Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-26
1-'"der the Cloud
Bv E. S. WILLIAMSON.

gu cdu 90 where you lIhe duu w
what you like. Fortunately it is no
longer d question of ways and means.
If you care to go to Paris"
London will do well enough, and
Lysley of the Guards asked me to
stay with him. The season is not
over-at any rate, there is more going
on there than anywhere else, l sup
pose Not that l am in the mood for
gayeties at ALL he added quickly.
A half smile fitted across the elder
mans grave face but it was instantly
suppressed.
Then London it shall be-" he said,
and found it in his heart to wish that
he could so break away from the
chains that bound him, and believe it
possible that little gayety or change
might mitigate, even cure, his pain.
! Mrs. Priolo had decided on her plan
Of action. 1t had flashed upon her in
simultaneously when, as she snatched
away the soup that morning, her
| eyes lighted for a second upon ElIen's
white, frightened face. She had seen
in columns Of police news how a pre-
vious conviction told against pris-
oner and she resolved she would
work on that idea.
But first she must find out how
much Mr.. Bowyer knew-whether by
any chance he was acquainted with
all that had occurred in Sydney that
winter. She was also anxious to dis
cover if he had mentioned to Ellen
| his intention Of giving her so large
an amount Of her dowry.
! With this idea in her brain, she
took her work and sat with Mr.. Bow
! yer one afternoon when Ellen was cut
sketching.
1t was Mr.. Bowyer who by chance
opened the subject that she was anx-
ious very much, to discuss.
Where is Ellen?" he asked.
Gone out with her drawing materi-
ais. She went about an hour ago.
'iAh, Sketching is great resource!
[ am glad she has an occupation to
amuse her Since we have been here,
[ don't fancy the child has looked so
well. What do you think, Mrs. Pri-
| olo?
"Of course [ am quite in the dark
as to the reason of her grief, and I do
not know for whom she wears such
very deep mourning; but it is more
than a year now since she came to
you-long enough for any young WON
an to get over a healthy SORROW"
1T is difficult for any outsider to
mark the limits of anothers grief.
She, poor child, has had terrible
| experience indeed; small wonder she
finds it impossible to ever forget it."
1t was to Mrs. Priolo's interest to
appear to know nothing of Ellen
Wade's past, so she struck in quickly
lest by any chance he should think of
telling her the story she had read.
Still brooding does no good. You
must tell her 50, Mr. Bowyer-she
will listen to you. The poor girl seems
to have taken a dislike to me. and
would resent any interference on my
part"
The old man looked at her shrewdly
1T is the first time [ have heard
of this dislike. May l inquire the
reason of it, Mrs. PriOlo?'
II am sure I don't know, unless
UNLESS what?" he asked
shes a strange girl not affection
ate by nature, but possessing a very
clear knowledge of the value OF
money-or rather the things money
can procure"
You give her a good character"
"The faults of youth When she is
my age. she will know that riches
cannot purchase happiness
friendship and affection are worth fal
more
"Yes-eXactly. But you were goins
to explain her dislike to you"
"Ah, poor child, that is jealousy,
sometimes think! She has set hel
heart on inheriting your fortune, anG
fancies that l have designs upon il
too"
Mr.. Bowyer's face was still turned
from her, so the housekeeper could MOI
Judge of the effect of her words. She
went on carelessly:
NO no, she need have no fear OF
me! Before she came, the thought
may have crossed my mind that per,
haps, as I was your only relative
you might remember me in your Will
| but directly Ellen Warde appeared
I relinquished the idea without sigh
I knew you too we'll to believe that
you would enrich comparatively dis
| tant connection at the expense of
your own sisters child. ] am too just
myself to wish such a thing"
Mr.. Bowyer made no attempt either
! to substantiate or to deny the truth
of her assertion, giving her no an
swer.
| Strange" went on Mrs. Priolo
thoughtfully, that my husband should
never have mentioned he had sister
it must have been sister, as the
name is different from yours"
The housekeeper, in her anxiety to
impress upon her brother-in-law what
was his duty, had overreached herself.
Mr.. Bower saw that she suspected
! there was no relationship between
himself and his ward, saw too that
she was not so Indifferent as to the
disposal of his wealth as she affected
to be. He smiled a little cynically as
| he replied:
You viii find that I have not for
| gotten the faithful service Of the last
ten years, nor the fact that you were
once my brothers wife,
You are too good" she murmured.
=. Lea