The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-04-15

of the boat, folding more closely in her
arms the little child she carried.
"ASsunta," said the Minister, SOL
emily, sis it well that you should be
here nOw?"
''Alas! 5ignorG, to say farewell-Maria
santisSima, help me- she cried, wildly.
The minister said no more. The wind
/ dashed the loch up with a restless, surg
inc movement, and 1t needed all his at
| tention to row safely to land.
Lights fitted backward and forward
| through the long, dark passage of Dun
mOnaigh; backward and forward hurried
bewildcrcd and terrified servants; but in
the siCk-chamber all was profoundly
still, except for the deep-drawn breath
ing of the dying man.
The little group were gathered around
him Of his nearest kin-Lady Grisel, his
mother who tended him with a rigid
COuntcuarice, all her LIES lessons in self
control now summoned to her aid; be-
side her, her second son, Angus, whom
she loved far better than haplesS Evan.
! Angus face was strange, 50 dire We're
the conflicting passions that altered its
! expression from moment to moment as
| his Keen blue eyes were fixed on his
( diving brother Angus should have been
the eldest SOn-all agreed in that; his
" a. t4lN W tIi IlI'liCSui liAC DO"ti u VI
! ganlzation, the steady sclf-respect. Poor
| Evan was the necr-do-wcel. full of
heart and atfcCtionatc, but sclf-willcd,
weak, and cXtravagant. Was the birth
right to be his at last? Was fortune to
smile on Angus, the dcarly-prized inner
! itance to fall to him, hitherto pcnnilcSS
! younger son?
Lady Grisel moved to and fro, and
| mostened her sons lips wHh brandy,
| and the doctor sat with his finger on his
/ pulse waiting till the deep-drawn
! breathS should grow slower and fainter.
There came a soft knock at the door.
and Lady Grisel opened it noiselessly,
! The Minister is come" said a whisper
| ing voice, and Lady GriScl went out to
! him. and closed the door behind her.
The great door and entrance to Dun
! mOnaigh opened to the mainland, tut
| small side or pO~teru door IN the great
| hall opened on to the loch, and from this
| half-a dozen steps descended into the wa
| ter; here the boats unladed and were
| fastened to large iron rings in the wall.
| Master Malcolm had fastened his boat,
aud by the light of a lantern which
! kerenhappuch held up at arms length,
standing in the stern, he half supported
| half-carriCd Assunta up the steps and
into the hall
The Minister took off his great cloak,
! throwing it on a stool, from which, be-
fore long, the Watcr with which the gar
ment was saturated Strcamcd on to the
floor.
The hall was but dimly lightly by two
brass Iamps winch stood on thn rrnat
stone chimney-picce, and AsSunta, faint
and cold with terror, Shrank into the
shadow thrown by the wide mantel-Shelf
so that whom LADY (;risnI rassrd into tho
hall she only norcciyad tho fall figurn of
tho Minister and knrnnbonnnGb who
stood 10 no ,octor,,
,.yo, b..vo como :, bod Of doo+L
Master WaIcoYm ;. shn Soid and Lot' ,.air[.
soundcd cold and passionIcss
s.ay la Crisaf (.od boIr tbo ,,oor
lad tbrouoL tbn vaIIav ar tho shadow Of
dnatb-I am roIne tn nrav Inv him ana
with him"
She turned toward the door and
motioning with her hand that he should
follow her, led the way.
Assunta started NJ and followed them
swiftly with child in her arms.
EVAN, the Minister, has come to YOU"
| said LADY GriscI bending over her diving
son. .JIayc Won no word OF repcnt3nceo,'
She held the candle fun in his dimmed
sight, and spoke loud, but there came
no response except the labored breathing
no movement of the half shut eycIids.
Gle shouldna be yeycd, Leddy GriscI."
| said the doctor. tcndcrIv: ''mau Gamma
| help him the moo" and he moistcncd the
! white 'fpS again.
/ NoiseIcssIy Assunta had stolen to the
! door. but now She burst from Uuppie's
! hands who would tain have held her
! back and. throwing her shawl back from
| her face, She rushed forward to the side
| of the dying man. She threw herself on
! her knees, and the agony of her voice
! filled the astonished bystandcrs with
mCmentary awe.