Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-28
I'HE RED FLAG.
CONTINUED.


They We're too high-minded to follow
or to play spy upon her. But they
watched her face, her bearing. when
she was with them-which was but
rarely noW-and they waited for the
revelation of her secret.
She would not make her home with
them. That was Rose DurandS worst
grief. If she could have had that be-
loved mourner beside her hearth every
day; if she could have seen her bend
ing over the little ones cradle, be-
guiled by the sweetness of his dawn
ing intelligence; if she had but been
allowed to soothe anil console her
sister, Rose would have been quite
happy. She would have trusted to
her own loving arts, and to the great
healer Time, and she would have
looked forward to a day when Kath-
leen's wounds would be healed
But Kathleen Rugged her loneliness
as if it were the one precious thing
left to her. She would not be tempted
from her solitude in the two quiet
rooms upstairs. L am tired when l
one day, when Rose upbraided her
with unkindness in refusing to spend
her leisure hours in the Durand
menage. 1T would be no rest to me
to be with you and baby, dear as
he is. | want to be quite alone with
my dreams of the past"
They are not good for you, Kath-
Of
so yes, they are. They are my
greatest comfort Sometimes, sitting
here in the afternoon sunlig with a
volume Of Hugo or Musset in my lap,
[ almost believe that CASTOR is sitting
in that chair where you are now, by
my side. / dare not lift my eyes to
look up at him.
why nOt|'
Because | should know then he
was not there, and the spell would be
broken. You don't know how real
day-dreams are to me-
TOO real. Kathleen; such dreams as
these lead to madness"
Let me be mad, then. / would
rather be mad and see him there,
than sane and not see him. / would
welcome madness tomorrow if [ could
believe that he was still alive-if there
II should remember that he was dead"
Kathleen. you brighten me to
DEATH
Forgive me, dearest" the girl an
swered gently. There is no cause for
fear You do not know how steady
my brain has been, how regularly my
heart has beaten, ever since [ have had
-emplOyment-buSin to dO-a pur-
pose in life Before, / felt as if /
were wandering in a desert, under
IA midnight sky. Comets were blazing
in that sky-shOOting-stars darting
their light, now this way, now that;
but there was no star to guide my
steps-there was no road across the
waste. Now | feel as if l were travel
ing on Il straight level road. with my
guiding-star shining steadily before
me; there such difference"
You look so white this. afternoon,
darling. Have you worked harder
than usual today?"
Yes, it was harder today-very,
very far!' Kathleen answered, with
an absent air.
You had further to so to your
employment:' faltered Rose, looking
at her wonderingly. rs it not always
in the same place.
Not always"
THAT is very strange
Life is strange answered Kath-
leen, almost as strange as death. O
Rose, my best of sisters, don't look
so troubled about me. Believe me that
all is going well with me. 1 am do
ing no harm. | am doing my duty.
And all will come right in the end
This was spoken with a fervor which
in some measure treasured Madame
Durand She had never suspected evil
of her sister. She knew that pure
nature too well for doubt to be pos
sible upon this score. Her chief fear.
her ever-present dread, was for the
soundness of the girls reason, for the
capacity of her mind to stand against
the strain of a great sorrow.
Kathleen would not go to her sister S
rooms, but Rose went to the widow S
lonely home two or three times in
every day; she would not be put off
by Kathleen's desire for solitude. She
went to her the last thing every night,
and knelt and prayed with her; but
Kathleen's lips were dumb-that spirit
which had once been feryent in prayer
was now voiceless. The widow knelt
beside her sister with bowed head
but there were some of Roses prayers
to which she would not even say
Amen.
why do you not join in the Pater-
noster, Kathleen?' Rose asked ten
derby.
Because / cannot join with all my
heart. Forgive US our debts as we
forgive our debtors. If l said that
with my lips my heart would be the
heart of a liar. There are some debts
that cannot be forgiven, some wrongs
that must be avenged"
vengeance belongs to God" an
swered Rose quietly. And with Him
it is not vengeance, but justice"
: That is all l want" said Kathleen.
Justice, justice, justicer'
And then she lifted up her face,
which had been bowed upon her
clasped hands until now, and prayed
aloud:
20 God, Thou art my help and de-