Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-05-03
Observation-Disclosures IGlgIEIEl@IGIEEElIG&

Il have letter from Sir Leonard,
announced Helen, gently.
The time had been when she woulc
have risen with a glad heart and Z
bright face to take the letter; now she
murmured few listless words anC
! looked out again over the trees.
Il will read it to you" said Helen;
and, standing by the girls side, she
| read the letter.
Ethel made no comment. Miss
Digby could not even tell whether she
| had taken note Of the words.
IF you are willing, Ethel" she OBJ
served, gently, Il shall consider that
as settled. We are to remain here"
Il am willing" returned Ethel; and
Helen noted with pain the Iistless
manner, the listless voice
Il am so thankful, Ethel" said Miss
Digby, that you have escaped long
illness. Last week, when l found you
lying here, l was alarmed. I think
now your ailment must have been a
kind of sunstroke. You were Ger
talnly quite delirious for time"
A faint flush rose to her face.
Dellrious was |, Helen? What did
| talk about?''
Going home to die. You made me
nervous, | assure you. You are better
now, are you not Ethel?"
Yes" answered the sad young
voice, Il am better, Helen. I am
quite willing to stay in my room for
a few days, if you think it better for
me. But will you always bring or
send me the London newspapers as
soon as they come-as early as you
can? | want to see them
Miss Digby smiled.
Il thought you did not care for
newspapers. You shall have them as
soon as they come"
She laid her gentle hand on the
girls white brow, and ethel, taking
it in her own, kissed it.
You are SO kind" she said, humbly
$50 kind and good"
1t is easy to be kind where we love
dearly, responded Miss Dgby; but as
she left the room she half wished that
Ethel had some of the old, petulant,
willful manner and half-defiant pride.
Il do not like to see her SO
changed" she said to herself; nor can
| understand it,
No fever, with its disquieting
dreams, had come to Ethel. For one
whole day after that terrible discOv-
cry she had lain with her face turned
from sunshine, longing for death to
free her from despair; but she was
young and strong, death came not, and
she rose, when the next morning
dawned, the wreck of her bright,
beautiful self. 1t was as though ev-
cry hope, every energy was paralyzed
Despair conquered her Look which
way she would, there was no release
from her fate, no help, no aid; the
chains she had so willingly put on
must weigh her down until she died
She had, perhaps, many years of a
long, lingering, joyless, dreary ex-
istence before her, and she turned
heart-sick from the contemplation of
II. seasons WOud chanSe, the sun rise
and set, the tide ebb and flow, but she
would never know hope or brightness
again
Her thoughts were as a weight of
lead; they dragged her down to the
earth and kept her there Her sorrow
as not one for which time has a cure;
time could do nothing for her but add
to the greatness of her sorrow by
showing her the greatness Of her folly
She was like one stunned and par
alyzed by some great blow. Illness
that brought with it pain would al
most have been welcome to her; any
thing would have seemed better than
this dull paralysis that had stricken
every nerve.