Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-10-11
let me in! What is the matter? Do let

let HE III. w Hat LS lue udtteT. DO le
me help you!''
At last the door was slowly opened
and Maxwell hurried in He wa.
startled at the sight that met his eyes
The gOld-brOwn hair was pushed care
lessly away from the brow, and strag
gled out in dozen maddening ripples
from the combining hairpins; the palt
face, lately so angelic in its calm. was
stained with weeping, and red rims
encircled the serious eyes. now almost
wild with grief and terror; her dainty
DIN -er-@oWn was rumpled, and hel
whole appearance in half an hour had
undergone marvellous transformation
but event in the depths of his concern
Maxwell fOunl time to notice that
there was something immensely at
tractive about this abandon.
My dear Mrs. Vane," he cried tax
ing her hands, pray tell me what IS
distressing you so. Is there anything
[ can do to help you? Is it anything
to do with that telegram?''
"Yes-oh. oh! My poor husband is
| DYING
"My poor young ladyr exclaimed
Mr.. Maxwell. with genuine concern.
! Yes" continued Mrs Vane, her voice
! clicked with sobs, the illness was sud-
den; they give no hope. They tele-
graph that [ must come at once
"Of course There is no time to be
lost. You must catch the express for
Geneva. Come! you will be better
busying yourself"
! But the little woman only replied
by fresh paroXysm of weeping.
Come, my dear young lady" said
Mr.. Maxwell, half beside himself with
compassion, you must be ready in
half an hourv'
She lifted her tear stained face and
fixed her despairing eyes on his
Il cannot co. she gasped Il
haven't any mOneOy. Reginald was to
send me a check, and now-now-he
will die and [ shall never see him
again.
The acute misery of her tone shook
Mr. Maxwell to the core.
My dear Mrs. Vane, you must let
me help you. Let me be your banker
for the present.
NO; oh, no. Reginald would never
forgive me-"
But it is only for a few days at
most. You can send it back to me.
Don't be foolish, my dear child. This
is a matter of life and death, remem-
ber.'
OH. And then there is my
hotel bill for a whole week. l can't
so without paying that"
NO. no, OF course not, Leave it all
to me. You must allow me to act for
you in this matter" And then. as her
Sobs and her resistance both grew
fainter, he glanced at his watch. I'VE
have just thirty-five minutes to catch
the express. Can you do it?''
'Oh, yes" she answered quickly. Il
shall take nothing but a dressing bag"
At that moment the sound of wheels
on the gravel path reached them.
ut is the hotel omnibus going up to
the station" said Mr. Maxwell. Never
mind, we can walk as quickly as drive
with such horses as those. Put on your
hat and | will go with you
Mr.. Maxwell had that morning cash
cd a check for ESQ. and rushinspinto his
room he hastily slipped the roll of
notes and the pile of gold into his
pocket. When he returned Mrs. Vane
was shrouded in a long black travelling
cloak. and a thick veil hid her swollen
eyes; she carried a small dressing bag,
into which, after short protest, she
slipped the gold that her companion
pressed on her.
Perhaps you will get the proprietor
to send on the luggage to this address,"
she said, handing him a scrap of paper
on which few words were penciled,
and then allowing him to take the
bag, they hurried down stairs.
The hall was desterted. All the Wis
itors were on the terrace listening to
the hotel band, flirting, chatting, or
sleeping. and all the servants were
busy with their well-earned supper
The two passed quickly out into the
narrow road that led to Lausanne
station. The journey, despite it's melan-
choly object, was not without its
charms, for Mrs. Vane leaned heavily
upon her companions arm. calling him
I her dearest friend and other chastely
/ tender names. She promised to write
to him, never to forget him. and amid
these epanchements they reached the
station
! Like most foreign railway stations.
at Lausanne the departure of an eX-
press is a sort of anticipatory day of
! judgment as regards chaos and general
confusion, and at this particular hour
! of the evening not one, but two rapides
are despatched at an interval of two
minutes-the first to Geneva, the Sec
ond to Paris.
/ To his dismay Mr.. Maxwell found
which to take tickets and everything 8;
and, fearing delay from his somewhat
primitive French, he was obliged to
allow his companion to have the trout
BILE Of taking her own ticket. while he
paced the waiting room.
! Endless people came to and fro. but
the black cloak and thick veil did not
appear; he was just going in search
of her when a shrill whistle struck
his ear. The train was starting! He
rushed wildly into the booking office;
no sign of his protege. He bore down
on a porter. and was struggling to
make himself understood when an
other whistle. and an accompanying
puff, sounded from within.
How the-here you-quel train is