Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-13
Continued.


Last summer it was you he found so
attractive"
"A boys fancy-nOthing else indeed"
Then how can | hope to be anything
more? If you were forgotten, how
could | hope to be remembered?'
1T is so different indeed! You he
loves sincerely, with a mans deep I'M
changing passion Won't you believe
in him?'
Mary looked up, light-half-dawn-
ing love, half merry mockery-in her
eyes.
Are you so anxious to be my
mother-in-law? she said, audaciously
then almost in the same breath re-
pented, as gradually over Elaines
pale panied face a crimson flush spread
and deepened in intensity when the
full meaning of the words came home
TO her.
Forgive me! l ought not to have
said it. You are not very angry-are
you"
Elaine shook her head and tried to
smile, but without success. 1t was a
subject about which she never dared to
think, much less speak, and she could
not bring herself to deny the charge
laughingly, as another girl might have
done.
II should like you to be happy-hap-
pier than [ can ever be-" she said at
hast; and so much was implied in her
tones, more to be felt than compre-
hended, that Mary was sobered at
once.
you won't see Mr.. Severn for some
time, 1 am afraid, if you are going to
put yourself in quarantine, unless he
declines to regard anything of the
sort" she observed, thoughtfully.
Instantly all Mary's real liking for
the young fellow who aspired to be
her lover was apparent; the tears
came into her pretty eyes, and she
looked pleadingly into her friends
face
"Oh, Elaine, don't let him come near
us on any account! Tell him it won't
be for long, and that I am not afraid
people who are not afraid never take
infection. Don't-doE't let him come"
Leave some nice message to keep
him good and amendaD1e TO reason.
That is the very least that you can
do"-spcakirg quietly but with in
sistence.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. him I
will listen to all he has to say when
this is over"
Elaine stopped and kissed her.
after all" Mary went on as
though eXcuSing herself for having at
last relenting, 81 can't blame him for
loving you first. Who could help low
ing with wiStful. almost wor-
Shipping look at the sweet face at her
side
Elaine attempted no reply-none
seemed to her necessary: and she was
woman who could remain silent with
out appearing awkward or ungracious
A moment later they said goodbye
and she went on alone to the house
thinking how much lOnelier it would
seem without Il friend, now that she
had once INDUCED in the luxury of hay
ing one.
1T was quite dark as she reached the
house-in November night comes so
suddenly sometimes, and it had been Il
cloudy stormy day.
Just as she was going in a football
behind her caused her to turn round,
and she saw a short figure hurrying
to the kitchen door A thick shawl
enveloped head and shoulders: but
Elaine guessed at once who it was
1t was Jane. the little hOusemaid.
Elaine felt convinced that. impelled by
real anxiety or perhaps from some
more trivial reason, the girl had been
to visit her
CHATTER NVII.
BY a strange unhappy chance the
unfortunate woman who was the
means of bringing typhoid fever to
Tittlehaven had been taken in by
James mother, and, though she her
self did not catch the disease. her
daughter was not to escape the almost
inevitable consequences of her stolen
visit home In less than a fortnight
unmiStakable symptoms declared
themselves; but. before the doctor had
seen her Elaine. always prompt to
help when help was needed, had been
to the SiclI-roOm, and afterWard would
not be sent away. No one else was
willing to nurse the poor girl, and the
doctor was at last fain to consent.
The two sides of the house were kept
entirely separate, as Mr.. Bowyer was
terribly nervous, and the houSekeeper
encouraged rather than sought TO calm
his fears; so Elaine performed her self
imposed task alone and unaided.
1t was no want of care or skill that
caused her non-SucceSS. The disease
was OF a most virulent type, and the
absence Of hope which is character
istic of the lower classes had from the
first initiated against the girls recov-
cry The doctor once declared, with
somewhat natural Indignation, that she
was dying because she had not suf-
flcient pluck to live.
And so it happened that some teD
days later, when the violence Of the at
tack had expended itself, and nothing
was wanted but careful nursing and
the patient courage of endurance, Jane
died.
Elaine was terribly grieved. She had
tried so hard to save her, and the dis
appointment combined with the IA
tigrle she had undergone, utterly
Frustrated her at first; but a few days
rest restored her. and then she began
to feel the loneliness of her position,