Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-11

COiiEt I'D q better Understanding dioHt, HSllt
away, leaving them together.
Lady Darrell went up to the girl. She laid
her hands on her arm appeaIingly, andraised
her face with pleading expression.
Pauline" she said. her lips trembling
with emotion, after all, l was your uncle's
wife; for his sake you might show me lit
tie kindness. Marriage is tie for life, not
a bond for one day. On. Pauline, Pauline,
if there is any reason why | should not mar
ry Aubrey Langton, tell it--for Heavens
sake, tell it! Your manner is always so
strange to him; if you know anything against
him, tell me now before it is too Iate-tell
mer'
There fell over them profound silence,
broken only by the sweet CHEEKY music of
bird singing in the cedar tree, and the faint
Cighing OF the wind among the leaves.
Tell me, for Heavens sakew repeated
Lady Darrell, her grasp tightening on Pau
lines arm.
81 have nothing to tell was the curt reply,
pray do not hold my arm so tightly, Lady
Darrell: have nothing to tell"
DO not deceive me-there must be some
reason for your strange manner Tell it to
me now; before it is too late"
There was almost an agony of pleading in
her face and voice, but Pauline turned VesO-
lutely away, leaving her beneath the cedar
alone.
Il must be mistaken" Lady Darrell
thought. what can she know Of him? |
must be wrong to doubt him; surely if |
doubt him | shall doubt Heaven itself. 1t is
her manner-her awkward manner-n0thing
more"
And she tried her best to dismiss all
thoughts of Pauline from her mind, and give
herself to her newly-found happiness.
Pauline" said Miss Hastings, sorrowful-
ly, when she rej0ined the girl. Il cannot I'M
derstand YOU"
Il do not quite understand myself" re-
turned Miss Darrell. Il did not think had
any weakness or pity i'll my heart, but find
it is there.
'sl on BRIGHTEN me-" said Miss Hastings
''What makes you so strange? o, Pauline,
throw it off, this black shadow that envel-
opes you and forget this idea. of vengeance
which has so completely changed youv'
She looked up with a smile-a hard, bitter
smile.
II shall have had my revenge she said,
gloomiIy, when she has married him."
Nor could any cntreaticS any prayers Of
the kindhearted woman move her to say
more.
Whether the mysterious and uncertain as
pect of things prtycd upon Miss Hastings
mind, whether she 9rieyed over her pupil
and allowed that grief to disturb her was
never revealed, but in the month of August
she became seriously ill-not enough to be
obliged to keep her room, but her health and
her strength failed her. and day by day she
became weaker and less able to make any
eXertion.
Lady Darrell sent for Doctor Helmstone,
and he advised Miss Hastings To 90 to the
seaside at once, and to remain there during
the autumn. At her earnest request Pauline
consented TO accompany her.
The change viii do you good as we'll as
myself" said the anxious lady: and Miss
Darrell saw that she was thinking how much
better it would he that she should leave Oar
reil Court
Il will CO. she said. Il know what you
are thinking of. My vengeance is nearly
| accomplished There is no reason now why
| [ should remain here"
After many consultations it was agreed
| that they should 90 to the pretty little water
ng-place called Omberleigh. Many things
recommended it; the coast was sheltered, the
scenery beautiful, the little town itself very
quiet, the visitors were few and of the higher
| spot than Omberleigh.
Lady Darrell was generosity itself. In her
| quiet, amiabIe way she liked Miss Hastings
as well as she was capable of liking any one.
| She insisted upon making all kinds of ar
| engagements for the g0yernesS-She was to
have every comfort, every luxury.
And you must do nothing" she said, in
| her most caressing manner, ''but try to get
| n
young and blooming when you return"
Lady Darrell had already written to Onl-
| berleigh, and through an agent there, had
| secured beautiful apartments. When Miss
| Hastings half demonstrated with her, she
| LAUGHED
Il have nothing to do" she said ''but
make every one happy; and it is my duty to
| find you always a comfortable home"
| Lady Darrell looked, as she was in those
! days, most happy woman. She seemed to
| have grown younger and fairer. The height
of her ambition, the height of her happiness,
was reached at last. She was rich in the
| worlds goods, and it was in her power to
| make the man she loved rich and powerful
| too. She was, for the first time in her life
| pleasing her own heart; and happiness made
her more tender, more amiable, more consid-
crate and thoughtful for others.
Lady Hampton mourned over the great
mistake her niece was making. She had
whispered in confidence to all her dear
friends that ElinOr was really going to throw
herself away Oh the captain after all. 1t was
such pity, she said, when Lord Aynsley
was SO deeply in love with her.
But them" she concluded, with sigh
''it is a matter in which | cannot interfere"
Yet looking at Lady Darrell's bright, hap
Ply face, she could not quite regret the cap
tain'S existence.
You will not be lonely, Lady Darrell, %
said Miss Hastings, the evening before her
journey.
She never forgot the light that spread over
the fair young face-the intense happiness
that ShOne in the blue eyes,
NO." she returned, with sigh of unutter-
able content Il shall never be lonely again.
have thoughts and memories that keep my
heart warm-all loneliness or sorrow is over
for me'
On the morrow Miss Darrell and the gov
erneSs We're to 60 to Omberegh, but the
same night Lady Darrell went to Pauline's
room.
Il hope you will excuse me- she said,
when the girl looked up in naughty surprise
Il want to say few words to you before
0o"
The cool, formal terms on which they lived
We're set aside, and for the first time Lady
Darrell visited Pauline III her room.
Il want to ask you one great favor" con
tinued Lady Darrell. 'Will you promise me
that Miss Hastings shall not want for any
thing? She is far from strong"
Il shall consider Miss Hastings my own
especial charge said Pauline.
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