Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-20
Il nder tie C)o,'d.
Rv E S. WILLIAMSON.

of the stairs, the hall door, which stooC
ajar, was pushed further open. an,
some one entered rapidly in a heav!
| coat. with small black bag in hi!
| hand.
1t was Mr. Levison. arrived some
hours before they had thought it pos
| sible he could come. He advanced
hurrieGly with outstretched hand.
How is hep he asked, eagerly.
Very weak! he can not live til
night, the doctor says. We never
thought you could be here in time
Did | not tell you that when yOU
summoned me I should be here as soon
as human agency could bring me?
just caught the night mail, and
walked, or rather ran. from the sta.
ton"
She looked at him gratefully, appre
ciatinG his wish to be kind, though
really caring little for the pecuniary
advantage which might accrue to her
from his prOmptitude.
He is asleep now" she said, gravely.
"Then I will go upstairs and wait till
he wakes"
Wont you have some tea first?
You must be exhausted after your
long Journey"
He smiled and shook his head.
Business first. he replied, de-
cisiyely. by and by there will be
plenty Of time for refreshment."
But. when she persisted. he swal-
lowed a cup Of tea hastily, hurrying
upstairs Immediately afterward as
though grudging even that slight delay
on her account.
Elaine remained alone. She took
something to eat and drink in mechan-
ical obedience to her lovers behest, as
she would have done anything, how
ever difficult, that he had commanded.
then drew nearer to the fire to warm
herself, for she was cold and numb
with fatigue.
Half an hour later she was called
upstairs, and answered the summons
with a beating heart, for she guessed
what it portended.
When she entered the room. she saw
George Severn standing by the bed:
while the lawyer. with an expression
of decOrOus satisfaction on his face.
was gathering up his papers on Il table
a little way apart.
Severn turned as the door opened,
and motioned to her to come near.
The sick man lay quite motionless
on his pillows, and so pallid that for
the moment Elaine thought he was al
ready dead. Then his eyes opened. A
film was creeping over them; but the
girl stood exactly in his line of vision:
and. as they rested on her, strange
light suddenly illumined his face, a
momentary tremor shook his frame.
Clara" he cried out, in a clear
voice-a last expiring effort.
The resemblance he had always seen
to the woman he had once loved had
deceived his Pickering senses at the
last; and, in the belief that she was
near, uttering the name which for
more than thirty years had never
passed his lips. he died.
CHAPTER NX.
A few hours after Mr.. BOwyer died
Elaine was in the sitting room alone.
Colonel Severn. leading her gently
from the death chamber directly all
was over had made her lie down on
the sofa near the fire, and there she
had cried herself to sleep.
When she awORe, the darkened room
struck her with a strange pain; then.
as slowly she remembered what had
honnnnn1 hn a n y
her heart would break. Life for the
moment seemed utterly blank and mo-
tiyeless
George Severn pushed open the door
softly ard entered. Her face cleared,
and she smiled sadly as she made
room for him to sit beside her.
Severn began to speak her to about
the future, thinking it we'll to lead heI
thoughts away from the present sOr-
row, and anxious too that she should
understand he-' position. In any cir
cumstances. he reminded her, it would
be iDadvisable for a young girl to live
absolutely alone: and. as matters
stood, he could not even visit at the
| house without giving cause for gossip
! The only way of Guiding this difficulty
seemed to him to be their immediate
! marriage: and he urged this upon hel
| earnestly. yet de1icately, promising
! that the ceremony should be as quie'
! and private as she pleased.
| At the first suggestion Elaine started
and her pale face, even in the semi
darkness. showed suddenly a vivid
crimson. Then, as the color dice
! away. a settled sadness came into he
! eyes and her mouth dropped piteOusly
! She shook her head and clasped he
hands tightly together, evidently il
mental pain.
You think it would seem disre
spectful to the dead?' he asked her.
Again q gesture of dissent
He would have been the last t.
grudge me such happiness such rest
No, it is not that"
Then, dearest tell me what is tn
obstacle?'
Her face twitched nervousiy. ThOugl
she Ionged to tell him all, SO that b
might Judge for himself whether tn
barrier that stood between them wa
insurmountable or no, she scarcel
knew how to tell him, in what word
to frame the truth.
eft is for your sake / hesitate" Sh
said at last. in a low voice that bt
/ trayed all the anguish Of her mind.
He took her small claSped hands /
his own strong reassuring hold.
IF it concerns me at all, you mus
|