Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-01-26

! Sir Jasper had replied by sending him
most cordial invitation, guessing
shrewdly what was the attraction. So
| that Veronica had that to look for
! ward to: and the knowledge of it made
her profoundly Indifferent to all the
! homage offered her.
The old bitter struggle was still go
ing on in Sir Jasper's mind. What
should he do? His heart was torn
with thousand doubts, thousand
fears. .here was hardly an hour of
the twenty-four during which he did
not again review all his reasons and
doubts. Do as he would, one or the
other must suffer. Should it be hatne-
rne, the bright, fair child, the de-
scendant of the proud Valdoraines? or
Veronica, who looked up at him with
dead Giulia's eyes? Which Of the two
should 1t be? He would have given
his life to save either.
One thing he had done. He had sent
for strange lawyer, and had made
another will, in which he told the
secret of Veronicas birth, and left to
her the grand inheritance of Queens
Chace and Hurstwood That will he
kept by him. Remembering it, he
was more at ease whenever he thought
of her.
! He grew worse. The doctors did
not apprehend any immediate danger;
he was only suffering from overtaxed
strength, from ills that might be
remedied He did not even keep his
room. Sir Jasper himself was more
| alarmed than the people about him.
Strange sensations came to him. There
were times when he fancied, as he
walked through the shady garden
paths, that strange voices called him;
he saw strange figures in his troubled
sleep, strange faces smiled at him
from the picture-frames.
One day--how Veronica remembered
it afterwards, had walked in the
Grounds, and when the sun grew warm
he went into the drawing-room to rest
on a couch. Veronica was there He
asked her to read to him, and she did
so until he fell asleep; then she sat
and watched him, thinking how very
Ill he looked, how white and sunken
pale lips culver; he opened his arms
as though to clasp them round some
one whom he loved, crying in pas
sionate voice:
"Giulia, Giulia. my hearts love,"
She touched him gently, and his
eyes opened and look,. wildly at her
"Giulia," he cried. where am L?
1t is you, and yet another"
"Sir Jasper" said Veronica. you
are dreaming-you are ill.,"
He looked in bewilderment at her.
"Giulia's eyes" he said. but an
other face. What does 1t mean"
You have been dreaming" re-
marked the girl, quietly Can l get
anything for you? Shall bring Lady
Brandon?"
He gave smothered groan.
"I-you were right, Veronica was
dreaming. No, do not call any one;
want nothing. These June days are
; so warm.
1t was June then when the days
were at their longest. and the bright,
sweet hours were filled with beauty
June. when Queens Chace was a
picture of loneliness. with it's lilies
and roses, its rich green foliage and
wealth of flowers. Veronica was
troubled as she looked at Sir Jasper,
for she had grown to love him. She
remembered afterward how he awoke
from fevered sleep and would have
Katherine by Veronica's side. She re-
membered every detail of that his
last day on earth. He would not go
into the dining-room, and it was Yer
: onica, by her own special request, who
took him little dainties and coaxed
him to eat them. She knelt by his
side, holding in her fingers a ripe,
sunny peach.
"rhis is like Katherine's cheek, 3"
she said. laughingly And she looked
SO like her mother at that moment
that he could have cried aloud in his
longing love and pain.
You have learned to love Kathe-
rine. Veronica" he said, gently.
Better than | love my life," she
said. blushing that she no longer
said, Better than | love any one else
in the world"
He looked up at her suddenly.
Have you learned to love me. Yer
onica?" he asked
Yes. just as dearly" she replied.
Then they We're silent he mute with
emotion. she wondering that he should
speak to her in this strain--he who
had always been so distant and so re-
served. Then he was restless all the
day When evening came, he asked
Katherine to sing her old songs to
him. the songs he loved best: and
Veronica fancied that his eyes filled
With tears. Then. when II was grow
ing later. he called Katherine to him.
She knelt down by his side. and he
drew her golden heud down onto mis-
breast.
my child my darling" he said.
have been kind TO your"
always papa" she replied.
Have you had happy life-Kate
tell me--a happy life2"
YES" she answered Papa, you
know that have never had one mo-