Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 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. "Will you remember in the
after-years that l 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. Il 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 to 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
his words, little dreaming that she
had heard his voice for the last time
You are not quite so well tonight,
Jasper" said Lady Brandon.
No" he said There is a strange
hutrering at my heart. / feel faint
1t 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"
Il will see about it," said Jasper.
II was lovely June night, one of
those nights which never seem to grow
dark; the air was rich and heavy with
the odors of the sleeping flowers; the
dew lay on the white lilies, on the
roses, on the purple passion-flowers;
the wind stirred ever so family the
fresh green leaves. 1t was one of
those nights when it seemed impossible
to turn from the sweet face of nature
Veronica had stood for more than hour
at the open window of her room, when
one of the servants came To say that
she was wanted in Sir Jasper's room.
is Sir Jasper worse?" asked Yer
onica, in alarm
THE valet said he seemed very i'll.
miss" replied the GIRL but there was
nothing said about his being worse
Without loss of time, Veronica left
her room. She had not undressed.
She still wore her evening dress of
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 cross
of rubies and diamonds. She walked
through the long corridors, where the
moonlight lay in great silver floods.
making everything else darker by
contrast. Sir Jasper could not be
worse, she thought; the servants were
most of them in bed, and there was no
confusion. She went to the door of his
room-a room she had never entered.
1t was ajar, and Lady Brandon stood
near it. She looked pale and anxious
She had on a white dressings gown.
and was toying nervously with the
blue ribbons.
Il do not understand it, Veronica. "
she whispered. "Sir Jasper has sent for
you and for me-he wants us particu-
larly. No one else is to come near.
He looks SO strange | am half fright
ened. Come in
Veronica entered the statesman's
chamber. 1t was a large and mag
niticently furnished apartment. She
saw wonders of rosewood, china,
statuettes, pictures, and books. On the
| haI mi 10 ctI
saw Sir Jasper, with a gray look on
his face and dark shadows round his
eyes. She went up to him, and his
eyes, looking into hers, told her that
some strange, unrevealed secret was
between them.
CLOSE the door," he said-"fasten 1t
securely; no one must interrupt me.
Marie, my wife, come here. 1t is you
| who will have to forgive me. / have
sinned against you; but my sin always
appeared to me in a better light than
that in which l see 1t now. 1t is a
gilded sin-a sin so shrouded with
sentiment, reserve, poetry, sensitive
ness, that hardly know where the
wrong begins or ends-a gilded sin
my poor Marie, and the punishment
will fall on an innocent head YER
onica, come nearer to me. I have
sent for you'll have a story to tell
Kneel here, where l may see your
face. Keep those eyes dead Giulia s
eyes-fixed on me to the last, that my
strength and my courage may not fail
me. Marie. whom l have wronged,
give me your hand; have a story to
tell you"
The night-lamp was partly shaded
its feeble rays fell on the gray face.
on the dark, wistful eyes. on the thin
white hands; fell on the two kneeling
figures, on Veronica's beautiful face
and Lady Brandon's troubled features.
The wind, when it stirred, sent great
spray of clematis beating against the
glass; outside. the beautiful. solemn
summer night lay brooding over the
fair, sleeping earth.
Sir Jasper told his story calmly
plainly, distinctly. describing his mo-
tives. blaming his own fastidious.
sensitive reserve; blaming his own
shrinking from pain; blaming his own
weakness and folly which had led him
so far wrOng-lad him, into ,,-ho. H.