Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-09-20
Continued
CHAPTER XIX.


broken. ard he rad not strength to
combat the disease, which was indeed
Of a very malignant type Nor was i
10 be supposed that hc would long re-
main Ignorant Of the small hope that
was entertained as to lbs recovery
One day. when Colonel Severn was
sitting al his bedside. ne oTened his
eyes, and, the glance that wandered
round the room showing that they
were quite alone. be began 70 speak
slowly and with difficulty. bat c0ber
entiy-for the delirinm bad sefG him,
while the feyer TOO was much lower
than Il had been for some time pasf-
Severn be said us IL tTge that
your son has transferred his affections
to MAR Feafherstonet"
Eyes. II ia so'--with no c9utrition On
his sons aovyvnt-onIy gladness IN
his tones.
"And you are not sorry. can zee.
We'll, well. perhaps Yen are right-a
wonan's name should not be even
breathed on: but, in spite Of every
thing. ! tell you there Is 10 sweeter,
better girl Ia all the world than my
Elaine"
II am not going % contradict you
smiling Some day ] hope she may
b. my wife
The sick man started In uncontroIl
able surprise half raising himself On
his elbow 10 look into the others face
and assure himself tisat BE- heard
Alright
Have you asked herr he calculated
in q whisper.
Severn nodded assent
aAnd she did not refuse you
Why should she proudly. she
knows / love ber: and think she
loves me too Heaven bless beEr'
Has has she told you anything q
the pastT'
Nothing; and I wish 20 bear onlg
what she chooses 10 tell /"
THE Old man sunk back weak and
nerveIess upon his pillows: the unns
nal effort 70 converse had tried him
more than he knew; for the nivinent
he seemed to lose all consciousness,
until stimulants speedily applied re
stored him somewhat Even then he
lay for a long time motionless. utterly
exhausted onlg breathing slowly and
with evident pain
1t Was more than an hour later
when, reopening bis eyes, Mr. Bower
beckoDed 10 his companion 10 come
nearer Though be had appeared 80
powerleas. bis brain had not been in
active. and was obviously still follow
Ing the same train ~ thought
Let her eonfde In you--teil Der
what 10 10 acted FOR the best
think now I was wrong She will for
give poor ehlldT
The broken sentences came 10 short
gasp~ and severn percmptorily for
babe him 10 say more Enough had
been said for him 20 understand that
at some critical moment 81 her life
Elaine had acted On the old lawyers
advice and that n0w he feared he
might have oounseitd wrongly
When the doctor paid hts next visit
no found bis patient 30 much worse
and considered n his dNty 10 warn
the old man 81 the dangerous state
that ile was III. lost there should ~
any arrangements he might neglect
before his death
10 his surpFis" Mr. Bnwyer eyinred
neither grief nor fear Ills only
anxiety was last hc should die before
he could make a ne9 viii: and ~ his
own desire telegTa " was III once
sent IF 70 MIR Teyison requesting his
presence at once.
Thi~ Ns,s about bis last expressed
wish Afterward he seemed u sink
rapidly and neither Elaine nor Colo.
mel severn left him through that night
When daylight dawned they we're
watching sill. and Elaine first be
came cons iOus IL m anxious glance
that NOW ANA then was directed 10 her
face Il VAS as though there We're
something weighing TN his mind OF
whlej H. l9uged 10 disbortleu himself
Tae g.r knclt beside hm and laid
her Bead close 10 his
rs there anything you Wish me- h
do foe eouF she whispered
Still the dumb bese.chng gaze. but
no spoken reply
lis n anything about Mrs Priolo Z"
she Aazarde,i
But tl SCR man Shook his head.
and something ln tho satirieal expires
sion of hts mouth reminded har ~
how W. INA ~ often looked when She
had first known him The tears came
into her eyes and her fingers tightened
ID their clasp of Ills thin hand a. she
remembered all tlu cartse she had 10
FEEL 10th gratitude aid love
severn rose softly fron his chair
and left them alone Az he did 50 The
Sick man mouonod to Ealhe lo come
nearer nearer stil1 HIS voice was s.
weak aud broken that. eycn With her
ear almost touching his lips, she could
scarcely comprehend tits meaning
Tel me ] am dylrs 1t can ao mo
harm now e Won cr me-were yeG
really guilty tenllg euii.y ~ your
-