Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-07-04
CHAPTER LII.

and nourishment He would return
in the evening and see how she was
He sent a message to Mrs. Ingram u
say that there was no need fol
anxiety; but he went home with &
grave face and a sad heart Who was
she, this beautiful, winsome, helpless
girl? How had she drifted into
the old-fashioned mansion of Queens
Elm? She was not related to the
Ingram family. He knew every mem
Der of it: he had attended them for
stand why she had said that she must
not speak in that house above all
others. She was no relative, no
friend, simply the companion whom
every one knew Mrs. Ingram had en-
gagged to amuse and attend her.
There was a mystery. He could not
make it out. Only one thing was
plain to him, and that was that she
must be persuaded to go back to her
husband. He thought to himself,
with an indulgent smile, that she was
most probably a spoilt child who ran
away from home in some sudden
pique, and was hiding under the dis
guise of a lady's companion. He had
come across one or two romances in
the course of his professional career:
this was another, with certainly the
faireSt heroine man ever dreamed Of.
The good doctor promised himself
that he would go back to her that
evening, that he would persuade her
to trust him, to tell him her story, to
let him act for her. He was deeply
interested in her. as is the nature of
man to be deeply interested in a
beautiful woman; he would not rest
until he saw her happy and reconciled
to her husband. He felt grieved for
her, there in her loneliness, with nc
to trust or confide.
But | will make it all right this
evening"" he said to himself
While Violet, left to herself. went
almost mad from excess of emotion,
the doctor had left a sleeping
draught, which he said was to be
given to her at once: but all the
sedatives ever thought or dreamed of
would not have brought rest to her.
Was is joy or despair Was it
pleasure or pain? Was it wonder:
Was it regret? She sprang from the
bed. The faintness and the languor
had disappeared under the stimulus of
what she had heard; a burning fever
seemed to course through her veins;
yet her face was white and her hands
were cold as DEATH her eyes were
afame, her lips were quivering. She
knelt first with i frantic cry 20
Heaven, then she rose with a wall of
pain, and paced the room.
What shall do? What must 7
do?" was the burden of her cry.
Then a feverish longing to go away
seized her. Il cannot stay here" she
said; 81 must go away
Then fresh Ion ting came to her,
it was to lie down on the pretty white
bed and never open her eyes again.
For the news the doctor had told
her was startling enough. In a few
months she would be the mother of a
little child, and she did not know
whether to rejoice or to grieve. IT
she had been living at peace and in
union with her husband, her happiness
would have been without bounds or
limits; but she had left him, and had
annulled her own marriage. If it
should please Heaven to bless her
with little son, he would be Baron
RIVERS of Ryversdale. How could
she persist in hating the aristocracy
when, if Heaven did send her a son,
he would be an aristocrat?
What would Randolph say? She
remembered his great love for chill
dren, and how often he had said to
her that his one fervent prayer was
that Heaven would bless him with a
son. Once, as they were standing On
the bridge at Saltzburg, watching the
fast-fowing river, he had said to heI
quite suddenly:
Violet, if ever Heaven blesses as
with a son, shall call him 'Byno," in
remembrance of the dear old woods
where l first met YOU"
She had laughed carelessly at the
time, Now the words came back tc
her and pierced her heart.
If Randolph knew-he who had al
ways been so kind to her-hov
devotedly he would tend her? Blu
he did not know, and most probabl.
was with Miss Mari. No; that mus
never be now. Suddenly Randolph
seemed to have grown doubly dear 4
her. Then the difficulty of her posi-
ton dawned upon her. What was sh
to do? Of all houses in the world
her secret must never be known her.
She must go at once Gradually al
other thoughts and ideas resolves
themselves into the decision that sh
must leave Queens Elm. When tn
doctor returned that evening, sh
must not be there; she must go a
once, and leave no tract, no address
behind her. To her bewildered min
this one thing was clear. She dresse
herself and rang for the housekeepe
do you want to kill yourself, Mis-
Beaton," asked the astonished woman
by going out after such an illness
No; but l must go. l am NJ
going out merely for a stroll. | al
leaving Queens Elm never to return
1T is Madness" said the hous
keeper, "and most probably wi
terminate in DEATH"
Il cannot help it." cried Viole
do not oppose me. l have made L
my mind to go, and nothing will i
duce me to stay"
We'll, enter my protest" said Il