Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-26

tul look was in her eyes, as though
a happiness We're within her reach
which yet she must not stretch out
her hand to grasp.
1t does not matter what l think,
she said; my future is decided, and
love has no part in it."
She shivered slightly as she spoke,
and he rose and closed the window.
1t is getting chilly in the evening
now. The summer is nearly over"
Silently she assented, and once more
all her attention was given to her
work, while he sat and watched her.
Let me help you if 1 canr' he ex-
claimed impulsiyely.
Ellen looked up in sore surprise, not
comprehending at first. Then under
standing that he spoke with reference
to his own thoughts, not in answer to
anything she had said smiled CRATE
fully.
If there is anything L ever want,
L will ask you'll promise" she said.
Their hands met III a firm clasp for
an instant. Then Colonel Severn
CudHSeu the SUBJECT.
L heard from Charlie today. I
fancy he is enjoying himself in spite
Of his resolve to be miserable. His
friends seem to belong to rather a
reckless set. l only hope that they
won't lead him into any mischief"
why, what do you fear for him."
Nothing definite. | should not like
him to get intimate with the acquaint-
anceS that he has made lately. There
is an actress"
DO you object to his associating
with her?' asked Ellen, laying down
her work, and looking steadily into his
face.
II don't think it will do him any
good. You think me uncharitable ]
see. Now an actress leads a life of
spurious excitement that must nnces-
sarily-"
"Stopv' cried Ellen, raising her hand
with an imperious gesture. Il have
been an actress myself. Don't say
anything you might regret"
She had risen to her feet; and he
too rose, feeling utterly bewildered
and scarcely trusting his own ears.
That this stern child, with her limo
cent big eyes and shy winning ways
should ever have trod the stage and
faced a mixed audience seemed i'm
possible-absurd. The mere thought
Of it enraged him. 1t could not be.
She was testing him-trying how
much he could credit against her.
you don't believe me, but it was so
really. 1t is as honorable a profession
as any other; and I could have been
very happy in it if-if-"
Her voice broke, and she turned
away her head to hide the hot sting
ing tears that had sprung into her
eyes as bitter recollectiOnS came surg
ing through her brain. Colonel Sew
ern thought she was hurt at what he
had said.
Il am a brute, and have offended
you beyond recall" he declared at
last, so humbly that, if she had felt
any wrath, it must have melted away;
but | was speaking carelesSly, and
on a subject of which | know nothing.
Remember 1 have been all my life
in India, and am naturally old-fash:
Toned and narrow in my views. They
are subs erted from this moment. The
mere fact of your having adopted it
makes the profession one worthy of
any woman to follow
us not that rather sudden CONVEX
sionY smiled Ellen, archly. touched
in spite of herself, by his earnestness
1T is not the less sincere. I think
you must have seen, Miss Warde, how
high you stand in my opinion-how ]
admire and revere you. In my eyes
you could do nothing wrong. There
is no one whose friendship would be
so dear to me-since l must ask no
more
A feeling # embarrassment caused
her to keep her eyelids down, and the
color came and went in waves upon
her cheeks.
He too was deeply moved, and felt
1t a relief when Mrs Priolo entered
to say that Mr.. Bowyer would like to
see the colonel before he left Di-
rectly she was alone Ellen sunk upon
a sofa and buried her face in her
hands.
Though she loved elsewhere, and to
her cost, yet she could have found
the friendship of this other very
sweet, only that it would be better to
refuse it now than, having once en-
joyed it, to feel it withdrawn from
her forever
Presently she heard Colonel Severn's
footstep on the stairs. then passing
along the hall. Some one opened the
outside door for him, and closed it.
He was gone-gone without a word
Of farewell! Was this the first fruits
Of her mad confession? she asked her.
self.
Heart-SOre and weary of the endless
struggle to act for the best, Ellen
burst into tears, weeping more VIC
lently from TIE effort to stifle the
sounds Of her grief.
Mrs. Priolo entered noiselessly. For
awhile she stood looking down at her
pitilessly How could such a wretch
expect mercy? thought Mrs. Priolo.
Mr.. Bowyer is waiting for you to
say goodnight she said at last,
sharply. Are you coming"
She dried her eyes at once, and got
up, strangling the sob that rose re-
belliously in he. throat.
Il will go nov. I did not know that
it was 50 late" said Ellen.