Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-12-30
CHAPTER XIV.
SSSN

ANYTHING at a moment when she believed
herself to be alone. And consequently
she was quite unprepared for the search
ing catechsm to which he subjected Ter
as soon as they met.
She had been suffering all night from
one of her nervous headaches, was stHl
in her dressing gown, with her brown halr
loose upon her shoulders, when Sir VII
frid was announced.
'Why did you come over this morning!'
said Jane, compassionately. You should
have stayed at home and rested your leg.
am afraid must. have seemed very I'M
grateful yesterday, not to have thanked
you better for the great service you dld
us; but / had no idea that you were
hurt"
"And l had no wish that you should
know it." he answered, seating hlmself.
"And, indeed, my bruises are not worth
so much pity at your hands. My valet
is an excellent nurse, and he rubbed IN
some liniment last night which has al
most set me right again. Jane, When
first saw Nellie | asked you whose chlld
she was, and you said you did not know.
Was that the truth!
The woman looked as if she had Deen
caught in trap; but though taken utter
ly aback by the question, she made gal
liant effort to escape.
81 told you that some one put her over
our garden wall when she was little
baby, and we found her in the lily bed
at least, mother did-and she had no idea
to whom the child belonged. That is the
truth"
81 don't want to hear anything about
your mother. | want to hear you say
that you do not know Nellle's parents.
Jane, if there was one thing which l ad-
mired in your character more than an
other, it was your perfect truth ana can
dor. Your soul seemed like crystal lake
to me. 1t was impossible for you to tell
O. lie. Tell me the truth now, L conJure
you. Is Nellie our child!'
James head dropped upon her bosom.
eyes" she said in low voice; IF you
must know it, that is the truth. But no
one else knows it. No one suspects it
even, unless it is Miss Prosser. Nellie is
my child
Dear little Nclliew said Sir Wilfrid
musingly: my sweet child! There must
have been some instinct in my heart to
tell me she was mine, for l don't remem-
her ever caring for an infant before. |
shall love her doubly now. My own little
girl!'
A sudden terror seemed to grip the
mothers heart She rose up from her
chair, and turned upon him like an ami
NAL at bay.
"You will not take her from me!' she
cried fiercely.
Sir Wilfrid placed his hand upon her
arm and forced her to reseat herself.
"No-no," he replied, soothingly, you
IL
Jane. even if | had the intention. You
poor unrecognized mothers have one add
vantage over those who stand higher in
the worlds esteem than yourselves. Your
wrongs set you above the tyranny or the
cruelty of man, and your children are
your own. How could you think so base
ly of me, Jane? Has that one wicked act
of mine changed my whole character in
your estimation!"
''You say that you cannot take her
from me--not even legally?' demanded
Jane, with fear still cleaning in her eyes.
''Not even legally. There is no law that
can bind me to either of you. In my
short-sightedness and folly, l cut the knot
instead of drawing it more closely"
THANK heavenr calculated Jane as
she lay back in the chair and closed her
eyes.
Jane" said Sir Wilfrid, "those two
words are the very bitterest reproach
your lips could have conveyed to me-
Listen to me, Will" she said, firmly,
though gently, land then answer me as
you think fit. After two years total 81
lenee and separation you sought me out,
and asked my leave to visit at this house
as a friend. ! granted it-not because it
was my WISH but because l was anxious
to keep my secret, and not to do anything
to attract suspicion to me. You thought,
perhaps. because eded so easily, that
had ceased to feel or to regret-that |
had overcome my first frenzed passion of
jealousy, revenge and despair, and learned
to acknowledge that you had right on
your SIDE because you had law, and that
u miserable legal bubble had freed You
from the oath YOU took to heaven to cher
ish me to your life's end. 1t is untrue!
have rot forgotten. and l have not for
given! You deserted me in the very midst
of my love for you, when | had never done
q thing nor said Il word, that l am aware
of, that was unbeconling my duty as a
wife to you You broke my heart! 1 say
1t without any feeling of humiliation, for
never disguised my love for you. But
YOU see have lived on-without any hope
ana WIKI NIUE INTEREST III me. cut SUN L
have lived. And the one cord to bind ME
to earth has been our child-your lawful
daughter, Will. | will have her called
by no name less worthy of her than that
And now you come-you, who have rob-
bed me of everything hope, compan-
ionship-you come and would doubtless
like to occupy the position of Sir Wilfrid
Ewel. the owner of I-ambscote. and the
husband of the beautiful Lady Ewell, in
the eyes of the world, and to have this
poor cottage to creep to as q refuge when
you are weary of society, to bask in the