Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-18
CHAPTER *.

81 want to take up my cross and follow the
student and lover, but never lawgiver."
"Mummy's falleded asleep!" said
Dody in tone Of awe, as Madcap sank
to the ground, and lay, with closed eyes,
against a clump of WoOd-sOrrel no
whittier than the face it partly hid.
Mustn't wake her up, Ell, Doony?"
''Of course not" said Doume, with de-
cisiOn; and a bee moth sailing by at that
moment, the two boys instantly gave
chase, and were LED such dance after
it over hill and dale that they not once
think of their mother for a full hour
Madcap lay so still that bird hoped
upon her shoulder. and a butterfly rest
ed for moment in stray sunbeam on
her hair; her ears were dull to the dis
tant shouts of the children as to the
footsteps then approaching her, and be-
meath Franks eyes she rested uncon-
SciOusly as though she were indeed
wrapped in that Slumber which knows
no waking.
So would she look, he thought, when
-when-With q grOan he covered his
face, for he knew that Madcap was not
of those who could live on with all her
idols shattered around her.
He folded his arms on MS breast, and
all the love and longing of a lifetime
all the bitter scOrn and hatred of the
lOng-buried sin that had reached forth
its lean talon as from the grave. to de-
strOy the innocent, burned in his blue
eyes as he stood looking down upon the
still face, whose rounded beauty had
taken new curves of nobility, that, alas!
came suddenly to no human cOunten-
ance save by the touch of death or the
bitter pangs of heart-break. He would
not awaken her-let her sleep on; av.
he almost wished fOrever-fOr it could
not be Madcap who would struggle back
to life; Madcap, whose step was music
and whose glance was SunShine-the
fullneSS OF whose WOman'S life was
grounded in the truth and honor of the
man she loved. How many years ago
was it that he had seen her tripping
over the cowslips' heads, child play
ing with her children? There had come
to his mind. as he looked at her, some
verses that had surely been written for
her, and her alone:-
o zun, meake the giP cups all glitter
In gOOd all around her;
And meake O the deaisys white flowers
a BED IN the spring.
light-rollen wind, blow me hilher
The vaice Of her talken.
Or bring vrom her feet the light doust
She do tread in the spring.
He shivered in the warm ar as she
| stirred. and sighed. What was he go
| ing to say to her?-how should he meet
| her eyes? he asked himself, as with 4
| long gaSplng breath she lifted herself,
and gazed around.
| suppose that two drowning friends.
| ShipWrecked from different points OF
| the compass. and for a moment tossed
| up by the waters face to face with one
| another, do not in that moment either
| feel or express amazement or gladness
| at the meeting; and TO Madcap it was
| not strange that Frank should be here
with the old reSisJlesS impulse of af-
| lection toward him that had never left
her. she stretched out her hands, cry
| ing. "Oh. Frankl-Frankr'
"Madcap." he said. just as simply
and kneeled down beside her; and so
for minute. they looked in each others
| pale faces, and then sob broke from
one of them; but it was not Madcap.
! why are you so sorry" she SAID
her hand lying cold and still IN his
''Then it is true-I was not quite sure
there are so many men in the world
but now know; and you must not Ds
| sorry for me-but for her."
She drew her hand away and put 1t tc
her head, trying to remember. Some
THING came to nv mind as my sense!