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

you would consult Sir William
Fletcher; they say that he is the clev
crest physician in England
II will see about it, said Jasper.
1t was lovely June night one O
those nights which never seem TO grow
dark; the air was rich and heavy witt
the odors Of the sleeping flowers; tn
dew lay on the white lilies, on tn
roses, on the purple passion-fovers
the wind stirred ever so family tn
fresh green leaves. Ii was one O
those nights when it seemed Impossible
to turn from the sweet face OF nature
Veronica had stood for more than hou,
at the open window of her room, whe1
one of the servants came TO say tina
she was wanted in Sir. Jasper's room.
rs 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 rubtes 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 1t. She looked pale and anxious
She had on white dressing 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 large and mag
niticently furnished apartment. She
saw wonders of rosewood, china,
statuettes. pictures, and books. On the
bed, with it's silken hangings, she
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 it
securely: no one must interrupt me-
Marie, my wife, come here. It is you
who will have to forgive me. I have
sinned against you; but my sin always
appeared to me in a better light than
that IN which | see it now. It is q
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. ! have
sent for you'll have a story to tell
kneel here, where l may see your
face. Keep those eyes-dead Giulias
eyes-fXed on me to the last, that my
strength and my courage may not fail
me. Marie, whom / 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 a 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-led him into what he
truly called "a gilded sin" Lady
Marie listened with silent, bitter tears
so you were married before, Jas
per, and never told me- she sobbed;
''and I always thought that / was the
only one you loved. How could you
deceive me?"
II am sorry, Marie, for the past. I
can hardly expect you to understand
l can hardly understand, myself; it is
so difficult looking back. I loved her
SO we'll, and lost her so sooni.I could
never speak of her, my dear dead
Giulia. ! could not utter her name
it tore my heart. I could not look
men and women in the face while l
talked of her. my dead love"
To he Confined