Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-07
CHAPTER V.
'WhO Said That | Killed Alicia
Leigh?"


Leigh?''
Mrs. Ounce, | cannot, I will not
shut my eyes to the fact amy longer.
My grandmother is fading day by
day. Something must be done"
Mrs. Ounce was in the stiIl-roOm,
tidying a cupboard Miss Penrith.
coming upon her unawares, had laid
her hand beseechingly on the startled
old WOman's shoulder The bright
morning sunlight streamed in at the
long, barred windows, and seemed to
mock the expression of deep melan-
choly which sat ON Alicia's face.
Something must be done, Mrs.
Ounce" she repeated, almost pas
sionately, as the housekeeper moved
her head slowly from side to side
after her own peculiar, dubious fash
ion
give told you before, my DEAR" she
was beginning, chat doctors can't do
her no good. For we'll 1 know, poor
dear"
when | am talking to her," went
on Alicia, unheeding, ''She does not
appear to hear me, answers me at
random, and asks me what | was
saying. If [ read to her it is the
same; she does not listen l know
She is fading fast Mrs. Ounce, I tell
you; and it is downright wicked of
us not to do our best to save her"
The ancient dame sighed breezily
and shook her head again. Alicia
waited
My dear young Mistress she said,
at length, sit amt a disease of the
body. but of the mind" She paused:
''and Miss Alicia'-speaking nervOusly
-'HyOu-yOu maun't be frightened if
she gets queerer still. She's allus
queerer in the Summer-aS the month
o. June comes on. She gets thinking
of Sir Ruy, you know, and of-and of
Alicia Leigh. The truth is, she walks
at might, sometimes: but you maun't
be frightened, my dear"
walks at night?" repeated Alicia
under her breath.
YES" said Mrs. Ounce. dropping
her voice. too. eff she's been drowSy-
like in the day-eNtra droWsy, I mean,
Miss Alicia-she starts up of a night
and rOamS about the house Didn't
you hear her the other night?"
mo; I've heard nothing she said.
L ought to have warned you afore,
my dear" said the hOusekeeper, con-
tritely; but l forgot all about it-and
that's a fact. I'm so used to her
queer ways myself, you see l don't
think anything of 'em. However, l
allus gets out of bed and watches her,
Miss Alicia, if l hears her move in
the corridor"
This was enough for Alicia She
quilted the Still+room more i'll at ease
than ever. determined without delay
to seek out Herman Merryweather.
How easy it was-,now natural it
seemed, she thought, with a beating
heart-to regard him as a tower of
strength under any pressing difficulty
to turn to him for prudent counsel in
the time of trouble and trial. He
would be sure to advise her Alright;
he was so tender and true.
she went out into tue pure fresh dLt
Into the glorious sunshine which
was flooding the landscape both near
and afar with the radiancy Of early
summer-and looked abont her arX
iOusly. He had not shown himself at
Oldfriars FOR the last two days; surely
be will come this morning.
She made her way round to the back
Of the house, where, on the rising
ground, the broken sheds looked sad
and strange" against the fairness Of
the clear blue sky. her eyes. timOrous
in spite of their great anxiety, rowing
everywhere in quest of Herman. She
eSpied him presently, leaning over the
yard-gata, talking to old Jabez Jen-
nings, who, clad today in a grimy
Smock-frock, and armed with a
mighty pitchfork, was getting in fod-
der FOR the horses. Merryw Gather.
catching sight of Alicia Penrith. left
Jabez immediately and came to meet
her. His self-command was strong
and sure: there was nothing whatever
in the mans outward bearing to be
tray the conflict within him. The rare