The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-05-03

had risen and was dressed, like her
self, to go out.
What does this mean, my dear?
After what you suffered last night
after the shock of seeing that man
why don't you take my advice and rest
in your bed?''
q can't rest. I have not slept all
night. Have you been out yet?''
NO
"Have you seen or heard anything
of Richard Wardour?"
What an extraordinary question:"
Answer my question! Don't tride
with mel"
Compose yourself, Clara. [ have
neither seen nor heard anything of
Richard Wardour Take my word for
it, he is far enough away by this time.
mo! He is here! He is near us!
All night long the presentiment has
pursued me-Frank and Richard Ward
our will meet"
my dear child, what are you think
ing of? They are total strangers to
each other"
Something will happen to bring
them together. l feel it, l know it.
They will meet; there will be mortal
quarrel between them, and [ shall be to
blame. Oh, Lucy! why didn't I take
your advice? Why was I mad enough
to let Frank know that [ loved him?
Are you going to the landing-stage?
l am all ready; [ must go with YOU
you must not think of it, Clara.
There will be crowding and confusion
at the water-side. You are not strong
enough to bear it. Wait-I won't be
long away-wait till I come back"
Il must, and will, go with you!
Crowd! He will be among the crowdi
Confusion! In that confusion ne will
find his way to Frank! Don't ask me
to wait. [ shall go mad if I wait. ]
shall not know a moments ease till
have seen Frank with my own eyes
safe in the boat which takes him to his
ship. You have got your bonnet on;
what are we stopping here for? Come!
or l shall go without you. Look at the
clock! We have not moment to
lose!'
1t was useless to contend with her.
Mrs. Crawford yielded. The two women
left the house together.
The landing-stage, as Mrs. Crawford
had predicted, was thronged with spec
tators. Not only the relatives and
friends of the Arctic voyagers, but
strangers as well, had assembled in
large numbers to see the ships sail
Clara's eyes wandered affrighted hither
and thither among the strange faces
in the crowd, searching for the one
face that she dreaded to see, and not
finding it. So completely were her
nerves unstrung that she started with
q cry of alarm on suddenly hearing
Franks voice behind her.
"The Sea-Mew's boats are waiting,
he said. Il must go, darling. How pale
you are looking, Clara! Are you ill?"
She never answered. She questioned
him with wild eyes and trembling lips
'Has anything happened to you
Frank? anything out of the comnon?"
Frank laughed at the strange question
Anything out of the common?" he
repeated Nothing that [ know Of, ex-
cept sailing for the Arctic Seas. That's
cut of the common, I suppose; isn't
it?"
HAS anybody spoken to you since
last night? Has any stranger followed
you in the street,"
Frank turned in blank amazement to
Mrs Crawford ''What on earth does
she mean?"
Mrs. Crayford's lively invention sup
piled her with an answer on the spur
of the moment.
'Do you believe in dreams, Frank?
Of course you don't! Clara has been
dreaming about you, and Clara is fool
ish enough to believe in dreams. That's
all; it's not worth talking about.
Hark! they are calling for you. Say
goodbye, or you'll be too late for the
boat"
Frank took Clara's hand Long af-
terward-in the dark Arctic days, in the
how coldly and how passively that
hand lay in his.
Courage, Clara!" he said gaily. ga
sailors sweetheart must accustom her
self to partings. The time will soon
pass. Goodbye, my darling. Good
bye, my wife,
He kissed the cold hand; he looked
his last-for many long year per-
haps!-at the pale and beautiful face.