Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-08-13
CHAPTER VII

Lord Marlborough sat for fully ter
minutes without moving. Then he
opened a drawer at his right hand and
drew out a handsome shining revolver
He examined it mechanically but care.
fully. Every chamber was loaded
Then he laid it down by his side.
There seems to be nothing else,
he said to himself-Letters to Massin-
ger, Lady Agnes and Mary, and-and
Sadie
Il wish it could all have been kept
from her, but of course that is impos-
sible, She is bound to hear it; better
from me than any one
I wonder if l should ever have
thought of this if it hadn't been for
Massinger? l don't think so. 1t seems
very clear now, though | couldn't
meet that fellow Tulch and ask him
tC wait. If only I could see Sadie once
again-just for moment. I'd like to
tell her that l don't blame her father
and that she isn't to mind Sadie
what an odd name it sounded when ]
first heard it, and yet I have grown
very, very fond of it,toor'
There was a photograph on the table
beside him. He took it up and looked
at it thOughtfully When he put it
down his lips quivered a little and his
eyes were dim.
It's hard not to see you again
dear" he said, softly Yet your face
shah be the last in my memory
Shall it be as you stood on the docks
in Boston harbor, waving your hand
kerchief to me as I leaned over the
steamers sail, and the distance be,
tween us widened and widened until
yCuT face was lost in a set of faces
and only the memory of it was left
[ thought of you a good deal on thai
voyage, Sadie, my love What glorious
nights those were! | used to lean over
the rail at twilight, with my face
turned westward and watch the gray
! shadows riding on the waters. watch
ing them so long that Icould almost
/ see your face then and your handker
chief waving, and tears glistening il
your eyes. And at night, when ever!
one had gone below and there was NJ
sound but the dull throbbing of the en-
gines, I used to think of you, then, to-
of our life together in England, an(
how you would love my old castle AM
the country lanes and the Old-fash
toned folks. There was so much t
show you that would have been new
and delightful How happy we SHOULD
have been-yOu with that wonderful
'ioie de vie of yours, which seemet
to turn everything you saw to happi
ness and laughter, and l in having 20
always with me. What music Their
seemed in the salt wind and the rush
ing of the sea away from the bows
And this is the end of it! I shall fee
your soft white arms around my nee
no more. dearest, or your dainty, he:
itating kisses upon my lips. | wonde
whether someone else"
!, A little sob checked his speech. H
5 rose abruptly and thrust the photo
i graph away.
:, What a COnsummate fool | am
!, he muttered What on earth POI
= sessed me to sit down and brood upC
:. the one thing likely to unnerve M
+ Poor little woman, l hope she wi
never know that it was her father WI
ruined me. I have done all l can
= keep it from her"
He took up the revolver again wi
! a firm hand, and sat down. In the a
, of leaning back his eyes fell upon Il
Y little pile of money on the table. T
+ hesitated for a moment.
1t L wish 1 could do some good wi
re that money" he said thoughtful
g. There must be hundreds of poor de
ut lis would be thankful for it,
Il. might save some one even from q
It spair. I wonder"
III A thought flashed across his mir
He put down the revolver and count
Of the money. There was f1OS.
" thrust it all into one little pile a
70 commenced hastily to change !
III clothes. In a few minutes he "
&c dressed for the streets. He locked
r. the letters and put the revolver and t
money into his pocket.
lr- 81 can be back in two hours"
TT said, looking at the clock After
there was something that reminded
he + Sadie in that girls white face.
a money can take her out of that vile
ng ZION and give her a fresh start
shall have it, I don't think she can