Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-13


matter into the care of Wilder & Co.
| She was sure that her husband would
approve of this step, and in case he
should return, he could throw himself
| into the work with the advantage Ct
having it somewhat prepared for him.
She found Mr. R. NJ. Wilder, the
senior member Of the firm, very
shrewd and energetic gentleman, and
experienced a sense Of great relief IN
| throwing all responsibility upon him;
| for he gave himself heartily to tie
work before him, and assured her that
| she need have no fear of the result
| she was sure to be acquitted, for il
would be impossible for the state tc
! find evidence sufficient to convict her
This was, of course, very encourag-
| ing, and but for the cruel suspense
which she experienced regarding the
uDacc0untable silence of her husband
| Grazia would have felt reasonably Sc
rene while awaiting the trial before
her.
What could it mean? she asked ner-
self every hour in the day and brO0ded
over it through many a sIeepless night.
Surely Lloyd must have learned
through the papers, and the CORES
! pondence with his firm, something OF
the terrible tragedy which was threat
ening her life and happiness, even if
her own kilograms and letters had
missed him, which she thought hardly
possible.
1t was very hard, she thought, very
unkind, very heartless. if he did know
and wiIIfully neglected to espouse the
cause of his own wife.
At first she utterly refused to put any
such construction upon his protracted
silence. She believed him to be good
and true; she believed that he loved
her with his whole heart, or he never
would have been so persistent in his
efforts to win her She trusted him,
and hoped against hope, until at length
something occurred that suddenly
Quenched every ray that had hitherto
illumined her existence.
OuS IiJI HILLS MI w 4IoS1 " G10 AS~A> -
keeping an appointment with her, and
finally came busting into her room two
hours after she had ceased to expect
him.
you really must excuse my tarGi-
ness, Miss Kingsley he remarked, as
he hurTiedly threw off his coat and be-
gan rapidly separating some papers
from a package of legal documents;
"but business presses SO upon Us now
that we are very much crowded Tor
as one member Of
the firm is necessarily absent for a
while"
Grazia's heart bounded into her
throat at this observation, and wave
Of color swept up to her temples, Tor
she knew that he referred to Lloyd.
But his remarks gave her an oppcr-
tunity which she had long desired.
You mean Mr.. Langham, [ pre-
sumo she remarked, in quiet tone,
when she could command herself SUI
fciently to speak.
Yes" responded the gentleman,
shooting a covert glance at his client,
for it had just occurred to him that he
had heard it limited that his junicr
partner had been some what at ltiye
to the beautiful Miss Kin8 -. Yes,
he was recently called west by the sud
den death of his father" he concluded
with a secret regret that he had re-
ferred to the gentleman in her pres
ence.
Does Mr.. Langham intend to re-
main long N the west?" Grazia in
duired, with downcast eyes, while her
slender fingers were interlocked with a
spasmodic tension that left them sore
for hours afteTWard
"Ahem! yes; his intention, at first,
was to be absent about three months,
but a recent letter received from him
asks Tor an extension of three, perhaps
six months longer" Mr.. Wilder an
swered, but somehow not daring to
look at his companion as he gave this
information.
Grazia did not betray by the slight
est sign the keen despair which surged
over her soul as her last hope was thus
ruthlessly crushed.