Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-21
and I am to be told nothings.


Nothing more than I have told YOU
already. | have taken upon myself
an ayocation which will oblige me to
60 out very early every morning; to be
out sometimes at dusk. | want you
to understand this. and not to be I'M
easy when [ am away from home
Il cannot help being uneasy. I am
anxious about you every hour of the
day. Why cannot you stay at home,
Kathleen. and let me take care IF you?
could get you work that you could
do in your own room: sheltered. safe.
protected from the pollution of the
streets, from the hearing of foul Ian
glla@e, from brushing shoulders with
disreputable people"
Il hear nothing: feel 20 degradation.
| think nothing, am conscious of moth
ing, but my own business.
rs this business-respectab BE
worthy Of a good CathOlic?'
Yes, it is respectable. There is war
rant for it in the Scriptures
Rose looked at her with acutest anX-
iety. That pale fixed face. the strange
brightness of the eyes, suggested an
eXaltatiOn of spirit, a state of mind
which touched the confines of mad
ness. And yet the girls voice was
soft and gentle, the girls movements
We're quiet and deliberate. There was
no Wildness of gesture, no sign of
actual unreason. Kathleen was terri
bly, in earnest, that was all
From that hour the girls health
seemed to improve; both mentally and
physically there was a change for the
better. Her eye had a steadier light;
there seemed less of eXaltation, of
feveriSh eXcitment. Her whole being
seemed braced and strengthened, as if
by some heroic purpose. Yet there
were times when the light in those
steadfast eyes, the marble lines Of the
firmly-set lips, were almost awful.
What u woman that is, that sister
in-law of yours!' said Durand's artist
friend, the graybeard who had been
one Of the witnesses of the double
wedding. THAT face would be mag
nificent for Jael or Judith, for Char
lotte Corday Or Salammbo. That girl
is capable Of anything strange or
heroic or deadly. She has the tenacity
of Il Redskin.''
Durand smiled Il sad incredulous
smile.
Poor child, how little you know
herr he answered. You clever men
are SO easily led away by a fancy.
Kathleen is one of the gentlest souls
know. She adored her husband, and
her grief at his death has turned her
little here" pointing to his forehead
But she is incapable of any violent
act"
She is capable Of a great crime in
a great cause, as Charlotte Corday
was; the gentlest Of souls, she, till she
took the knife in her hand to slay
! him whom she deemed the scourge of
her country. [ am not led away by
fancies, Durand. Faces are open pages
to the eye Of a painter. L can read
| that one, and know what it MEANS
Philip took this for the illusion of
an habitual dreamer, and attached nc
weight to the opinion. Kathleen had
given them no cause for uneaSineSs
since she commenced her ''avocation.' -
Her life passed with an almost
mechanical regularity. She left the
house every morning before seven
sometimes even before six. She had
been observed to go out as early as
! five. She came home again at any
hour between nine and eleven, break
tasted alone in her own sitting-roOm
did her homework, her little bit OF
marketing, and then slept or rested
for an hour or two. Then, later III
the afternoon, she went out again, tC
return after dark.
| This was her manner Of life, as
seen by her sister and her sisters
husband. They puzzled themselves ex-
ceedingly as to the nature of that EN-
pIoyment which obliged her to keep
such curious hours. They talked, and
wondered, and specialized; but they
did not venture to question her. She
| had entreated Rose to forbear; and
Rose, who so fondly loved her, was
content to remain in ignorance, seeing
that the mOurner seemed more tran,
quill, more resigned than before she
began this unknown labor.
Yet they could not refrain from
speculations and wonderings between
themselves. the husband and wife,
for whom life was free from all care
save this one anxiety about the widow
ed girl
Was her occupation that of a govern.
ess? Had she found two sets of pu-
pills in some humble circle, where SUI
perior accomplishments were not de.
manded IN a teacher? Did she go to
one family in the morning, to an,
other in the evening? This seemed a
natural and likely explanation. But if
it were so, why had she made a mys.
terry of so simple a matter?
To be continued.
FOR THE WINDOW GARDEN.