Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-02
HER ONLY SIN
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

living or dead-alwayS the best"
you have been a good, true, tendel
faithful wife to me, Marie" he re
turned; .but she was my first love"
Veronica had listened like one in
dream. This was her history, then
and the golden-haired sister whom AS
sunta had never ceased to mourn wa
her own mother! She was the daugh
ter of the famous statesman, Sir Jas
per Brandon, who was looking witt
such wistful eyes into her face.
"You are my own child, Veronica,
he said, while Lady Brandon wept a:
one who could not be comfOrted-
my own daughter-dead Giulia'E
child! | have longed so often to take
you in my arms and tell you so. I die
not love you when evil spirits whis
pered to me that you had cost youl
mother her life; but [ have learned tc
love you since you have been here
my daughter. Kiss me Veronica
Say Father to me just once"
She laid her fair face on his, halt
frightened at it's deathly chill.
WY IdIucl my ucdl ldClSl SuS
said.
you love me, Veronica-do you
forgive me?"
Il love you, and l have nothing to
forgive See, father, l kiss you
again"
Then Sir Jasper took two packets
from under his pillow.
There is another thing yet to be
told" he said, "and this, my poor
Marie, | know you will feel / feel it
myself, but l cannot, I dare not, die
until ] have done justice to Giulia s
child. It is the law of our race, one
that | have neither the power nor the
right to change, that, failing a male
heir, the eldest daughter shall succeed.
You, Veronica Brandon, are my eldest
daughter, SO you are my heiress-the
heiress of Queens Chace and the do
main of HurstwoOd"
THAT cannot be" cried Lady Bran
don-"that is too cruel; it will kill
Katherine!"
Il hope not" he said. family. TT is
cruel-Heaven Knows I feel it to be
so; but it must be done"
Lady Brandon had drawn her hand
from his feeble grasp; her face flushed
holly, her eyes were full of angry fire
My cnud shall not be robbed" she
cried. Il will appeal to all Eng
land. 1t shall not be-"
"A1l England could not prevent it,
Marie" he said, sadly. My eldest
daughter must be my heiress; after
my death she becomes Baroness Bran
don. am quite powerless in the
matter"
1t IS wickedly unjust" she cried.
Il wonder at you, Sir Jasper-you who
all your life have passed for an hon
orable man. You must not, you shall
not, do my child this wrong!"
Hush, Marie!' he said, sadly. "Do
not reproach me, dear; I have suf-
fered enough. Listen, Veronica. This
is my will. In it you will ind re-
peated the story of my first marriage;
in it you will find that | have made
handsome provision for Katherine;
handsome provision, Marie, for you"
You have robbed us!" cried Lady
Brandon. what am I to say to my
friends when they hear of this?"
The baronet continued:
This second parcel, Veronica, con-
tains all the papers you will need to
prove your identity-the certificates of
your mothers birth, marriage, and
death. mere is the certificate of your
1i,,fh ole
which your aunt Assunta thought
necessary to prove your claim. Take
them, Veronica Kiss me, my daugh-
ter; my strength fails me. Promise
me one thing in your mothers name
will you promise, VerOnica"'
With her white lips on his, which
were no less white, she whispered:
Il promise"
BE kind to my wife and Katherine, .
he said. primrose me-"
II WILL she replied.
Then she raised her head, for long
quivering sigh from him frightened
Aer.
60 fetch Katherine" he said
'Kate-my own Kate"
Are you worse, Jasper" cried Lady
Brandon, forgetting her anger in heI
fear.
A smile that Veronica never forgot
came over his face as he turned to her
mo, not worSe-better," he said. 50
see it all now" And the next mo
ment he was dead
The two Mortified spectators stooC
looking at each other, unable to move
Lady Brandon cried out:
He is dead, he is dead, Veronica!
Then, going up to the bewildered girl
she seized both her hands. Veronica,
she cried hide these papers. Promis
me-swear to me-that you will mo
mention one word of all this until
have spoken to you again. Swear it."
II promise" said Veronica.
And then Lady Brandon seized tn
bell-rope and rang a hasty appeal.
CHAPTER VII
noon the following day peace an
quietness reigned in the house {
death; the passionate weeping an
wailing, the first wild outbreak {
sorrow, were over. The doctors VIII
had been summoned in such hot hast
had given their decision-Sir Jaspe
had died of disease of the heart. Thel
was no need whatever for the 70,
mality of an inquiry, no need for e,
animation.
They laid the illustrious statesma
tie man whose heart had been faitl
fun to one passionate love, in state