The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-10
inc no frame amy WORDS ar am.

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startle me when you are like this +"
She broke the seal of the letter and
opened it and almost instantly shrank
together, while look of intense pain
spread over her strained face, which
turned as white as salt.
"What is the matter? Is he dead?'
cried Sir Jaffray, alarmed and think
ing of Mr.. Leycester. ''Beryl shouldn' t
send news like that so suddenly. The
shocks enough to make any one i'll. F"
BY an effort Lola fought down some
of her distress.
"No, he is-not dead" she answered
very slowly, as though the words
| panied her "It was not--not that. l
| am not well, dear She smiled family
and weakly, as if to reassure him. II
had IA pain in my heart; that's all.
It's not dear Beryl's letter or-news.
There's nothing-nothing about death
in it, only to say-she can't get here
again for day or two and-would
like me-to go to-her; that's all. "
She folded the letter and put it away in
her pocket, where it lay against that
which she had had from Pierre.
1t might well cause her pain, short
though it was. 1t ran thus:
DEAREST LoIA-Come TO me. know the
dreadful load you are bearing, and my heart
is wrung for you l know you are strong and
brave but the trial ahead of you would test
the strongest and bravest. 1t breaks me down
to think that il is to me that this has come to
be known. Come TO me and help me to shape
the course ahead. When think of you in that
desperate mans power shrink with fear.
Come to me- Your friend always, BERYL.
The end was closer than ever.
There was no installing either Beryl's
meaning or the kindness with which
she wished to temper the blow which
she knew her letter must strike.
But the blow had to be struck.
Come to me and help me to shape
the course ahead" Lola knew well
enough the only meaning which those |
words could have. The truth had to be |
made known and that at once.
She turned cold and shivered at the !
thought, and, seeing her SILVER Sir Jaf- |
fray, who had no clew to the mental |
suffering which she was enduring, set
it down to illness.
"You are i'll, Lola" he said very
gently and soothingly. 81 shall send
for DIR. Braithwaite. And he turned to
leave the room.
Don't co." she pleaded. Don't
leave me for a minute. Take me to
your arms once more, Jaffray."
"'Once more?' What do you mean.
sweetheart" he asked in establishment.
"God forbid that my arms should ever
be closed to your
AYE, God forbid itr' she cried.
Nov pet me and soothe me as you
used to wish to do in the days when 1
wouldn't let you
He took her in his arms, and then
sitting down in the long, low easy
chair where she had been he drew her
on to his lap and held her there like
tired child holding her head to his
heart and smoothing her face and her
hair, kissing her and murmuring soft.
caressing words to her.
You re not often like this to me-"
she murmured, opening her lovely eyes
and glancing up into his and smiling
family. Your touch is like what the
wave OF mesmerist's hand must be
VhNh ITO waits away DtlU.
For answer he kissed her again.
Have l made you happy, Jaffray?"
she asked after a long pause.
BY way of answer this time he hum
med the snatch of a song, IF this be
vanity, vanity let it be-, an old, teas
ing trick of his when she had seemed to
look for a compliment from him.
- Yes. i am vnpitu toIor brt -. |
'wer," she urged. {
MY darling wife, l have never
known since was child and felt the
presence of my mothers love such hap
1lness as you have brought into my life.
That from my soul" he said earnestly. 4
kissing her.
She kissed him in response and lay '
or moment quite still in his arms.
Then suddenly she asked: a
If l were to die, Jaffray, would il
freak your hearth" {
Don't, Lola-don't even think such b
! thing a
But l mean it. Would it?''
1t would close it against ever hold. a
ng such love in my life again." he
answered, and his voice was like that h
4 one in pain. n
Il am selfish, but am glad of that b
want no one ever to take NV Mace
ven to blot out the memory of this n
line, whatever happens.
You are talking very strangely.
hid. Whatever happens'-what can
hat meant"
l am feeling very strange, Jaffray. G.
ne answered, taking his hand and rub n
ing her soft cheek against it and kiss r,
ig 1t. You laugh at my presents. a
rents, but you do not laugh me out of Sc
lem. believe that if we could lift the b
I'll that hides from us the next few
'ys we should see trouble that might Ell
axe us both wish we were dead rather h,
IAN have to face it. No; hear me -
10 said, putting her hand on his Inns b,
men ne was going to break in and in bi
rrupt her. 1t is this which is fright. w
ing me, and it makes me anxious 70
70 pledge from you of your love kl
on blame me and don't laugh at me.