Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-11-21

teuil occupied by pale and beautiful
dark-haired, dark-eyed woman in
! cleaning white satin and fearful
pearls were all but striving openly
for the possession of her little card
and pencil.
Meanwhile Miss Penrith's appear
ance at the Honorable Mrs. Caring
tons brilliant late winter assembly
| was provoking comments elsewhere
Two wall flowers" on sofa in a re-
cess, were speaking of Alicia Penrith.
isn't it odd, dear, that she doesn t
| marry, with all her money and every
thing? And she is handsome, too,
after a certain style-at least so peo-
pie say"
yes" was the reply, $50 people
say; though, for my own part, I can
see nothing in that pale face of hers,
and those great theatrical-l looking
eyes. 1 consider her most strange
looking myself"
Eyes, dear; but then you must recol-
lect that there is no accounting for
mems taste, and it is the men who
rave over Alicia Penrith. By the bye,
it is nearly three years ago, is it not,
since that Marvellous story was made
public by Mr.. Merryweather, and
Garth heard for the first time that
there was no murder done at Oldfriars
after all? Everybody used to say, you
know. that Lady Penrith killed Alicia
Leigh. How time fies!'
'Ah! indeed" was the reply. 81
was at Malvern when the mistake was
cleared up, fancy, staying with the
Rockies. However, I perfectly remem-
Der my sister writing and telling me
had died at Genoa. 1t was an ugly
story altogether. It's a great mercy
she's dead and gone"
IA very great mercy as you say
especially for Miss Penrith herself.
But I have always thought it remark
ably strange in Herman Merryweather
that as soon as he had brought Miss
Penrith back to Oldfriars, he should
have left his business entirely to the
care and management of that conf
Dental old clerk of his, and himself
gone off abroad again. to travel, good
ness knows whither-Egypt, Syria,
anywhere, they said at the time.
Talking of Mr. Merryweather, dc you
know that [ was told he would be
here tonight. Can it be possible?"
ooh. yes, I believe so! He has re-
turned from his peregrination rather
Unexpectedly, and young Darlington,
meeting him yesterday in Stilborough,
to the ball Gracious! There he is, I
declare, talking with Richard Blount,
Well, three years have certainly
wrought a change in him; he is a fine
looking fellow still, is he not?''
Supper was over; the after-supper
dances were in full force. The revel
was at its height; it's wane was nigh
at hand.
Miss Penrith, SO weary of it all
having eluded the jealous vigilance of
her numerous admirers, had come I'M
suspected, unseen, as she fondly
servatory. There, in the cool, dim
light, among the thick leaves and
flowers of the place, she sat herself
down on a low couch and rested her
head in her hand
How tired she felt, how lonely-rich,
f1attered, and courted by everybody
though she was! In the distance she
could hear the boom and throb of the
music; but music pleased her not to-
night, possessed no charm for her.
For she was a-weary indeed.
'He is here-here, when I deemed
him miles away she was thinking,
sadly, land yet he has not sought me
out! 1 believe-I believe he shuns
me even | want to ask him why he
went away three years ago without a
word of farewell. IT,
She felt, rather than perceived, that
someone had approached her-nay,
was standing by her and looking down
upon her bent head. A little hand
went swiftly upward, grasping, crush
ing the vivid scarlet flower that lay
against her bosom of snow. She
burst not, could not, lift those very
sorrowful eyes of hers. Unerring in
stinct told her that Herman himself
was near.
"Have you then no word of welcome
for me?" he was saying, gently. Il
came back at last because | could not
keep away from-from Garth a day
longer; the pain of separation from
| the place had become more than
| boor on, ooroa hack and want Won
! to give me a word of welcome-Miss
| Penrith.'
She saw he was altered much, that
the few years which were gone had
| told heavily upon him. His brown
hair was streaked with silver, his
beard was rougher and longer. Those
! steadfast eyes, so tender and true
were graver, more wistful, than she
had ever known them before.
Alicia, too, was changed, he noticed
changed greatly. 1t was difficult tc
! believe that this pale, beautiful woman
| in cleaning satin and shimmerine
pearls was the Alicia Penrith whom
he had found watching for his coming
in the fragrant twilight in the garden
at Genoa.
/ She made room for him to be seated
and he sat down by her on the couch.
"Why-why did you leave me with
out a word" she said, in low
panied voice, without word, withou
a sign? You gave me no word at part
ing. Why did you not tell me tina
you were going away for an indefinite