Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-01
| M AID CAP;
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THE STORY OF A SIN.
ny HELEN 3. MATHERS.

"Hester Clarke mother to the child born
six years ago, and drowned by her servant
Janet Stork, in the Shifting Pool, is here
she has seen and spoken with Your wife
Meet me at Lord As at one tomorrow,
as without you no rapreiye can be obtain
ed
He read it straight through without
a muscle OF his face changing, then
walked like drunken man to the next
room, where ne sat down, and remained
quite motlonleSS for perhaps minute.
when lie looked up. and seeing the man
VINO still fingered by the door, certain
OF disaster, yet not daring to ask a
single question, he babe him prepare at
once for his departure. as he would be
setting out for ENGLAND Immediately.
And is it so bad that you can't wait
till the brpath's out of masters body,
sir?' said the old servant, in amaze
ment.
To this Mr.. Eyre youchsafed no reply.
but sat without movement of any kind
at the table for about ten minutes.
when he rose, and entering his fathers
room, stood Tor moment looking down
OH him.
He was on the point of turning to go,
when the old man opened his eyes, rea-
sonable and mocking as they had been
yesterday.
Father" said Mr.. Eyre, the word
rising unbidden to his lips that had not
passed them for thirty years, If must
leave you, and at once"
Has your wife gone off with your
best friend?" said the old man cynical
ly; better stay with me-a wife is
never worth running after unless she
happens to belong to another man, and
mis- fortunes will happen even in we'll
regulated families-particularly, may
say, III Well-regulated families-and |
Shall want you to protect me against
that Ablgail's rapacity by and by; be-
sides, you know there are fifty roads to
town, and rather more to Heaven. and
1t is your duty to stay and see that [
don't take the wrong turning" he adj
ded, with sardOnic smile.
You spoke last night Of something
you must tell me before you died" said
Mr.. Eyre, looking at his watch; I'm
three minutes [ shall have left this
house,
Probably to fulfill worse fate than
ever befell an Eyre yet, !" said the old
man significantly; lit never threatened
nle-BarringtOn escaped it by death;
but I've seen some dangerous signs in
yOu-Odd that it never occurred to any
body, and odder still the way [ found
out the old Jezebel's secret; so you'll
stay" he added sharply, ''or rue it to
the last day of your life"
Farewell, then" said Mr., Eyre,
turning on his father a look of which he
knew not the strangeness, and moving
to the door.
STAY" cried the old man, struggling
to rise; you are going to your DOOM"
But Mr.. Eyre did not hear him, nor if
he had heard would he have returned;
till the moment That he should find him
self face to face with Madcap, he would
be as one in whom The very life itself is
suspended.
As he stood with his foot on the car
rIage-Step, giving directions that any
letters that should arrive for him should
be rediracted to Lowell, confusion
made itself heard in the house behind
him, in the midst Of which rose a wO-
mans affected Shrek. Your master
is dead" said Mr. Eyre calmly, tell
Saunders to make all arrangements for
the funeral to take place at Lowell"
then gave the signal to drive on, and
was gone.