Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-09
t'"der tie Cloud
Bv 6. s. WILLIAMSON.
Continued.

fit conferred engendered a feeling OF
ill-will rather than grattude!'
81 hope it is rot 50. Nay, l am sure
Ii can not he" answered the young
man.
Il worCer if it is true" unused Mr..
Bower, that a drowning man sees
every action of his life pass before
him? IT must add to the horror of
the death if that is true"
You are taking it for granted that
only ones evil deeds rise before one"
said Colonel Severn.
Mr.. Bowyer still looked questioningly
at the young man who passed through
the experience. He answered now
gravely-
You forget | was senseless while
in the water, and was spared that at
least"
Yes; | suppose few of Us are so
free from remorse as to face such
panorama unmOyed."
None, | should say" put in Mr.
Weare quickly HAS it never struck
you what whited sepulchers we all
are, some more, some less? When one
comes to consider the number of
criminal mysteries that remain I'M
raveled, it is only to be supposed that
we have met some of the guilty ones
in friendly converse. The pretty girl
| took in to dinner a few nights ago
may be a murdereSs, for all / know;
and that young fellow, your SONS
riend who impressed you SO favor
bly, that same evening, colonel. may
te an undetected thief and forger."
Rather unlikely, all the same"
miled Colonel Severn.
II am suggesting possibilities rather
han probabilities, | admit; but it is
my firm conviction that in every one
Of us the capacity for crime is lying
dormant The development is a mere
matter of temptation, opportunity, and
chance"
You are a "a talist," was the half
contemptuOuS reply.
Mr.. BOWyer, for whom the terrible
had always an attraction, was deeply
interested. and did not attempt to dis
guiSe the fact to anybody.
DO you mean" he said, eagerly,
v
such person as YOU describe has
mixed freely with his fellow-bcings
unsuspected|'
I have such a case in my mind
now"
But then immunity for time does
not mean immunity forever"
"Of course not My argument is
al 6ntnotinD
at is dreadful to contemplated
shuddering. let us change the sub
ject to one less grcwsome. Let us talk
about Australia for a time. What a
country it Isl | wonder why we Eng
lish still ding to home when nearly
every other climate is better than our
own"
"A sort of obstinacy, [ suppose; or
it may be one is freer and more in
dependent in England, and can go
ones own way without being Ques-
toned"
you mean one can be lost in a
crowd"
II think that the crowd is an adj
vantage in ITSELF" said Mr.. Weare.
From what part of Australia do you
Gomez asked Mr.. BOwyer abruptly,
and received the brief reply
prom sydney"
In a moment it flashed across the
old mans mind where he had seen
his visitor before. He was none other
than Gerald Weare whose bride had
been taken from him in so horrible a
fashion a month before his wedding
day. and for whose sake Elaine War
rington was supposed to have com
mitted a crime.
He looked round nervously, then,
remembering that Ellen had left the
room half rose with the intention of
following her and putting her on her
guard. if indeed she had not already
taken fright.
At the same moment a shrill cry
was heard outside, and Mrs. Priolo
threw open the door
Here's Miss Ellen lying on the
ground in dead faintv' she cried
Whatever can have happened|'
1t was Severn who made the first
move rs cross over to her she. She
had fallen senseleSS across the door
way. He knelt down and raised her
head on his arm. Mr.. Bowyer ap-
peared helpless with dismay, but
Gerald Weare came near and looked
at her with an expression of some
what stereotyped pity.
Have you no reStOrativeS?" asked
Severn, sharply. of the houSnkeeper.
Before she could reply, an involun-
tary exclamation from the lips of the
stranger startled them both.
It was only the ejaculation of a
name, as though he had suddenly rec
ognized the sense!ess woman at his
feet; but it was not the name by
which either of them had known her
Mr.. Bowyer jumped up from his
seat as though electrified, and dragged
mrnsC.f slowly to the scene of action
not knowing what to do for the best
Mrs. Priolo retained all her faculties.
you've known the poor young lady
before?" she observed TO Mr.. Weare
in the bland tones which Colonel Sew
IN had lately learned to distrust
Don't you think we had better place
her on the sofa? And then I'll ruI
and get some brandy and the sal
volatile from Mr.. Bowyer's room"
But Mr. Bowyer interfered. He wG
determined that Ellen should not re
turn to consciousness before them all
and perhaps betray herself in her frs