The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-10-07

with questions of politics as had Louis
been.
For several weeks the woman in
black was missed. Upon her return,
She ard Charles held many interviews,
and. seemingly as if in somewhat con-
neCted with these meetings, Charles
one day sent the following telegraph
dispatch:
Halifax. June -, lS3-.
Mrs. MATILDA PATTERSON: have Just landed
here and Will start a. once fer home May
reacn Won by Thursday. Was kidnapped, taken
to Calcutta; on the voyage home was ship
wrecked, detail ell on an unknown land for
nearly TWO wears. " ill tell you all when see
you. Love to Mary. Hope you are both well.
LOUIS PATTERSON.
When the the messenger brought
the dispatch, Mrs. Patterson was lying
on her couch sick almost unto death.
She was surrounded with loving friends
who sought to prove their devotion by
little acts of kindness. but neither kilt
nor kin were there 10 comfort her.
| Yet Mary Nordrum had been to her
| Mother Patterson all that child could
! be. Their tears had mingled together:
! their hopes conferred on the same OBJ
| ject of affection. and the heart OF one
/ knew no pain the other didn't expert
/ ence, except the mysteriO secret
| about Major Nordrum 5 will, which the
! sick woman. for some strange reason,
refused to divulge.
Mary read the message first. The
/ trials and sorrows She had experienced
nerved her for any event, no matter
what it might be. For a moment she
was overcome by the glad news. Her
! thoughts went out TO Mrs. Patterson,
| for she feared the effect of sucn joyful
4 Il | i,' WE
! head bowed upon the poor sick woman
! breast, and with arms tenderly en-
twined around her neck, Mary told her
adopted mother of the expected ar
rival of her son.
Mrs. Patterson listened unmOved,
then turned her head toward the wall,
as if she would be alone with her
thoughts. An hour passed. Then,
arOusing herself and beckeOning Mary
to come to her bedside. she simply
said she prayed TO live long enough to
take her dear bog by the hand. place
it in MarE'S. bless her children. and
commend her spirit to the God who
gave it.
Was her prayer answered?
Several days and nights passed, and
the hour Of Louis expected arrival was
near at hand. \ kind neighbor had
offered to meet Louis with a carriage
and bring him to his home.
During the day Mrs. Patterson APP
| peared to sleep. Hercy were closed
| and she breathed naturally. Suddenly
she raised herselfUp in bed and looked
eagerly about the room. She was not
excited, hut calm and self-cOmpoSed.
Lifting her hand and pointing her
long. bOny fingers toward the open
| window, through which the setting sun
shone bright and clear she exclaimed
in a voice loud and distinct for one 50
near the grave:
Sec there. Look yonder, What
beautiful light, How brilliant it is,
How grand, Watch It's golden rays
spreading out on all sides and in every
direction. Nearer and nearer it comes,
wider and wider its pathway is ex-
tended. and brighter and brighter
grows its glittering rays, and now it
seems To cover the land with new life,
new Joys, new hopes. new expectations,
and a brighter future.
ON ard on she went describing her
wondrouS vision speaking as one in
spircd. Suddenly she stopped and
I gazcd upon the wandering group. The
silence was then broken by the sound
! of rafting wheels of carriage ap-
I preaching the house. The expected
/ one has come. The little group around
| the bedside retire, all save the weep
! ING girl, who has clasped her hand in
that Of he dying woman. and the at
i tending physician.
The door oDcuS, 4 young man hounds
noisclcS,ly in, rushes to the bedside
| kisses the pale cheek of the emaciated
! woman who lies their 50 quiet. 50 weak
So calm, then atfcCtiOnately embraces
| the trembling girl, who stands notion
! less and white AZ a statue of the purest
/ parean marble, and implants d kiss
/ upon her lips, which salutation she
/ feeIingly and lovingly returns.
! The sick woman gazcd first upon the
! young man then upon the young girl,
and. without moving a muscle or utter
I ing a word, closed her eyes. The sob
/ hing girl appealed to the dying woman
| to speak to her, and besecchingly i'm
| plorcd her to give your children
! your Louis. your Mary your blessing"
"Oh. sainted mother, the angels ask
! this Of You. Do not. oh. do not, | beg
! of YOU. do not withhold il"
4 There was a motion of the lips. a
/ pressure q tnc hand. an effort to speak.
/ a smile it might be perhaps it was
and Mary Nordrum believed the bcs-
/ sing she Cravrd was mentally bestowed
/ upon her and her lover.
! The physician noticing the change
] coming over the sick wOmans cOuntc-
nance. stepped to the door and babe
the waiting attendants come in. Per
! ceiving that she was making an effort
as if 10 speak. one of the group leaned
over the bed. and asked her if she
wanted to sav something about the
will. She su lied a. if pleased that her
desire was understood. Then. turning
her face toward the window through
which the last rays of the setting sun
were dimly tiickering. speaking in a
! low voice. yet distinct and clear, 50
that with the silence that the presence
of death iuvokcs. to make her words
audible and readily understood. She
Z exclaimed. slowly. az though weighing
the meaning of each word and syllable.
/ The will is for ger y-not
The eyes closed. the lips parted. not
only to make room for Il sweet smile,
joined by soft mellow light that en-
circlcd the brow, lingering there a
moment then il fitted AMI FILTERED as
if it wer' the reflection Of the soul
struggling to be free, and life and light
and sun disappeared together.
CHAPTER NJ.
THE DECEPTION OF DECEIT.
l.