Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-02
CHAPTER y.

no pdch, ana coming 10 see Us IQlS
! afternoon. Some Australian, Mr.
Wray, / read.i it's with him, and he
wants to bring him too, if 1 am we'll
| enough to receive a stranger"
And are you we'll enoughT asked
the girl, bending over the flowers she
was arranging to hide what she knew
| was written ON her face in scarlet
Il am about the same as usual but
a talk with some one from the old
! country will never harm me. 1t will
be like breath Of Australian air,
keen but eXhilarating like this
cold dampness that is beginning now"
L wish you would go back to Aus
| tralia.''
Why? Would you go too?"
That is impossible, you know; and
! oh''-with a slight shiver-'I have no
desire to return! With you it is diff
| ferent, you are homesick, and the
climate suited you; it pains me ter
! ribly to know that you are staying
| here only on my account
| Il was i'll there too; besides, after
| all, this is my native country
| She looked at him sorrowfully, but
said no more, having urged it on him
so often but without success.
! The little sitting-room looked it's best
when Mr.. Bowyer entered about four
o'clock, having been to his room to
| lie down for an hour or so.
| He glanced round approvingly.
How cosy it is; and a little fire is
very acceptable, though the month is
! October! 1t is wonderful how lux
uriant the flowers are still. Where
did you get all these?"
"a basket came from the Abbey as
usual, and some from our own gar
den.'
And you actually found it in your
heart to pick them"'
He spoke rallyingly, for he knew
her love for flowers. and that she
never willingly gathered one.
She was looking very bright, very
beautiful. he thought. Some inward
excitement had brought a color to her
cheeks and a wondrous light into her
eyes. But the gown she was wear
ing was certainly not gala one. 1t
was the same that she wore every
day-a black velveteen with Grape
upon it, grown brown and rusty-look-
ing from wear
Have you no nicer frock?" he asked
her Don't you think you might
cease to wear such deep mourning?
1t will excite remark"
Il shall never wear anything but
black | think" she answered. gravely:
then, conscious of the depressing eff
feet of her speech, she took some
Marechal Mel buds from vase and
pinned them in the lace at her throat.
Does that look better, Mr.. Bowyer"
Mr.. Bowyer muttered something IN
ineligible which she guessed to be
complimentary from its tone; and
mirror that hung opposite set any
doubt she might still have had at rest.
( Voices were heard outside: the next
moment Colonel Severn entered; and.
having greeted Mr. Bower warmly.
and Ellen with an involuntary en-
pressement of which she could not but
be conscious, he turned to indicate his
friend.
"Mr. Weare-a countryman of
yours" A momentary pause. during
which Mr.. Bowyer was wondering
where he had seen before the dark
good-lOOking face and tall slight figure
Of the young man introduced.
eve met about a year ago. when I
was on my way back from india"
continued Colonel Severn; land l was
lucky enough to come across him
again while up in town this time"
The stranger interposed.
Il think the luck was all on my
side,'' in a voice that, pleasant as it
was, struck two of the hearers with
dismay. To Mr.. Bowyer it was per-
fectly familiar, though he could not
remember where he had heard it last
THE colonel saved me from drown
ing when coming home; and really I
believe he has saved me from some
thing nearly as bad now. London, to
a stranger who knows none of the
celebrities or institutions, is one of
the dreariest places in the world"
Il agree with you, l think" re-
marked the old lawyer: cor perhaps it
is the sociability Of colonial society
that makes life in England strange
at first. Find a chair for Mr. Weare.
colonel, and one for yourself L am an
Invalid still, you see, Colonel Severn"
i am sorry for that hoped to
find you getting stronger and accli-
matized," said Colonel Severn, placing
chair for his friend, Mr.. Weare.
1T is matter of climate, I suppose;
but don't let US talk of my ailments
Tell me how the colonel came to save
your life, Mr. Weare."
We'll, this is how it came about
| happened to be on the P. and O.
England. l had been seriously i'll,
and change of air and new assOcia-
tons had been recommended; but I
am a miserable sailor, and for some
days was the worse rather than the
better for my voyage. The weather
was very rough, but positively could I,
not stay below. and, in spite of re- !
monstrances, spent most of my time |
on deck clinging to whatever I could. |
one night the cold was so intense that j
my fingers lost all power: a big sea /
washed over us. and-1 knew no more
till [ found myself, drenched through |
and fearfully weak, in my cabin. The !
wave must have knocked me sense /
less, for until I was told I did not ,