Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-08-30

again, ana Kissed the cOlQ DfOW-ne
had lover her so dearly. She laid the
withered flowers on his breast and
then turned away.
"Good-by, Laurie!' she said, while
the tears fell from her eyes; good
by!"
She left him then, silent in death,
with a smile on his lips and the
faded passion-fowers on his breast.
In a few words Sir Oscar told the
nurse what had happened. She did not
evince the least surprise.
My only wonder is, she said, that
he has lasted so long. 1t seemed to me
as though he could not die"
Then Sir Oscar drew Ethels arm
within his own.
1--WE must hastep home, my darling,
he said; you are cold and tired"
She wept silently as they went home
in the silence of the night together.
When the towers of the Hall appeared
in sight. she turned to him.
How am ! to thank you, Sir Oscar?"
she said. What should | have done
without you?"
Il want no thanks, Ethel" he re-
piled; Il am only too happy that in the
hour of your distress | was by your
side
Once more she stood alone in her
room. Llsette had been most faithful;
no one knew of her mistress absence,
and she was there to open the door.
She looked wonderingly at the beauti
full white face before her.
Il am afraid you have walked too
far, miss" she said; you seem quite
exhausted"
Il am very tired" acknowledged
ethel But need not keep you any
longer"
The maid went away, and she was
left alone. She did not stop to remove
her jewels, nor to take off the silken
dress.
She lay down on the pretty white
bed, exhausted beyond the power OF
words to tell.
1t was over at last; the strain of long
years, the torture of silence and sus-
pense, the terrible secret, the weight
of which had been greater than she
could bear-it was all ended.
Laurie Darlington, the man she had
married, lay dead. There was no
more to fear from him. He could
injure her no more and the secret Of
her folly would be buried with him
She was free. She felt like one who
has been for years in a dark prison,
and suddenly finds himself in the
broad, open light of day. She could
only repeat to herself over and over
again that her long torture was ended
that she was free.
For the first time since that terrible
day at ST. Ina's she slept a long,
dreamless sleep-the sleep OF eX-
haustion-and the rest was so deep and
so sweet Lnat she was almost sorry
when the light of day awoie her. Ii
was a rest so sweet she would fain
have slept on.
1t was so new and strange to awake
without deadly fear as her companion
without dreading what the day
might bring forth.
her. The tortures of shame and sor-
row, the long, hopeless despair, were
ended at last.
She did not leave her room that day.
1t was a respite She wanted to calm
her thoughts, to still the tumult of
heart and soul before she met the
people again Lady ST. Norman adj
vised rest; it would quite restore her |
she said The fainting fit that had |
alarmed them was caused, no doubt |
by over-fatigue.
When she came down stairs on the |
following DAY Sir Oscar was the first |
person she saw.
Are you better. Ethel?' he asked.
II have been very anxious about you.
A faint flush frightened her face. |
1t was new and sweet to be cared for
by him.
Il am quite WE'LL" she replied; and |
she was both pleased and touched to |
notice how from the distance, as IL |
We're, he seemed to watch over her.
lie said little to her and that pleased |
ItT DtSi w ulit ueI uedIL Was u4lel !
with memories Of the dead man.
She was tried almost past her
that evening when she heard /.
Lord Leighton tell how he had heard |
from the nurse that some of his friends
had been to see the dying man.
They told me also" he continued.
that on his breast was found a bunch
of faded flowers. l know nothing Of
him, but | cannot help thinking that
the clew to the mystery OF the mans
life lay in those faded htwers."
He was buried in the church-yard at
Holme, and Sir Oscar Charlotte said he
would place a tombstone over the
grave. Years afterward when Ethel
went to see it, she was touched to find
that passion-h0wers grew round 1t.
She never forgot the morning of
Laurie Carrington's funeral beauti-
ful summer morning, when the sun
shone and nature wore its brightest
8 "a. ~ r.. 80