Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-02-26

tLuinpefy CHOICE VI HOW annie with ner
bloWsy beauty could have managed to
captivate him. Without the ring she
would hardly have persuaded anyone
that she told the truth Directly the
confirmation of his death arrived she
had put herself into mourning and drawn
down the parlOr blinds, while Mr. and
Mrs. Potter, with an air of great sur
prise, spread the story of her bereave-
ment. They had not known of any en-
gagement they said. until poor, dear Fan
ME swooned at the news of the wreck,
and afterward exhibited her ring. She
nearly swOoned again when Col Lester
called. She said he reminded her so
strongly of her beloved Jack.
Col. Lester and his wife were elderly
people, who led a secluded life in their
beautiful old home: They saw little
Gates. When Fannie's letter reached
them they had to make inquiries about
her, and the answers they got were I'M
pleasing. But i'll the first stress of their
great sorrow they would have welcomed
the Woodbury. sweep at Langholme if
he could have proved that their only son
had given him an invitation. AS it
was they prepared the west bedroom for
Fannie Potter and asked her to spend
fortnight with them.
Woodbury. looked on astonished. Mr.
and Mrs. Potter held up their heads and
talked about the dear colonel and his
wonderful affection for their eldest girl.
Celia dropped. Her mother thought of
sending her to the sea, she lost color
and weight so fast. The poor child was
grievously hurt. She had loved Jack
Lester and believed in him. There had
been enough of an understanding be-
tween them to warrant her hopes. Had
he deceived her? And what made her
heart ache mOst-the fable of his treach-
cry or the thought that he was dead?
About a month after the wreck Of the
on Tnnil1 C1I h1 .tn
must go and see Mrs Lester one after
noon, and she hoped that Celia would ac-
company her.
You go without me-" said Celia
Mrs: Lester is so fond of YOU OBJ
| served Mrs. Grey.
oh. but she has the Potter girl now,"
said Celia, dejectedly.
Nevertheless, when the afternoon came.
she went to Langholme with her mother
! They were shown into the drawing room
and found Mrs. Lester and her guest at
| tea. Miss Potter advanced to meet
them, and without any loss of time be-
gan to show how much she felt at home
How dye, Cellar she cried and her
jet bangles ratified as she WObbled Celia's
! hand to and fro in the latest society
manner. 80 glad you've come. You'll
! cheer up the old lady. Fresh tea, Viii
kins, and some hot tea cakes. These are
! cold. Try this chair, Mrs. Grey. The
| old lady's right ear is not SO deaf as her
left one
But neither Mrs. Grey nor Celia took
very much notice of the young woman.
! Mrs. Lester welcomed her old friends
with affection, led them to a distant part
| of the large room, and gave her own
orders to Wilkins. For little while
! Miss Fannie felt out of it. She put
! word in on several occasions when she
had better have remained silent; she
! moved reStleSsly about the room, and
| when ~ hoy
! dispensed 1t If Mrs. Lester had not
! chosen to take possession of the tray
herself. 1t was not until Col. Lester
! appeared that Miss Fannie had a chance
! of reasserting herself.
Then she came forward again and
made Il TODD about his cup of tea. She
must pour it out for him. She knew
! how much sugar he liked She felt
| sure that draught at the back of his
head could not be good for him. He
| must really allow her TO shut the win
| dow. The old man looked worried by
| these attentions, bat he seemed to reckon
them we'll meant He treated her with
exquisite kindness, and Mrs. Grey felt
sure that he rather than his wife was
responsible for Miss Potter's prolonged
stay in the house. Mrs Testers man
ner to her guest had not been very cor
dial
Col. Lester looked delighted to see
Celia, but he asked her why she had
| SION III 80 Nulle ana CHlD.
What can Il young girl have to fret
| abOut?' he said.
"Oh! Colonelr' sighed Miss Potter,
reproachfully.
Everyone had finished tea, and Mrs.
Lester proposed an adjournment to the
by Wilkins coming in and asking. with
shaky voice for his master. The old
servant looked scared and upset
What is it: Wikins?" said Miss Pot
| ter Anything l can do? The colonel
Wilkins vouchsafed no reply. He did
not even look her way. Col Lester got
UP and went out of the room Perhaps
two minutes passed before he returned
Inc ladies had begun to talk of some
t5hlng else when the colonel opened the
door,. stood still for a moment on the
threshold, looked fXedly at his wife, and
then over his shoulder toward the hall
1t was just as if Mrs Lester could read
something in his face that no one else
understood. She got up and walked in
quick, trembling way toward her hus-
band.
Jack" she cried. She went with out
stretched hands beyond the door, and be-
fore anyone quite understood what had
happened. Jack rushed forward and
took his mother into his arms.
Celia turned so white that her mother
thought she would faint; but the next
moment she had blushed rosy red be,
cause Jack Lester had seized her hand
and seemed reluctant to let it so again.
No one noticed the Potter girl steal
stealthily toward the low French win
dow that stood open to the lawn.
What does it mean, Jack" said his
mother at last. you look very ill.,
I've been pretty bad. I lay in hut
on the Spanish coast for three weeks I
was Knocked silly, you know, against
the rocks, and then hauled out by some
fishermen. The poor chap they took for
me must have got hold of my coat with
my papers in. 1t all happened in the
dark and in such a hurry. I might have
wired from London, but [ thought I
would just come on. When they put me
on board at Cadiz / was not in a condi-
ton to act for myself and the people
who looked after me did not know how
to get at YOU
1--WE have been taking care of your
bride, Jack" said Col Lester, who was
a good deal surprised by his sons cool
manner TO her.
Jack looked puzzled, pleased, undeter>
mined.
My bride.'' he said with a happy light