Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-03


the foamy fountains dancing on high like
so many Of Undine's relations mantled
| superbly in colored lights.
Anastasia and Sherieff found a quiet
seat at comfortable position from the
band. People were walking and sitting
all round them, and they amused them
selves by watching the groups.
Shall we move away from the smoke
of that cigar" Mr.. Sherrieff asked pres,
emily Pm afraid it comes across your
face By Jover' This last exclamation
was to himself as he distinctly caught the
profile of the smoker.
Anastasia followed his gaze and turned
CHASTITY pale. Osmund Questins face, his
clean cut, aquiline profile, his marked eye
brows, his crisp mustache some shades
lighter than his hair-worn a trifle longer
than formerly-even the heavy intagIio
ring on the hand now raised to his cigar
all were before her. The beating of her
heart almost choked her; she was afraid
her companion might hear her sobbfng
breath and see that she trembled from
head to foot. She must get the better of
the icy pain somehow. Love-the heart
lessness of his last letter killed that-but,
limited reproach to her for not having
broken off the engagement before; she
writhed at the thought of it, 'And how
1 deceived myself in my blindness" she
thought, bitterly. 81 see now in his face
what ought to have seen before-cold
self-seeking. He must have altered grad
ually, for no one could now be attracted
by the look of goodness fancied I could
see"
''You know that MANI" she asked young
Sherrief
$50 lar that once he tried his fortunes
on the stage at Manchester in the company
with which I was acting. His name is
Questin; pretty good on the stage, no good
off, | imagine. He seems pretty happy
now. Come back from the road to ruin
by the looks of him, with the heavy father
reconcile4."
No doubt the old gentleman with red
face and double eyeglasses, who was
speaking emphatically at that moment,
was Mr.. QueStin, ST..
Cant go on, I tell you. What 1 want
to know is, what does it mean? know,
/ know; it's all trick to get my consent
to your marrying that little hussy."
Anastasia made strong effort, and rose.
"We do not want to be taken into family
condolences" she said, with face so pale
and constrained that Dick Sherrieff was
startled .
But it was not so easy to eXtricate them
selves all at once from the second row of
seats in which they were, for other per-
sons had come in after them. Tasia dread
ed to hear Osmunds voice in answer, and
her own head was swimming, her ears
throbbiHg. so that when he spoke the
words were partly muff1ed, yet she could
not help listening with passionate eager
ness. Perhaps something he said might
make his conduct appear less black. If so,
it might save shred Of her torn self-re-
spect
81 told you, my dear father, that 1 re-
GREETED extremely having been such fool
as to allow that young lady to stand be-
tween you and me. | was mistaken in
her. have good reasons to know that
you were right, and l was wrong, and the
affair is wholly at an end"
He happened to turn, as Anastasia
passed out, to knock off the end of his
cigar. The ash touched her dress, he beg
ged her pardon, lf ed his hat, and looked
her in the face. For an instant-such in
stants are comprehensive-their eyes met,
each gazing into the others. The pause
on Anastasia's part was perceptible to her
companion.
'Mr Sherrieff," she said, 81 feel rather
giddy, 1 think-shall we not find anoth-
er seat? I cannot walk just at this mo-
ment"
That something was more than little
Il
her to chair out of the lamplight and
waited for further orders. She remained
profoundly silent, in that still silence sug-
gestive of strong underworkings.
will you answer me a question upon
your honor, Mr.. Sherrieff?" she asked at
length
81 will" he answered; 81 am sure you
will not put an impossible one."
No-just this: Have you observed any,
thing about me which would lead you to
doubt my perfect sanity? Am like per-
son who could be the subject of a hallrl-
cinatiOn-Or anything temporary of that
kind?"
eff that is all, / can honestly assure you
Miss Garnham, that l feel the utmost
confidence in your clearness of mind-it
was just that that struck me in you at
once''
She heaved deep sigh. "Thank you
Now tell me all you remember about that
Mr.. Questin, please; it is of great import
ance to me?"
Really, hardly exchanged two words
with him, though l was in company with
him more or less for three weeks. but we
did not play in the same piece, and I did
not fancy him particularly, to say the
truth.
''Should you have considered him good
kind of man, one who would probably in
terest himself in philanthropic work? Or
at all scientific-who had studied medi-
cine for the sake of being useful?"
Sherrieff looked unfeignedly astonished
'Why, no; rather the reverse of all that
an idler pure ct simple, or only laboring
for his own ends"
"And yet," she said, 81 knew Mr.. Cues
tins son for more than four years well, for
two years very well, and that was the sort
of man he was"
Dick looked embarrassed 81 dare say
you thought so, Miss Garnham. Some
men are such awful Ears-I mean-hum-
bugs-where women are concerned. But
really, perhaps you might have idealized
him without beinng aware of it, you
know"
EYES," she answered, sit is possible,
and human nature is inconsistent, 1 know
that. And yet, Mr. Sherrieff, will you
be so kind as to take me as close to that
man as possible? And may ask you as
favor to find out for me where he is
stopping? 1t is Of Unreasonable import
ance."
81 am quite at your service-if you want
to know more | will find out"