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

but failed to me last 1t is not that
l cannot forgive her. he said. I for
gave her long ago. 1t is that l be-
lieve I am acting justly, and melting
out punishment that is just
Many a line from the great Book
which would have rebuked his way of
reasoning rose to my mind; but he was
my father, I remembered, and I burst
not set myself above him.
Father I pleaded. as a final hope,
In such an hour as this-in the hour
Of death, dear father, may I tell her,
them
HE pondered the question long,
long while.
Yes he said, at length, Tn the
hour of death you may tell her the
truth
Thus it has been, grandmother
ever since I came to you, so that |
| have learned to look forward very few
erishly to the dark day of our parting,
not indeed as a day of darkness. but
rather as one of ineffablc light; for
would not it bring you joyful rest
after a toll of twenty years? Cast off
! the burden. then, grandmother, dear
! est" cried Alicia Penrith, finging her
! fond young arms about the aged, sink
| ing figure; "cast off the burden and die
happily, grandmother, for you did not
| kill Alicia Leigh
But Lady Penrith, in spite of the
close embrace of those OBTAINING arms,
had sunk gradually back upon the pill
lows of the bed, her eyes closed, a
strange smile on her quiet face. Yet
| it was not death. No. In striving to
realize that she was indeed free, that
joy after much sorrow was indeed
come, that the dreadful shadow which
had haunted Oldfriars for so long was
indeed gone forever, Lady Penrith had
tainted away.
DR.. Dixie was much astonished
when he arrived at Oldfriars next day
There was a remarkable change fol-
the better in the patient, he averre6
with a puzzled smile-a very remark.
able change. Clever as he was said t.
be, he could not understand it.
If only, he ventured, obviously
Lady Penrith could be prevailed upoT
to quit Oldfriars for a time, for The
benefit of a different air and scene
. why, he-Dr. Dilke-was fully per
suaded, apart from his verdict of thu
day before, that her ladyship, weak al
she was, might live for a good while
, yet.
And then, too, that earnest, dark
r eyed girl, Alicia Penrith-What com
, plete change had come over her, within
the past tWenty-four hours! Yester
day she had looked so wretchedly il
. that the physician had thought it
bad case, to say,the least of it. Today
! however. there was a distinct irc
, provement in her likewise, and tn
4 look Of incipient sickness had total.
disappeared Truly, it was very mys
> terious, mentally said DIR. Dixie.
, And you will go away, won't you
! grandmother" coaxed Alicia. whe1
. the great man had taken his depar
, ture, 'as soon as you are we'll an
> strong enough to travel? We will g
away togethe1-won't we, heart
dearest fright away somewhere, an
:, the change will do both of us good, yo
q know Say Yes grandmother
Yes"
Lady Penr,th sighed restfully.
Il Eyes, my darling, we will go. I
O should like to see the world again"
a Ay, the dreadful shadow was LITE
q from Oldfriars, and she might loo
, upon the world again.
Il will speak to Mr.. Merryweather
q Alicia said, nervously, yet hopeful!
q "He will help us-advise rs what
e DO"
Heaven bless him, yesr' murmure
: Lady Penrith. There is nobody
: Alicia that can assist us like him"
q And, although she had spoken to
g soon, it was no fault of hers, Sir Ruy
daughter knew-knew it, and wa
: glad.
\ Father" cried the girl in her hear
''if l have done wrong, forgive me!
did not Willingly break my word;
was deceived. I thought the hour wa
- come-and spoke accordingly. TIL
- veil was lifted, oh, my father! and
- and the effect was stronger than deaf
y itself"
To Be Continued.