Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-05

Miss Beresford, auSterely.
well, then, | listened patiently to good
| deal of raving from Kelly on the subject of
| Hernia Herrick. don't suppose l should
have exhibited as much patience as did,
| but for the fact that was waiting on George
my uncle-at the time, and couldn't get
away. And after that l listened with even
more patience to a perfect farrago of nom
sense from our sub-inspector about the
would-be assassin we have caught, and his
| fellows; and, besides all this, | thought Of
you every moment since last l saw you"
"Eyery moment Not one neglected%'
| asks she, smiling.
'I'n swear to that too, if you like. Pm in
good practice now"
| mo, no." hastily. 81 can believe you
without that"
did you hear about your Ryder" asks
Desmond, suddenly.
II disclaim the possession" says Monica.
sBut what of him?'
He has been ordered, with his regiment,
to Egypt, to fight Arab, where l hope he
will be shot. And the 36th are coming in
his place."
'How can you say such shocking things"
'sIs it shocking to say the Both are coming
| to Clonbree?'
mo, but what you said about Mr.. Ryde."
''Oh, that! Well l hope, then, if they
don't knock the life they will knock the con-
ceit and the superfluouS flesh out of him !;
will that do?"
every badly. He was horrid man in
many ways, but he did you no harm"
''He dared to look at you"
''The cat may look at the king
''But the cat may not look at my queen.
| So now, madame, what have you to Say?"
| III %oJl
Hernia. So Mr.. Kelly is engaged to her?"
Eyes. He has just discovered her to be
the most superior as well as the loveliest
woman upon earth. He told me so. Iven-
tured mildly but firmly to differ with him
and enter protest on your behalf, but he
wouldn't hear of it. In his opinion you are
nowhere beside the majestic Hernia
Il know that. He is right" says Monica,
meekly. But there is a reprOachful queS-
| ton in her eyes, as she says it, that contra
| diets the meekneSs.
HE is not" says Desmond, with loving
Indignation, pressing her dear little head so
close against his heart that she can hear it
throbbing bravely and can find JOY in the
thought that each separate throb is all her
own. THE man who thinks so must be in
sane A fig for Hernia. Where would she
|
yOnd compare?"
GU are prejudiced; you tell too iatter-
ing a tale,'' says Monica, with soft dispar-
agement; but the fond, foolish, lOver-like
words are very dear and sweet to her, all
| the same.
He has his arms round her; in her tender,
childish fashion she has laid her cheek
against his; and now, with slow move
ment, she turns her head until her lips reach
his.
II love you," she whispers.
Almost in a sigh the words are breathed,
and sense Of rapture-of c0mpletion-ren-
ders the young man for the instant mute
Yet in her soul so we'll she knows of his con-
| tent that she cares little for any answer save
that which his fond eyes give.
| A breath from the sleeping world of flow
ers below comes up to the balcony and
| battles the lovers in its sweets. The wan
dering NOON looks down upon them, and
lights up the dark windows behind them,
| till they look like FURNISHED silver. A dead
ly silence lies on grass and Dough; it seems
to them as though of ali the eager world,
they two only are awake, and alone!
DO l count with you, then, as more than
all?" he says, at length; than Terence or
than Kit?"
| You know it, she says, earnestly.
| Suddenly he loosens his arms from round
| her, and, pushing her slender, white-robed
! figure gently backward gaZeS searchingly
| into her calm but wondering face.
| Tell me-" he says,-Some mad, inward
craving driving him to ask the needless ques-
| tion,-''how would it have been with you if
l had been killed yesterday? Would you i1l
time have loved again?
am not sure, but l think he would have
| recalled the words when it is too late. A
| culver runs through the girls frame; great
wave of emotion sweeping over her face
| transfgures it changing its calm to quick
| and living grief. The moonbeams, catching
| her. folds her in floods of palest glory, until
he who watches her with remorseTuI eyes
can only lil1en her to a fragile saint, as she
| stands there in her white, clinging draperies.
You are cruel" she says, at last, with a
| low, gasping cry.
| He falls at her feet.
'FOrgive me, my love, my darlingp' he
entreats. II should never have said that.
and yet am glad l did. To feel, to knoaU
you are altogether mine"
you had doubt?'' she says; and then
two large tears rise slowly, until her beauti-
| full eyes look passionate reproach at him
| through heavy mist. Then the mist clears
dlIu GNO uiOpSs quliItIli3 OiiCll o"CCO
home, fall upon the back Of the small hand
| she has placed nervously against her throat.
"a last one and it is gone forever" He
rises to his feet. 'Place your arms round my
neck again." he says, with anxious entreaty,
| ''and let me feel myself forgiven"
A smile, as coy as it is tender, curves her
| dainty lips as she lifts to his two soft, dewy
| eyes, in which the light OF first love has at
| last been fully kindled. She comes step
| nearer to him, still smiling,-a lovely thing
| round which the moOnbeamS riot as though
| in ecstasy over her perfect fairness,-and
| then in another instant they are both in
| heaven, lin paradise in one another's
| arms!''
You are happy?" questions he, after q
| long pause. into which no man may look.
Il am with yolt," returns she, softly.
GLOW sweet a meaning lies within your
wordsI"
"a true meaning. But see, how late it
| growsI For a few hours we must part.
| Until t0-morrow-good-night
| Goodnight. my life! my sweet, street.
| hearth says Desmond.
THE END.
|