Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-01-26

YOU think me unkind, ever make you
love me less?'
No, never, papa she said. laughing
at the notion never.
Kiss me. Tell me you love me,
he said viii you remember in the
after-years that would have given
my life at any time To save YOU from
pain?'
Yes, replied Katherine, and, obey
ing his wish, she clasped her tender
arms round his neck 4 love you very
dearly, papa, she said, more than |
can tell you; and am longing for the
day TO come when you will be strong
and well again.
| Later still, when Katherine was go
ing 10 her ROOM, he called her TO him;
and, taking the bright young face be-
/ tween his hands, he kissed it,
Goodnight, my darling he said
\ and may Heaven bless you!'
She wondered at the solemnity of
I his words, little dreaming that she
/ had heard his voice for the last time
You are not quite so we'll tonight,
Jasper said Lady Brandon.
No" he said There is strange
iiuttering at my heart. feel faint
it will pass away The day has been
so very warm.
Il wish" said Lady Brandon, that
you would consult Sir William
Fletcher; they say that he is the clev-
crest physician in England
II will see about ii, said Jasper.
It was a lovely June night, one of
those nights which never seem to grow
dark. the air was rich and heavy with
the doors of the sleeping flowers, the
II dew lay on the white lilies, on the
roses. on the purple passion-tiowers,
the wind stirred ever so family the
fresh green leaves. 1t was one OF
those nights when 1t seemed impossible
to turn from the sweet face of nature
Veronica had stood for more than houl
at the open window of her room, wher
one of the servants came to say that
she was wanted in Sir Jaspers room,
rs Sir Jasper worse?' asked Yer
onica, in alarm.
, "The valet said ne seemed very III
, miss, replied the girl; but there was
nothing said about his being worse
without loss of time, Veronica lief
, her room. She had not undressed
She still wore her evening dress o
rich black lace with crimson flowers
, She had taken the diamond stars from
/, her hair and the black, shining waves
fell in rich profusion over her shout
! ders. On her neck cleaned a eros
of rubies and diamonds. She walked
through the long corridors, where tn
) moonlight lay in great silver floods
= making everything else darker b,
! contrast. Sir Jasper could not b.
d. worse. she thought: the servants wer
!, most of them in bed, and there was NJ
confusion. She went to the door Of hi
;, room--a room she had never entered
: 1t was ajar, and Lady Brandon stoo
: near it. She looked pale and anxious
she had on a white dressing-gowr
and was toying nervously with tn
blue ribbons.
Il do not understand it, Veronica,
she whispered Sir Jasper has sent TO
. you and for me-he wants us particu
larly. No one else is to come neal
He looks so strange / am half fright
Y ened Come in"
Veronica entered the statesman
chamber 1t was a large and mag
nifcently furnished apartment Sh
saw wonders of rosewood china
; statuettes, pictures, and books. On tn
y bed, with it's silken hangings, sh
, saw Sir Jasper, with gray look 0
his face and dark shadows round hi
eyes. She went up TO him, and al
Is eyes, looking into hers, told her tha
some strange, unreyealed secret wa
e between them.
CLOSE the door" he said-"fa sten
rs securely; no one must interrupt M
t Marie, my wife come here. 1t Is yo
= who viii have to forgive me. ! hay
a sinned against you; but my sin Away
IS appeared to me In a better light tina
"A that i'm which / see 1t now. 1t is
rs zilded sin-a sin 50 shrouded wit
r sentiment reserve poetry, sensitive
10 ness. that | hardly know whore I'll
,c wrong begins or ends-a gilded sill
"a my poor Marie, and the punishmeI
o. will fall on an innocent head. We
is o1ica. come nearer to me. | hay
% sent for you-I have a story to tel
r kneel here, whore / may see yol
10 face. Keep those es-dead Giulia
ID eyes fixed on me to the last, that m
is strength and my courage may not ia
g. me Marie, whom | have wronge
give me your hand; ! have a story
" ten You
"a The night-lamp was partly shaded
y tbs feeble rays fell on the gray fac
l. on the dark, wistful eyes, on the thi
white hands; fell on the two kneelir
figures, on Veronica's beautiful fa'
and Lady Brandon's troubled feature
7 The wind, when it stirred, sent a gree
= spray Of clematis beating against Il
= glass. outside, the beautiful solem
~ summer night lay brooding over Il
fair. sleeping earth.
Sir Jasper told his story calml
r plainly distinctly describing his nj
tives, blaming his own fastidiou