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

for Australia on a six months Ieafe.
And this was not the only misadvent-
ure; there were other delays; so nearly
year had elapsed since he said good
by to Elaine, and for his sons sake
had refrained from telling his love or
dwelling on any hope he had of win
ming for them both happy future.
How long and anxious a time it had
been he scarcely realized until he stood
once more in his own house and felt a
question burning on his lips which he
could not utter at once.
In his usual happy, gracious fashion
Charlie was expressing his delight at
his fathers return, and never noticed
his preOccupied expression.
L hardly thought to find you here
still L thought you would be in town. -
said Severn at last.
Il ought to be there now-indeed
must 60 in a few days: but
Charlie nodded comprehensively.
Il hoped you would have recovered
from that old hopeless folly" said Sew
ern, sadly, rising from his chair and
walking little way apart to conceal
his disappointment.
II don't think you quite understand"
broke in Charlie, nervously. "All that
is changed quite changed. Elaine"
Loves you in return. I never
dreamed Of thatp' exclaimed the col
onel, blankly.
Nor is it so. She will never love
any one, [ think. She is an angel, and
quite beyond the reach of any mortal
man. It is some one else I care for
some one quite different. but 50 sweet
and gentle that no one could help low
ing her. Father, you remember Mary
FeatherstOne?'
DO you mean to tell me that within
year you have fallen in love again
in the very sight and almost in the
hearing Of the girl whom you pro-
fessed to love before?'
"Oh, Elaine is not jealous, I assure
you-not even piqued! She has sympa
thized with me from the first and
helped me in every way"
Upon my honor you had some self
possession to 80 to her with such a
story"' he declared at last; and his
son had the grace to blush and prOffer
an explanation.
You see she would never have loved
me. l knew it was hopeless from the
first; and there was a reason why she
could not marry"
you are very fortunate. Charlie. to
have your feelings so we'll under con-
troll
Besides. she is so much older than
l."
"A year ago you thought that rather
an antage"-smiling in some
amusement.
Il should have thought you would
be pleased to know that | am growing
wiser'-with a slightly aggrieved air.
rs it wisdom? l could almost
doubt it. But after all that is ques-
ton for your own consideration. Do
you think Miss Featherstone will ac-
cept you, Charlie?"
"She has accepted me, or at least
implied as much"
Severn crossed over TO his sons side
and laid his hand on his shoulder with
a kindly pressure.
Forgive me if l seemed unsym-
pathetic. At my age thought travels
more slowly than at yours, and found
it difficult at once to reconcile the
state of affairs now with that which
existed when | went away. But be-
lieve me, l have your happiness at
heart, and I think you will be happy.
Mary Featherstone is too sweet and
true a woman not to make a good wife:
and I shall welcome her very gladly
as my daughter"
Charlie looked up with pleased
smile; if he had noticed d want of cor
diality in his fathers tones at first.
he had not attributed it to any cause,
and, now that it had disappeared, was
not inclined to look any further into
the matter.
when do you think of being
married?" asked the colonel, abruptly,
to himself, with some good
natured scorn for a fault that he had
never shared, that, if the girl really
valued her lovers allegiance, she had
better make it legally her own at
once, before his tickle fancy ranged in
new directions.
Charlie looked grave at once
THAT is just what [ don't know. 1
have not seen her for nearly three
weeks and it may be another month
before we meet. Why? All, [ forgot
you did not know that typhoid fever
was in the village. Mary has been
nursing some of the people, and is put
in quarantine in consequence"
HAS it been very bad?"
mine or ten cases at present.
Only one has died besides the
wretched woman who brought the
sickness here"
and that was-?" carelessly inter
ested in the reply.
Mr.. Bowyers hOuse-maid."
A sudden light flashed from George
Severn's eyes, a sudden dread kept
him mute, though his very soul seemed
to hang on the next few words spoken.
Mr.. Bowyer has it now" went on
Charlie, quite unconscious Of the emo
ton seething in his fathers heart
rather badly, I am afraid
"And-and Miss Warde?"
'She is nursing him"
'sThen she is u?'-with
reined-in anxiety that must have been
apparent to one less self-absorbed than
Charlie.