Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-07

Two OF UnCSe Whispered words. 1t
would seem, had pierced the thick
shadows about her haunted brain.
Her pale lips moved with difficulty.
"Murder?" she said in q deep. agon-
lied voice. Yes, it was murder true
enough. But wl.o said that / killed
Alicia Leigh with-with what they
call malice aforethought? 1t is false
false, l say 1t was not thus
Heaven knows it-that | killed Alicia
Leigh!''
She twisted her long, thin hands to-
gether until the bones cracked dis
Uinctly. Tears, one after another.
rolled down the burrows of her
cheeks. The owl was hOoting again:
a Scudding mouse Squeaked behind
the WainScot
AFTER ALL said Mrs Ounce, anx-
iOuSly, Il think you ought to go
back to your bed, Miss Penrith. Kind
as it was of you to come out here. /
I think you'd be best away. Her
strange talk amt for you to hear, my
dear"
Alicia, with a gesture of impatience.
took the shawl from the housekeeper's
hands. The old servant was terrified.
but the girl was firm.
'fShe vail catch her death of cold. -
she said, reproachfully. Her mind
is wandering. / do not believe she is
asleep.
Tenderly and most carefully, with
infinite tact indeed, Alicia placed the
wooden wrapper about the shoulders
of her grandmother; then very quietly.
by almost imperceptibIe degrees pos
seSSed herself of one of those restless.
worn, white hands.
1T is late for us to be out, grand
mother" she said, bravely, her young
voice low, clear, penetrating, speaking
close to Lady Pen1ith's ear, ignoring
the signals of disapproyal and alarm
which Mrs. Ounce was making so
wildly. Let us go home; the mists
are rising
Yes, down by the river" Lady Pen
rith said in the same heavy, anguish
stricken kind of way. ''The mists are
always there. That might they were
dense, / remember. l saw her walk
ing in the twilight along the river
path, but in that moment Heaven
knows 1 had no intent of murder in
my heart; that came afterward. All
day long / had been brOoding on the
boys Obstinacy, on the promise | had
given him in order to gain time.
had sworn that Alicia Leigh should
never he his wife, and l meant Ito keep
my vow. / meant ITO get rid of her in
some way or other-but I did not wish
to do SO by killing. / went out that
night to think-to think-to think over
it ALL" moaned Lady Penrith,
slowly lifting to her forehead the
hand that was free, land / met Alicia
Leigh in the mists on the river bank.
/ asked her to give up my darling, but
she refused. Again and again did
ask her, reason with her, but each
time with the same result: and then
and then it was that in my pride and
passion, l forgot there was a Heaven
white. white face even now, as it
looked up at me before the water
leaped roughly over it and pitilessly
dashed it down to the stones in the
river bed. It has haunted me thus
for twenty years-for twenty years!'
she cried, hopelessly. ooh! THE agony
[ suffered in those days before Ruy
returned-oh! the agony I have suf-
fered since then-'
See exclaimed Alicia. unsteadily,
chow bright the moon is shining Let
us go indoors. 1t is cOld it is bed
time. dear grandmother
you'll be the death of her" whim-
pered Mrs. Quince-"mark my words,
If she's asleep. and you wake her up,
Miss Alicia, you'll send her stark,
staring mad
But Alicia needed not, and presently
her quiet persistence was rewarded.
Lady PenTith suffering herself at last
to be taken back to her apartment,
soothed by loving words, and guided
by those tender little hands-Mrs.
Ounce shivering audihly behind then
as she shuff1ed over the bare oak
boards
When her grandmother was safely
in bed again, Alicia, fancying that
she could discern in the wandering
eyes the welcome signs of returning
reason, leaned over the pillows and
kissed the wrinkled brow
DO You know me, grandmother,
dearest?' she whispered, her whole
soul in her tender tones. Il am Alicia
your own Alicia"
Lady Penlfth gazed shrinkingly up
into the delicate face above her own.
as though the old haunting dread
We're coming back once more.
''Not-not Alicia Leigh?'' She said,
fearfully.
''No, no, no! Alicia Penrith.'' pas
sionately cried Sir Rugs daughter.
Then Heaven bless you, dear"
came the faint answer; and with q
tired sigh the grandmother fell
asleep.
And when the first streak of dawn
struggled in at the easements of Lady
Penrith's chamber, it quiyered with
painful touch upon Alicia's kneeling
form-upon Alicia in a tempest of sor-
row crouching low by the Ilushed bel
side Thus had she kept her vigil
while the darkness was passing away.
To Be Continued.
THE CHRONICLES OF REUBEN.