fall from his
horse in the dangerous pathway through
the wood.
The postoffice officials at D. perfectly
the deceased calling for let
tiers on the day in question, giving the
name of Wilton; but there were none for
him. In the bank was lodged to his credit
some $4,000 or $4,000.
1 took upon myself the arrangements for
the funeral, as of everything else Mrs.
Wilton's mind had not sufficiently recov-
cred from the shock it had received on that
terrible night to understand or care for
what went on around her. Only once,
when urged writing to her friends, did
she even momentarily rouse herself to an
swer me. MY father will never forgive
me-" she said. 81 acted in defiance of his
commands. No, I cannot write to him."
Then she added, HE has married again."
which perhaps in part explained.
A month later baby was born-a boy,
whom she called Charlie-and when she
spoke the name tears sprang to her eyes
for the first time. 1t was not until saw
those tears that had the slightest hope of
her mind rallying from the shock; but
then l knew the living child would save
her. She looked upon him as having been
sent direct from heaven to solace her for
her loss. She regarded him as an emana-
ton from the departed spirit of her hus-
band. There was certainly something IN
common about the child He was pretty,
but not engaging. He never cried, but it
may also be said he never smiled. He did
not suffer, but there was about him none
of the joyousness of childhood 1t seemed
as though the thunder-cloud that had
burst over the mothers head had left its
shadow on the child.
Between two and three years after Mr..
Wilton's death a change seemed likely to