Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-07


of unnameable pain! John, it's only
three o'clock-will you drive me into
town? The market is full on must
see some women who are too stolid
for neryeS-oh-the letters, and one
from Humphrey! John, he's down with
the fever, and Brydon's only halfway
Not a man. jack of the blacks-being
mostly christianized-is worth his salt.
Only for Tolly we'd cave in altogether,
the fellows a brick. and seems like
the beginnings of an intel
never in all my life was l so knocked
into 2 cooked hat as by this fever"
look at the writing, John. it's
shocking.
''As for Brydon, he had a narrow
squeak; he's out of the bush now, but
as weak as rat. On the whole the
sand flies are worse than the fever
Don't dwell on this touch of fever
to Gwen, it's really Of no account OF
delay. From here we go on to a place
have traced Broad. Hitherto the
blacks have been friendly, but beyond
the hills | hear We are to look out
for sqalls. Don't expect many letters
after this, as the modes of convey
ance are very casual and untrust
worthy. neither can l count upon re
ceiving your letters safely. | viii
hurry there and back with all possible
speed l know you will always see
Gwen at least once q day.
'sSee. John, I can hardly read it
what it is? Oh, love for you ant
something for the rector can hardly
read
1--WE Will go in on our way to the
market; the ponies are at the door,
Gwen was in her boudoir when Mrs
Fellowes went to her. She was sitting
with a bundle of papers in her hand
She thrust them into a drawer, an(
ran into the other woman's arms, an(
lay there with a short audible move
ment Of pain.
Tell me just how you think my hus
band is" she said. Mrs. Fellowe:
started. "Ah, you're afraid toov' criet
Gwen.
Gwen, l know really very little
those attacks are always very sharp
hardly ever dangerous except will
bad constitutions, John. says-he ha!
been reading up medical book abou
African fevers."
"'Bad constitutions and compiled
tons, the book says, l have it; and b,
has complication in some sort o
sun-stroke."
"Gwenr'
Yes she went on in a quiet leve
voice. "He missed the last mail b,
some idiocy Of the blacks, and q,
walked ten miles all through a SWAMP
to catch it, with the fever still on him
when he got home he was half deli
6ious. He lay and it seems turned
his heart inside out, both audibly ant
ON paper, see, 1 have it all here il
these sheets!' she said, with bite
irony, catching her breath, as sh
took them out of the drawer.
Gwen, my Gwen, what do yo1
mean?"
Il mean he lay there and told ou
into wOrdS-blatant awful EngliSl
WordS-On to these sheets, how h
loves me, me! but in words no othe
man ever before used, or dared to Use
or the soul of every woman woult
have been annihilated long ago, tie.
are not fitted to bear such magnificen
burdens!-He told, too, in precisely TIL
same uncompromising way what III
wants of me, and what he consider
| am capable Of in this line. Mrs
Fellowes, l know just exactly wha
it cost him to go away! Nothing i
hid. Then yesterday"
She stood up rather wildly
DO you know that yesterday
learned in one choking gulp the grind
ing truth of my mothers poor trag
edy of life l learned too" she saiC
slowly, throwing out her arms softly
with a pathetic gesture of appeal, "al
in one binding second my own in
finite love for her; but there was N
time to tell, she died first. | an
crushed with kowledge, l am spared
nothing, and then-ah, SicnneSS is de
grading. Delilah's shears are nothing
to it! To think that here in. my hands
I hold the whole unsurpassed hear
of a mani"
"But, Gwen, l cannot grasp it--hOv
came you by all this knowledge
Humphrey was too i'll to write al
that big bundle of Sheets
''He wrote, as he spoke, in delirium
part of it is absolutely maniacal, blu
my God! there is truth enough in it
1 see Humphreys poor sick naked sou
in every hne!'
She hid her face and moaned softly
.But, love, 1 don't understand
came you by those sheets?"
"Brydon sent the letters. Poor boy
he wrote a little humble scrawl him
self, that has touch of pathos in it.
81 think Brydon was the more de
lirious of the two! What business had
he meddling in matters too big fol-
him!'
"Oh, he's young and very romantic
and--have you ever heard of that pic
ture he painted of me?'
THAT sketch for your mother?' She
said softly.
Gwen WINGED.
No. oh no. one he came down
and made of me the day l was mar,
ried. 1t is a beautiful seXful mother
woman: it was to that woman Humph-