Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-14

its thrCbDing seemed to Stifia him; its
blood seemed rising 20 his brain;
strong as the man knew himself to be.
his love was almost his master
Nevertheless, he quietly took his sean
opposite Alicia Penrith, and she nev!r
even suspected that for her dear sake
his life had all gone awry.
Yes" he said, calmly.
| In q few hurried sentences she told
/ him what DR.. Dixie had said, and that
he was coming again on the morrow
! In SOFT )wful silence Herman listened
! And ncw-and now" cried Alicia,
! desperately, Il have something else
! to tell y0u. I must speak, Mr.. Merry
! weather. pr l believe l shall go mad.
! The secret is killing me. Listen, and
do not judge me harshly.''
She leaned toward him as sic spoke,
her poor little hands extended with a
touching air Of humility, Of depreca-
ton.
Listen" she pleaded again, land
do not judge me harshly."
The words fell fast from her lips in
pitiable agitation; her quivering voice
now and then was choked with heart-
broken tears. Herman heard her tl
the end, staggered ineXpressibly AT
her strange revelation. She knew
felt that her confession had amazed
him beyond measure. She almost
feared to look at him now.
Il do not call that forgiveness" he
!. said, deliberately, at last, when he
had got somewhat over the shock; 81
, is more like revenge. Nor can l." he
added, sadly, 'imagine more cr1le
: form of revenge
ooh! pray do not call it So" urged
wrong He forgave her freely; h.
+ often said that This, he maintained
was only just punishment; and J
, because / loved him so dearly, anC
knew nothing whatever then of m.
grandmother and Oldfria1s, believed
that he was right. / gave him my sol
4 emn word that l would hold hi;
wishes sacred, Though 1 neve
= dreamed in those days-hOW could l
q how hard would be the promise t.
q keep and to fulfil. You can under
! stand now, can you not, Mr.. Merry
weather, what [ have suffered in 81
lence since | came to Oldfriars, witt
I this milestone of a secret Weighin
. upon my heart? You can understan
can you not-Why l have found my
self praying sometimes for my grand
f mothers death, when deaths az
f proach meant a double release-peac
, both for her and for me?"
+ Eyes; things are plalinCr now" al
! severed Merrywea ther, thOughtfully
4 "much palmer. And you will tell The
: everything today?"
o YES; ! mean ITO break it to her YER
gradually, this evening, when she an
J. [ are alone together" said Alicia, al
e Sently, with a long, long sigh.
d Silence. Then Alicia Penmtn spok
suddenly.
Il "And am 1 quite guiltless in you
% eyes" she said, hUmbly enough, &c
e do you deem me answer1ble for augl
10 Of the pain-the suffering cru,
VI deception? Oh. do you hold n
wholly gUltless--'
o "GuiltlesS, Alicia" cried Herman
V pasSionately, starting to his feet, h
q great love showing itself in spite {
his iroI will-only Sir Rugs daughte
J. did not comprehend that it was so
''guiltless, my poor little girl? Yes,
= thousand times, yes! You have bee
N true, patient, and brave, although
% 1t was enough. Alicia dared IL
y. TRUST herself to hear another Syllabl
ito wait a moment longer. Risin
Is abruptly from her seat, with dark IN
misty eyes that could scarcely st
! their way, she seized his hand
# gratitude. kissed it wildly, and I'll
v next instant was gone from his sigh