Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-24

without dln1culty, where the farmer left
her to drive TO his own home.
She begged in vain to see her grand
mother, her sweet voice raised in her
earnestness till it must have penetrated
resolutely shut out.
AS the door closed upon her, and she
heard the heavy bolt drawn. it flashed
upon her for the first time that she had
made no provision for her nights
shelter. II was winter weather, but not
intensely cold, and her dress was warm,
but it was not a pleasant prospect TO
think Of wandering about all night till
she could take the city train early in
the morning.
She shivered as she drew her shawl
closer and listened to the sounds in
doors that told her how carefully every
door and window was being barred
against her. The porch was deep and
sheltered from the wind. and when she
wearied of walking up and down she
crouched in corner TO rest. just over
her head was the window OF her grand
mothers room. and Hannah, setting this
window crack open for the night, let
out the sound of her own harsh voice.
Just q murmur of her grandmother's
faint utterance reached Bertha as she
listened intently, but what Hannah
said came to her clearly and distinctly.
It convinced her that the story she had
told Of the old lady's continued anger
was untrue, and the threat that the sight
Of her would have fatal results another
fiction.
''She wants me! am sure she will
forgive mel Bertha thought, as the
faint accents reached her, conveying no
words, but pleading in every tone. Il
will see her.
Again she listened intently, until she
was sure by the silence that the invalid
was alone. She was young. and light,
and country bred. 1t was no great feat
20 scramble by the twisted vines on the
porch pillars to its roof, and gain the
window Very cautiously the sash was
raised, the muslin curtain pushed aside.
and by the dim light Bertha could see
that the only occupant OF the room was
the old woman on the bed. who muir
INJURED necessarily:
"0h, Bertha, | was too hard, dear
childl Come to your old grannie before
she diesl"
Softly still, for Hannah might be near,
Bertha crept over the window-sill into
the room, and to the door. This she
locked, whispering to herself:
Il will speak to grannie, and il any
body tries to put me out she must first
break the door in.
But there was no sound in any other
part OF the house as she drew near the
invalid, whose large, eager eyes had by
that time discovered her.
Bertha! You have come, Bertha"
Yes, grannie, dear, dear grannie,
said Bertha caressing her tenderly, Il
am here.
But you must not stay. Hannah will
kill you. She will think you want the
money"
son, grannie, never mind money now
Only say you forgive me for leaving
you"
with all my heart, dear child. God
bless you ever and bless the man you
love il he is good to you
He is. grannie, the kindest, best
husband in the world. He shall come
to you tomorrow
Yes, dear! yesl But now listen. Go
to the clothes press and pull out the
lower drawer Quick Now. as Bertha
obeyed, do you see on the floor under
meath where the drawer was, package,
sewed up In strong muslin? Bring that
to me, and put the drawer back"
Bertha obeyed, and stood again beside
the bed
Put it in your bosom. Button your
dress over it. So.' said her grand
mother, eagerly watching her follow her
instructions Don't tell Hannah. Don't
tell anybody but your husband Prom
Use mel
81 promise, grannie.
lit is my savings for years; saved for
you before | made that cruel will. 1t
is yours, yours, darling. Hannah will
have the cottage and every thing else,
because have not taken the will away
from Mr.. Brown. Bertha, go away, dear,
now. Go. But come tomorrow with
your husband to protect you. Go, dear
Hannah may come. Goodnight. Good
night. God bless you, Bertha
Out again in the night air. reluctant
as she was to go, Bertha sped away to
the railway station, two miles away
She had unlocked the door and drawn
the window down before she left the
house, and hurried on, only anxious to
gain her home and bring her husband
TO receive the blessing already bestowed
on herself
There was train at dayhreak, and the
station was warm and light. but the
hours dragged slowly. until she was on
her way to the city.
The day wakened Hannah from
her heavy sleep, and conscience-strick-
en-, she hurried 10 her aunt. Nothing.
to her eyes. had been disturbed in the
room, no confusion told Of the midnight
visitor but the form on the bed was rigid
and pulseleSs, and noyoice answered her
frightened call
1t was too late for any spoken words Of
forgiveness when Marcus Thornton stood
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