Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-12-30
THE RED FLAG.
CONTINUED.

lUeN NSllu oiAlA wait anu Ndlch-
They We're too high-minded to follow
or to play spy upon her. But they
watched her face, her bearing, when
sh1 was with them-which was but
rarely now-and they waited for the
revelation of her secret
4 She would not make her home with
them. That was Rose Durand's 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; II she had but been
allowed to soothe ami console her
sister, Rose would have been quite
happy She would have trusted 10
her own loving arts, and TO the great
healer Time, and size 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 Il am tired when l
come home from my work" she said
one day, when Rose upmlided her
with unkindness in refusing TO spend
her leisure hours in the Duand
menage. 1T would be no rest to me
10 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-
lecn, those dreams of the past
80 yes, they are. They are my
greatest comfort Sometimes, sitting
here in the afternoon sunlight with n
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 l should know then he
was not there, and the spell would be
broken. You don't know how real
day-drcams 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. l would
welcome madness tomorrow if | could
believe that he was still alye--if there
need be no lucid interval in which
| should remember that he was dead.
Kathleen, you brighten me to
deathr'
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 business to do-a pur
pose in life Before, / felt as if
were wandering in desert under
midnight sky. Comets We're blazing
in that -shooting-stars darling
their light, now this way, now that;
but there was no star TO guide my
steps there was no road across the
waste Now l feel as if l We're travel
ing on straight level road, with my
guiding-star shining steadily before
me; there such a 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 20 to your
employment faltered Rose, looking
at her wonderingly as it not always
in the same place.
Not always"
"rhat is very strange"
/ Life is strange" answered Kath
/ leen, almost as strange rs death, q
Rose, my best of sisters, don't look
50 troubled abouC me, Believe me that
all is going wei with me. I am do
I ing no harm l am doing my duty
/ And all win come right in the end"
/ This was spoken with a leryor which
/ in some measure reaSsWcd 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 eyerprescnt dread was for the
sounduess Of the girls reason, for the
capacity Of her mind 10 stand against
the strain Of a great sorrow.
Kathleen would not 20 to her sisters
rooms, but Rose went to the widows
lonely home two or three times in
every day; she would not be put of
I by Kathleen's desire for solitude. She
went to her the last thing every night,
and knelt aud prayed With her; but
( Kathleen's lips were dunb-that spirit
which had once been feryent iE prayer
was now voiceless. The widow Rnelt
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 ali my
heart Forgive US our debts as we