The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-11-11

CHAPTER Xxi.
Night has quite closed in, night ex-
| ceptionally wild and violent, when once
more the sound of wheels upon the gravel
without catches Vera's ear.
! Perhaps she had been listening for 1t
is even in a measure prepared for II,
but even if so, this does not prevent the
sudden agitated change that overspreads
her face as she hears it. Her pulses
quicken unpleasantly and she half rises
70 her feet.
An hour, two hours, pass, and she IS IN
her room dressing for dinner, when
servant brings her a note.
Il have TO thank you for the kind in
vitation which Griselda gave me. Bust
ness matters have compelled me to come
here again-for the last time-to-night;
to trespass, for the last time, upon your
hospitality. 1 beg you will not let my
presence disturb you; my stay will be So
short that l dare to hope you will not
mark the coming or going"
quick wave of color dyes Fera's
| face; she lays the letter with studied
slowness upon the table near.
My compliments to Mr.. Dysart, and !
| hope he will dine with me tonight" she
touch of hauteur. How does he dare to
treat her like this, to persist in believing
or rather to pretend to believe-that
| his presence is so distasteful to her ::
What is he to her, one way or the other,
| that she should care whether he was in
| her house or out of it!
At dinner, however, she will have an
opportunity Of widening his knowledge
hot Wi Ea no eli pCr
to let him see how utterly unmportant
an item he is in the scheme of her exist
ence. There is a brilliant light in her
| eyes as she turns to receive the woman
who has now come back with an answer
to her message to Dysart.
There is timidity in the woman's air
that warns her.
Mr.. Dysart's compliments and thanks,
madame, but he has already dined in
town"
"Fasten this bracelet" says Vera, hold
ing out her arm. She is aware that the
woman is watching her, curiously il ner-
vously, and she so moves that the sudden
pallor Of her face, the sole thing that
shows her Indignation, shall not betray
her. That will do; you can CO. she
says after awhile. She sweeps down
stairs almost in the servants footsteps,
and into the green drawing room, Il
smaller apartment than the usual recep-
ton rooms, and now looking deicately
| coy beneath the touches of lamps and
freight. and with the perfume of many
| flowers hanging around it.
The wind, the thunder the lightning,
still rage, but the rain has ceased, and
n the murky heavens above, pale, sick
ly moon is striving feebly to break Il way
through the dense clouds. Suddenly the
door is thrown open 10y an agitated hand,
and the woman who had attended her
upstairs comes hurriedly, without cere-
mOny, into the room.
"Oh, madame, thought you would like
to know-that you should be told" she
stops, frightened by the expression on
Vera's face.
wv ell?" says Vera, going a step nearer
to her.
There is a ship in great distress, ma
dame-somewhere out there pointing
vaguely in the direction of the ocean,
upon the rocks, they say. There is
scarcely any hope
But the life-boat?" cried Vera. sharp
ly. forgetting everything now but the aw-
full thought of death-and death so near
out there upon those cruel rocks, with
the boiling murderous waves leaping to
receive their prey.
Yes, madame, but that accident yes
terday-you will remember it?-they say
it has disabled six OF the men, and it is
almost certain death to go al all. and the
hands being short, there must be volun-
teers, and who will risk their lives
the townbred girl stops short with q
culver, and covers her face with her
hands.
"Nolunteers Where is Mr. Dysart:''
| cries Vera, suddenly. with prophetic in
stinct. Speak, girl turning tiercely on
her maid.
Gone down TO the beach, madame. 10
see what can be done
Gone" says Vera, slowly, as if dazed,
| aud then again, gone A little convlu-
sive SILVER runs through her-it is the
final breaking up of any lingering de-
ceits, any last illusions, that she may
| still have chung TO.
Order the carriage" she says, after a
minute or two, during which mistress and
maid have remained silent. This sudden
waking-up has been SO far a shock that
| it has killed all immediate nervousness.
| The moon has in a measure conquered
the clouds, and now shines out with a
pale, watery luster, that rather adds to
| than takes from the weird wildnpss of
the night The thunder still rattles over
head, and vivid flashes light the black
ness. Here and there, as the carriage
/ passes by the outskirts of the wood. these
| intermittent bursts of light show where
tree has been felled, or the ROAD ripped
up. or small bridge carried bodily
away by the force of the swollen cur
rent underneath.
| All through the deadly crashing of the
storm IA booming sound may be heard ar
| long intervals. Half maddened by it.
| and by that other greater fear Vera lies
/ back in the carriage, pressing her fin
| gers now to her ears, nov to her throb-
| hing brow that feels as if it We're burst.
| ing.
Arrived at the entrance TO the village. a
I drive of about a mile from Greycourt.
/ She stops the carriage, and opening the
door springs to the ground. \ sudden
gust of wind passing by almost dashcs
| her to the earth, but by a superhuman
/ effort she defies it, and half blinded by
! the flashing lightning. and bewildereG hv
| the raging storm, she turns aside, and
runs painting. struggling, down a side
| pathway that she knows leads to the
| beach below.
| CHAPTER NNIII.
! The wild scene that meets her sight
S+-sl- H.. !