Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-30
t:',:aer tie Cloud.
Continued.


with a tremulous half-deprecating
smile, as though she doubted her wei
come, yet felt it would look ungraciouS
were she to stay away.
Where have you been, Ellen! /
have missed YOU" he said, gently.
If | had only known, L could have
come before | was doing nothing
that is, nothing Of consequence"
Come and sit beside me. How cold
your hands are. Have you no fire in
your bedroom"
"She never asked for a fire." put in
the ho"sekeeI CT tartly.
'Then give her one without the ask
ing. | shall be seriously angry if it
is not kept up regularly"
II did not feel the cold at all It is
only now when l come into the warm
room that l realize it was perhaps a
little chilly" said Elaine
Mr.. Bowyer watched her with some
Thing of the old tenderness and con-
ern.
Would he doubt her and disbelieve
IS he had before? He thought not;
and yet even in his thoughts he did
not feel quite sure of himself. He felt
that he was breaking up, and that Ill
a year CT two all this turmoil would
be at an end. At his age nothing need
matter much. What a fool he was to
Shall l fetch you a cup Of tea?'
asked Mrs PriolO, breaking into his
reverie
care.
ELLEN will bring it to me today
won't you, child"
Sic sprung UP eagerly to do his bid
fling, but Mrs. Priolo blocked the door
way and prevented her from going
out.
You have forgotten" she said,
meaningly 1T is | who prepare every
thing for Mr.. Rowyer now"
Ellen flushed up and hesitated, but
the invalid enforced his wish with a
testimony which neither could disce~
gard.
Mrs. PriolO sat apart and watched
the girls preparation in stolid quiet
nde. declining the tea that was offered
TO her with a hastineSs that Ellen felt
to be insulting, although she would
not appear to notice it. Mr.. BOwyers
cup md saucer were placed on a small
table near him.
Ellen resumed her seat. and began
70 talk of a book that they had been
lately reading; but Mr.. BOwyer's an
swers were strangely brief, and not
always to the point His resolution
was Wavering-ndeed had entirely
given way. Again and again he told
himself that it was more than improb-
able that a second attempt would be
made on his life so soon, and in such
circumstances, vet he could rot bring
himself to drink what she had given
MIN.
Mrs Priolo's keen eyes took in the
situation at a glance, and a grim
smile of satisfaction Overspread her
thin ill-tempered face; but Elaine was
slower TO discover how things were.
1t was getting dark ana ps st the u.s.
ual time for bringing in the lamps
when she rose TO put the tea-thinSs
by. She was rking Mr. Bowers
cup with the rnst. when suddenly she
discovered that it was untasted-un-
touched even.
Why she began, then she sud
denly stopped
1t came Upon her in Il mo nent, with
a terrible stunning force, what it all
meant; and, utterly despairing. ircapa-
BILE Of self-defcnSp or even indignation,
she stood there pOWerless
Then Jane entered with the lights,
and the spell was broken. Hastily put
ting down the cup, which half uncon-
sciously she held still. she escaped
from the room. and did not appear
again that night.
Various motives had kept Severn
from the Dover House during the fort
night which had elapsed since Mr.
Bowers misadyenture. For one thing,
he thought visitors would be unweI-
come in the present strained relations
Of its inmates; for another, he was
busy trying to discover who was at
the bottom of that strange mistake
for he could not believe at first that
what had been done had been done
with murderous intent
knowing that his own ineXperieuce
might injure rather than serve Miss
Warde's interest, he had telegraphed
for professional aid, and a very smart
detective was sent down in answer to
the summons. He set to work at once,
but it was only after several false
scents that at last a report was sub
mitted to the colonel which showed
that he was on the right track.
Colonel Severn sat down at once to
impart the cheering news to Elaine.
OF her illness he had heard nothing,
or no thought as to what was eX-
pedient could have kept him away;
yet. though he did not know all, he
could guess something Of what she
had had to endure, and the letter he
wrote was full of sympathy implied
rather than expressed. Some intuitive
presentment of what was even then
occurring prompted him to add a post
script
"On no account take any decisive
step without informing me. | know
your position must be a very painful
oGe; but bear it only a little longer.
Do not, | implore you, be tempted Il
second time to run away from your
difficulties, for l am confident that in
a very short time all will be cleared
up"
The letter fulfilled its intention, cou-
soling and strengthing her to whom il