Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-27
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER NXIV.
Two days later the funeral took
place-a quiet transformations cere-
mony, only sparsely attended, for Mr..
Bowyer had been little known, and the
village was just then taken up with
| its own troubles.
Colonel Severn had gained Elaine's
consent to a speedy marriage; and it
! had been arranged with the vicar that
his daughter should follow them very
| shortly to the seaside place whittier
they were going, and that Charlie Sew
ern should accompany her as her
avowed lover So far all seemed
! bright enough; but Elaine could not
enjoy her assured happiness while the
| housekeeper was present to remind
/ her of the dark page Of her past. She
was almost as troubled on Gerald
| Weare's account as she had been on
| her own, and thought it point of
| honor to guard even more carefully
than before against the chance of de-
| lection.
L
! herself since that first interview.
Pushing and venturesome as she was.
| she could not help being overawed by
the colonelS quiet demeanOr and the
resolute way in which he relegated her
| to her former inferior position in the
| household. For the first time in her
| life she was afraid to be intrusive or
impertinent though she longed to
! make them both feel her power. She
was aware that they could afford to
! defy her if they chose; so she re-
manned Quiescent. trusting to the hope
! that more might be left her than any
one suspected, and that this. accord
ing to the prSkise made would be
doubled
Directly they returned from the
cemetery Mr.. Levison led the way to
the sitting-room. A cab was waiting
outside to take him to the station. as
he was in a hurry to return to town;
so without delay he broke the seal Of
a roll of paper in his hand, and began
to read the contents aloud.
Severn and Elaine were seated on
the sofa. and Mrs. Priolo, who had fol
lowed them in. took q chair close to
the lawyer-so close that she could by
leaning forward read over his
shoulder
The will was very simple one, and
as short as it could be without being
illegal. Everything the dead man had
possessed was left unreservedly to
1ain TO do Sh OH
No one else was mentioned.
Mrs. Priolo's face Of blank amaze
ment turned to absolute fury as she
realized that all her scheming, all her
plans, had been in vain.
DO you mean to say" she asked,
tremulous with wrath, that nothing
is left to me?"
The question was merely utterd as a
vent to her feelings, for she had seen
for herself that only the one name was
written-the name of the girl whom
she had so prosecuted and maligned,
and who therefore could not be eX-
pected to show her any generosity in
return.
Mr.. Bowyer was very weak when
he made this will He said he could
trust Miss Warde to do all that he
would wish for the servants"
''SerVantsw cried Mrs. Priolo, furi-
ously. u was his own brothers
wife!"
Mr.. Levison bowed politely, but re-
manned silent
Elaine rose quickly, aud, crossing
the room, laid her hand lightly on the
woman's sleeve.
You need not be afraid. Anything
that in fairness you can demand
will not refuse
Mrs Priolo shook off her hand viO- !
lently, and, mistaking her gentle SYM /
pathy for fear, was encouraged to do /
her worst.
Don't touch me, murderess!' she !
Kissed between her clinched teeth. an |
evil light of gratified malice cleaning |
in her eyes.
Elaine tried to speak, but could not |
1t was Severn who came and stood be
side her to refute the accusation.
you are uttering a wicked libel, and
you know it," he declared, sternly.
Mr.. Levison fastened to interpose.
1T is not necessary that Miss Warde
should be defended from such
charge" he said gravely.
IF you won't listen, there are others
that will! I'll move heaven and earth
before II! allow that unjust will to
stand! I tell you that three years ago
Hiss Warde, as you call her, or Elaine
Warrington, as she was known then.
fled from Sydney because she could
not prove her innocence Of what L &C
cuse her OFF,
She looked like a Fury, with her thin
spiteful face, and a few locks Of dingy
gray hair escaping from her bonnet,
while one arm was extended in vehe-