Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-02-16
ASTORYOF BLOOD.
CHAPTER x1.-coNTrNuEp.
by NJ. L. DRADDoS.

nesses at the double wedding. THAT face
would be magnificent for Jael or Judith, for
Charlotte Corday or Saammbo. That girl
is capable of anything strange or heroic or
deadly. She has the tenaclty of Redskin."
Durand smiled sad incredulous smile.
"Pocg child, how little you know herV he
answered. you clever men are so easily
led away by a fancy. Kathleen is one OF
the gentleSt souls know She adored her
husband, and her grief a. his death has turn
ed her little here" pointing TO his fore
head. "But she is incapable of any violent
act"
''She is capable of great crime in great
cause, as Charlotte COrday was T; the gentlest
of souls, she, till she took the knife in her
hand to slay him whom she deemed the
scourge of her country am not led away
by fancies, Durand. Faces are open pages
TO the eye of painter. l can read that one,
and know what it means"
Philip took this for the illusion of an
habitual dreamer, and attached no weight
TO the opinion. Kathleen had given them
no cause for uneasiness since she COM
menced her "avocation." Her life passed
with an almost mechanical regularity. She
left the house every morning before seven
sometimes even before six. She had been
observed to go out as early as five. She
came home again at any hour between nine
and eleven, breakfasted alone in her own
stting-room, did her homework, her little
bit of marketing and then slept or rested
for an hour or two. Then, later in the aft
ernoon, she went out again, to return after
dark.
This was her manner Of life, as seen by
Ter sister and her sisters husband They
puzzled themselves exceedingly as TO the
nature of that employment which obliged
her to keep such curious hours. They talk
ed, and wondered, and specialized; but they
did not venture to question her. She had
entreated Rose TO forbear; and Rose, who so
fondly loved her, was content TO remain in
ignorance, seeing that the mourner seemed
more tranquil, more resigned than before
she began this unknown labor.
Yet they could not refrain from specula-
lions and wonderings between themselves,
the husband and wife, for whom life was
free from all care save this one anxiety
about the widowed girl.
Was her occupation that of a governess?
Had she found two sets Of pupils in some
humble circle, where superior accomplish
ments were not demanded in n teacher?
Did she go to one family in the morning, to
another in the evening? This seemed
natural and likely explanation. But if 1t
were so, why had she made a mystery of so
simple a matter?
They could only wait and watch. They
were too high-minded to follow or to play
the spy upon her. But they watched her
face, her bearing, when she was with them
which was but rarely nOw-and they
waited for the revelation Of her secret.
She would not make her home with them.
That was Rose Durand's worst grief. If she
could have had that beloved mourner beside
her hearth every day; if she could have seen
her bending over the little ones cradle, be-
guiled by tha sweetness of his dawning in
teligence; if she had but been allowed to
soothe and console her sister, Rose would
have been quite happy. She would have
trusted to her own loving arts, and to the
great healer Time, and she would have
looked forward to a day when Kathleen's
wounds would be healed.
But Kathleen Rugged her loneliness as il
1t were the one precious thing left to her.
She would not be tempted from her solitude
in the two quiet rooms upstairs. Il am
tired when l come home from my work"
she said one day, when Rose Npbraided her
with unkindness in refusing to spend her
leisure hours in the Durand Tnella9e 1T
would be no rest to me to be with you and
baby, dear as he is. want to be quite alone
with my dreams of the past"
''They are not good for you, Kathleen,
those dreams of the past"
&c yes, they are. They are my greatest
comfort Sometimes, sitting here in the
afternoon sunlight, with volume OF Hugo
or Musset in my lap, almost believe that
CASTOR is sitting in that chair where you are
now, by my side. l dare not lift my eyes TO
look up at him."
"Why not?"
Because should know then he was not
there, and the spell would be broken. You
don't know how real day-dreams areto me-"
Too real, Kathleen such dreams as these
lead to Madness"
"Let me be mad, then. would rather be
mad and see him there than sane and not
see him. would welcome madness to-mor-
row If could believe that he was still alive
If there need be no lucid interval in which
should remember that he was dead"
Kathleen, you frighten me 40 death y
Forgive me, dearest" the girl answered
gently. "There is no cause for fear. You
do not know how steady my brain has been,
how regularly my heart has beaten, ever
cluCC l. nave w
do-a purpose in life. Before, felt as If L
were wandering in desert, under mid
night sky. Comets were blazing in that sky
-shooting-stars darling their light, now
this way, now that; but there was no star
TO guide my steps-there was no road across
the waste Now feel rs If were travel
ing on straight level road, with my guild
ing-star shining steadily before me; there is
such a difference"
you look so white this afternoon, dar-
ling. Have you worked harder than usual
to-day?'
Eyes. it was harder to-day-very, very
farP' Kathleen answered, with an absent
air.
''You had further to go to your employ
ment?" faltered Rose, looking at her won
deringly. "Is it not always in the same
placer
Not always"
"That is very strange"
Life is strange" answered Kathleen,
"almost as strange as death. o Rose, my
best of sisters, don't look so troubled about
me. Believe me that all is going well with
me. am doing no harm. am doing my
duty. And all will come right in the end"
This was spoken with ferver which in
some measure treasured Madame Durand.
She had navar euenacfad evil IF har eistar