Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-26

!
!, rine, the bright, fair child, the de
scendant Of the proud Valdoraines? o
Veronica, who looked up at him wit
dead Giulia's eyes? Which of the tw,
should it be? He would have givel
his life TO save either.
One thing he had done He had sen
for strange lawyer, and had mad
another will, in which he told tht
secret Of Feronica's birth. and left t.
her the grand inheritance of Queen!
! Chace and Hurstwood That will ht
! kept by him. Remembering it, he
was more at ease whenever he though
| of her.
! he grew worse. The doctors die
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 4;
he saw strange figures in his troubled
sleep, strange faces smiled at him
from the picture-frames.
One day-how Veronica remembered
it afterwardsi-he had walked in the
grounds, and when the sun grew warm
he went into the drawing-room to rest
on 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
i'll he looked, how white and sunken
his face was. Suddenly she saw his
pale lips culver; he opened his arms
as though to clasp them round some
one whom he loved, crying in a pas
siOn2te voice:
"Giulia, Giulia, my hearts love!"
She touched him gently, and his
eyes opened and look, wildly at her.
"Giulia," he cried, where am +?
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" ne said, but an
other face. What does it mean?"
You haye been dreaming" re-
marked the girl, quietly. Can I get
anything for you? Shall bring Lady
Brandon?"
He gave smothered groan.
"1--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 its lilies
and roses, It's 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 1t was Yer
onica, by her own special request, who
took him little dainties and coaxed
him to eat them. She kne1t by his
side, holding in her fingers a ripe,
sunny peach.
This is like Katherines cheek"
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 l love my life" she
said, blushing that she no longer
said, Better than l 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 were 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 ali 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 it was grow
ing later, he called Katherine to him.
She knelt down by his side, and he
drew her golden head down onto his
breast
MY child, my darling" he said,
have l been kind to you?"
Always papa" she replied
Have you had a happy life-Kate
tell me--a 4appy life?"
Yes" she answered. Papa, you
know that have never had one mo-
ments care or trouble, one moments
| sadness, since | was child"
THANK Heaven for that!" he said
| gently. If l should die. Kate, die
and leave you, would any one make
you think me unkind, ever make you
| love me less?''
No, never. papa" she said, laughins
at the notion--'never.
| Kiss me. Tell me you love me,
he said. Will you remember in the
after-years that | would have giver
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 yer.
dearly, papa" she said, more than
can tell you; and l am longing for til,
day TO come when you Will be strons
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