Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-08-23
BERTHA M. CLAY.


my lover
eyes," she replied. "oh, Oscar,
whether you love me or not, cannot
help it now! l must tell you ALL
Her beautiful head bent in unutter-
able shame, her face wet with droop-
ing tears, she told hnr story of her
folly Of SO long ago-the secret, hur-
ried marriage which had been the bane
of her life She did not omit one
detail She told him the bitter truth
in all it's nakedness. He listened in
surprise that was too great for words.
MY poor child" he said gently,
when she had Finished my poor
Ethel, how terribly you have suffered!
And that man is your husband-yours?
1t seems Incredible"
Then she remembered how time was
passing, and that Laurie Darlington
wished to die in peace.
'He is dying, Oscar" she said, "and
l must see him. Will you-it seems
strange to ask you-will you take me
to him?''
eyes," he replied; you do right to
go, Ethel If he were we'll, should be
one of the first to punish him for his
cowardly villianly, for his mean, wicked
sin; dying, I, like you, must pardon
him. will take you, so that may
stand as a shield between you and all
harm. On, Ethel, my poor child, how
terribly you have suffered"
Even he could not conceive it all;
no one but herself could ever know
what those years of hidden anguish
had been like.
He took her hand silently in his.
''This is the nearest way to the
cottage" he said Ethel, it will be
better for the world not to know about
his matter There will be people with
the poor man-nurses and attendants.
How can l best screen you from their
observation
ct leave all to you,' she returned;
and from her heart there rose to
Heaven great cry of thanksgiving
that he was there to help her.
81 will send every one from the
ROOM" ne said, land then they will
think you are friend of his. Even
should it happen that they mention
that lady has been there, it will be
thought that some lady from the great
house has paid him a visit of COM
! passion. See there-among the trees
that is the cottage. Why, Ethel, I
remember reading the story of young
| Darlington; and very sad story
! thought it was. How little l dreamed,
my darling, that it concerned YOU"
| In another minute they stood at the
door of the cottage. From one of the
upper windows came a faint glimmer
of light Sir Oscar raped gently at
the door. 1t was opened by one of the
keepers, a stranger, whom Ethel did
not recognize.
How it the poor MANI" asked Sir
Oscar.
Dying slowly, sir; he will not last
until the sun rises"
SIS he. conscious-is he able to
speak?" inquired Sir Oscar.
Eyes, sir; he has been praying, and
he is now crying some woman's name
"a strang name that have never
heard before. The nurse seemed
timid, so l offered to remain with her."
"That was good and kind of you.
We have come to see him. We can go
up stairs. I suppose?"
Eyes, sir; the nurse only is with
him."
Ethel stood by in silence; it was
| great relief to her to find that the man
Gid not think her coming strange; on
the contrary, he seemed rather to eX-
! pect it.
81 thought some one would come
from the Hall tonight" he said; and
Sir Oscar slipped golden fee into h Is
hand.
He held the light while they went up
the steep, narrow stairs.
ETHEL, Ethel" they heard faint
voice crying; '"ohe word-only one
world"
She turned faint and cold when she
heard the SQUAD of her own name and
the tone Oh appeal in which it was
uttered; she trembled so violently that
it was, with difficulty that she could
mount the stairs.
Ethel, Ethel!" the voice repeated;
only one world"
Sir Oscar turned anxiously to her.
"Do you think you can bear it?" he
asked.
Il must" she replied.
They heard the voice of the nurse
trying to comfort him, but from him
came no other words but those which
they had Just heard.
Just before he opened the door. Sir
Oscar turned to her again.
you are trembling, Ethel; it viii be
better not to go in. l am anxious
about you"
But she raised her eyes to his face
with look Of trust which he never
forgot.
81 shall have no fear" she said, "lt
you remain with me-"
Then he opened the door, and they
entered the room together.
CHAPTER XIV.
A Death-Bed Scene.
There was nothing terrible in the
scene that met the eyes Of Ethel and
4 IL