Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-09

leaning YEARLY against the tree. she
sobbed aloud.
Does it hurt you so? How strange!
To he the pain : deadened. or at least
/ have grown .-ocustomed to i'll be
ieve one could grow accustomed to
any horrible thought by not avoid
ing it,
You forget" she said. in harsh.
strained voice, 1T is different for me.
| was suspected of-of-'' She could
not finish her sentence; though no one
was within hearing, she dared not put
the terrible ghastly fact into words.
But you escaped" he remarked. un-
derStanding what she meant
Yes, l escaped from prison. from
trial, perhaps from death; but. oh. in
thought l suffer still, and will till
DEATH
Why did you ask me to come here -
Because 1 wanted to beg YOUR ST.
lence. An iDcautious word from YOU
might betray me: and l nave an
enemy here who is on the watch to
make use Of anything against me-"
Not the cOlonel?"
A deep blush suffused her cheeks,
and she shook her head.
Il see it is not he he said. bitterly.
Have l fallen on a love story un-
awares?'
She flashed an indignant contemptu-
Gus glance at him, and then replied
with sorrowful dignity that touched
his shallow sympathy at once
There is no question of such a thing
now. nor ever. l shall never marry
Child, don't look so despairing.
You are safe now; and. if ever you
are in danger again, appeal to me-
There is something I know about that
fatal night-something important
which / believe would help you, per-
haps clear you altogether;" then, meet
ing her eager, curious gaze, he added,
impressiyely Remember only YOU
and I as yet know about the existence
Of that other, presumably a jealous
lover
You want to transfer suspicion to
AI1L, uO yOu. \Sudl p-y.J
Il want to remove it from you.
There is no body of men so open to
conviction, so easily hoodwinked, as
an impsneled jury. I wonder how
they reconcile to their consciences all
the mistakes they make" Taking out
a little pocket-book he wrote a few
words on a blank leaf, tore it out and
gave it to her There are the name
and address of my bankers; anything
directed there will find me-
She thanked him quietly.
1T is time I went back" she said;
''Mr. Bowyer always dimes in the mid
die Of the day, and will wonder if [
am late
Then we part again. This will be
the last time, I think. I shall leave
here at Once-by this afternoons
train if posSible-and l don't imagine,
Elaine, our paths will ever cross in
the future"
II hope not" was in her heart, but
nothing passed her lips.
He stood for moment pushing
back his dark mustache and staring
at her curiously; then muttering a
somewhat gruff farewell, he turned
and walked away at a rapid pace.
Ellen sighed YEARLY, and went in
the other direction.
1t still wanted few minutes to the
dinner hour as she entered the little
garden and run upstairs quickly to
her room. Her first act when she
reached it was to opent the small tin
box which she had carried about with
her so long. Taking out the bunch
of withered f1owers-a tribute from
Gerald Weare when as vet he was in
doubt as to which of the two sisters
he would favor with his affections
she flung it impetuously into the en-
pity CRATE. then, applying a lighted
match. watched it fare mp brightly.
and sink as suddenly into a heap of
dust.
In spite Of her impatient anger, she
felt a pang-it was a volume in her
life closed; what would the next con-
tain? Would the future be brighter?
To be Continued.