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

She went in and out Of her mother,
room in a vague search after duty,
but she never touched even her bed;
she was afraid of the awful shadowy
thing, and more afraid still of her
mothers eyes following her hungrily.
No softening grew in her eyes, no love
only fear.
And so the days wore on and the
hush fell closer round the house, and
crept into the hearts Of those that
dwelt there.
Yet there seemed small cause for it
all; the doctors saw no tangible reason
for alarm, and yet they were uneasy
and came frequently.
1t was the eighth day of the Illness
just as twilight was falling.
Mrs Waring had had her bed moved
near the window that commanded the
Park, and she was looking wistfully
out on the south terrace watching
Gwen walking up and down.
Gwen, in obedience to her promise
to take care of herself, always chose
this particular walk, bathing herself
draughts OF the sweet clear air that
came across a healthy hill in the dis
tance, and trying to gather up shreds
of happy thought to feed her loneliness
with, and to soothe the vague aching
that seemed to have made it's home
In her.
MARY" said Mrs. Warning suddenly
her husband had been literally drag
ged out for a drive by the old doctor
twill you call Gwen, but first give mt
that tonic / feel as if | would sliI
away in spite of myself, and | know,
she murmured softly to herself, "thert
is something / ought to say.-Are he,
eyes still sealed as she walks there
communing with her own sad heart?
she thought as she looked out at Gwen
"Will love never touch her-never
VIII the child's life open the gate-or
must it be the death of that little
child?"
She shivered down into the bed
clothes, and shut her eyes.
"Ma'am, dear heart, drink this,
said Mary, softly raising her, and will
"a great leap of her heart she saw
death on the white face, "drink it
my dearie," she repeated returning I'm
consciously to the old term of thirty
nine years ago, and kissing the ittl
burrows between the brOws. "YOu ar
very young, dearie," she said, softl.
stroking her hair, mot fit to be =:
grandmotherr'
A soft pink flush crept into he
cheeks. "Will you please call Gwen?
she murmured.
When Gwen came i'm, her mother
eyes were closed and her face Xix
marble
The girl shivered and half turned;
horrible inclination to fly took hOlt
of her, but she drove back her COW
ardice and came swiftly up to TIL
bed, one of her full sleeves touche,
1T, and she drew it away.
Her mothers eyes opened just il
time to see her little action, she shiv
cred, and Owens heart began to ach
in n new spot.
ut all seems so hopeless" sh
thought, sit is so terrible to hurt her
so pitiless, and underlined"
She stopped over her, a tress o
hair escaped from her coil and fell OF
Mrs. Warnings cheek. Neither of then
touched it for minute
The mother felt a sudden longing t.
ruffle it softly as she had once don
TO a village baby's, and to feel tn
soft sickness slip through her fingers
but she restrained herself and Onl,
breathed a little quicker
you want me, mother?" said Gwel
gently, lifting up her head and fasten
ing up her hair
Eyes, ! want you, dear"
She closed her eyes and rested. Gwel
moved uneasily the stiffness oppressed
her, and some chs uge in the sicl
woman's face made her heart fee
tight. Presently Mrs. Waring drew
long breath and threw off some of TIL
clothes feebly.
''rhey are so heavy" she said. Mar,
lifted her higher on the pillows. Eyes
that's better, thank you, and now
Mary, so and rest. My daughter will
stay with me-"
Gwen heard the reSOlute maSterfu
use of the word in absolute terror; sh
had a coerced, trapped feeling, AM
for minute a passionate revolt shool
her. What was she to do, to say
She felt as if she We're caught in ;
mesh of bleeding quivering nerves
she found herself dra wing hpr breath
almost imperceptibly. for fear o
touching raw surfaces.
what is it, mother?' she cried out
There was a tone of appeal in he
voice, born of her terror. Thi
strengthened her mother; she felt olde
than her child and with a power t
protect her. The ghost of smil,
moved her mouth and fiicker-d in he,
eyes.
ct is death, DEAR" she said, will
gentle gravity.
Gwen stared at her and in an I'm
compromising rigid way she repeated
Death, deathr'
Yes" whispered the woman. sit i
hard to realize-I have been so strong
but life has been losing its hold OF
me for some time, think. Gwen, le
me take your hand. dear. touch M
as if you We're used to it. as if yor
had tumbled over me and 1 hai
played with you ever since you car
remember.
Owens hand shook as she gave il
70 nd xx-3I0