Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-07-15
" shrieked, take the gun from HIM! He

duCe, ana presently SIOOu tnere passive
and covering.
l took the bottle from her and tossed
it into the bushes.
"Now," l said, follow me to the house.
l am a magistrate, and you must give
an account of yourself
She looked at me in bewilderment.
wondered what it was in her eyes that
reminded me of some one I had once seen
some fugitive resemblance l could not
catch or trace.
She stumbled after me with weak, un-
steady steps. When we reached the Hall,
l took her round to the servants entrance
and gave her in charge of good-natured
scullery maid
Get her washed and give her some de-
cent clothing" l said; II will speak to her
after dinner"
Inc woman went meekly enough away,
and | returned to Joan's boudoir.
Nettie and Ally were there talking
quietly together. l wondered as looked
at them whether Joan's hopes would ever
be realized-whether the time would come
when Nettie would reward her young low
er's devotion?
When dinner was over that evening I
made some excuse to get away, leaving
them together In Joan's favorite room.
l sent word that the woman was to be
brought to my study, but few moments
afterward the footman returned, saying
she was so i'll that they had been obliged
to put her to bed
She talks all the time, SIR" he went on
1T is sort of raving Mrs Birket is
with her now. She thinks doctor should
be sent for"
went straight to the room. The old
nousekeeper met me at the door, then
closed vt after us. [ saw she was trem-
bling greatly.
"Sir Ralph" she whispered, "don't you
know who it is"'
L glanced at the bed, but I could recog-
nize nothing familiar in that awful face,
those wild eyes, and muttering lips.
NO." l said. do you?'
Yes, she answered, in the same low
key; Il recognized her at once, but I
have said nothing to the other servants.
She is Mrs. March. That white hair
must have been a Disguise"
l started
"Mrs. March, l cried.
My voice reached the wretched crea-
ture. She half rose in the bed and star
cd wildly at me.
''Who calls?" she said. els it Lady
Ferrey?" Then she burst into peal of
wild laughter. Lady Ferrers-wherc is
Lady Ferrers? She thought to have him,
did she? Mono, my lady; he is my
lover, not yours. He shall never be
yours; will kill him tirstv'
THAT is how she goes on all the time"
said Mrs. Birket. II think you had bet
tea not tell my lady, sir; it might upset
her.
IL did not kill him. muttered the wom-
an ON the couch 1T was only threat
Why did he taunt mel who loved him
as that pale-faced girl could never have
done? I, who was his slave, his toy, his
fancy for an idle hour? l told him-I
warned him-but he would not believe"
l bent closer to the restless head.
did you take his life?" l said, slowly
and distinctly.
A gray, sickly hue crcpt over her face.
She stopped as one in the attitude Of
listening.
''They met" she said. II saw them
meet. 1 spoke to him; tainted him.
Look|ook!' and she shuddered, and
pointed with one trembling hand to a cor
ner of the room. ''There he stands! Why
does he point that gun at me? Tell him
to go away! Tell him-te1l him-tell
himr'
Her voice rose almost to shrek.
'vThere is no one there" I said sternly.
'sTry to collect your thoughts. Do you
know that death is near?"
A'Ycs," she said, and laughed harsh,
weak laugh. II know. There are strange
things about The room is full of them.
They have been with me a long, long
time. That is what they said-Deathl
I did not mind. Only, why does he stand
there? II did not kil him. tell you I
did not kill him!'
"Hush!' l said soothingly. IF you
were there tell me all about it. Did the
gun go off in his hands,"
HE was desperate" she painted, "and
$3.50 was I. babe him forget the pale,
cold girl whose heart had never for one
moment held for him the passion of my
own. I told him l would follow him to
the worlds end-and he cursed me. Then
I grew mad. IL snatched at the gun.
7 said my wretched life should end. He
seized it from me. We, struggled-a sec
ond. and he fell face downwards on the
ground. Then terror seized me. Ii
could not stay there. fled like hunted
thing. No one had seen me come; no one
saw me co.
So low, so broken, those last words,
scarce could hear them even in the silence
of that quiet room.
But as they ceased heard Joan's voice,
so sweet and solemn, murmuring the pray
or that in childhood and manhood, in age
and trouble, in sickness and death, seems
TO spring naturally to all lips She had en-
tered the room unknown to me.
UNl,o xx-op,on listened Her face grew
calm. shadow swept over her face, her
eyes closed.
"She is at rest now" said, and turned
TO nv wife, and, with glaaness solemn
and unspeakable, folded her to my heart.
.srhe last doubt is cleared away" l MUIR
INJURED passionately; ooh, thank heaven
for that!' CThe end.)