Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-07-17

threat on the following day, for Sir
Rudolph rode off early in the morning
to Ulladale, to inspect the houses OF
which the rector had spoken. The heat
was intepse The heavens were like
molten brass. The white lilies dropped,
the roses hung their heads; the birds
had hidden themselves in their leafy
coverts; there was not a ripple on the
lake, not a whisper of wind from the
mountainous to relieve the settled,
intense heat.
II wish Sir Rudolph had not gone
to Jlladale today" said Lady Gull
more; 1T is SO hot, and he will be in
and out of those horrible houses. 1
shall be miserable about him. l have
such a sense of coming sorrow on me-"
Uric laughed.
Now, Nest, we will not have that.
Things are bad enough; we Will not
have any forebodings of coming sor-
row"
Il cannot help it," she said, with
pale, trembling lips.
It was long, quiet day. Uric and
l spent the morning under the cedar.
He read and l worked, with carious
little happy interludes.
Night came, and Sir Rudolph re-
turned in safety. Although Lady Gull
more had been anxious concerning him
all day, she did not go out to meet
him, she gave utterance to none of the
joy she felt at seeing him; but saw
that her whole heart went out to him,
though she repressed all outward sign
of emotion.
Dinner was an utter failure; no one
was hungry, no one could eat. Even
Uric succumbed to the heat, and had
little to say.
In the draWing-rOom afterWard, Lady
Culmore, in her white dress, seated
herself in the shadow. Sir Rudolph
opened the windows wide, and pushed
away the hangings.
Let us have what little air there
is he said.
Kate exclaimed Uric, suddenly,
"sing for us. ] found a quaint song
the other day, and l brought it home
with me-"
He placed it on the piano, and I
sang it. 1t was called 1.-TWO Pictures "
Il sat in the gathering shadows,
And l looked to the west away;
There the hand of an unseen artist
Was painting, at close of day,
A strange and beautiful picture
b,t
And made men think of the city
No mortals ever saw.
paint me, o wonderful artist
| cried when the shadows came,
And hid the marvellous glory
OF the western hills aflame-
Paint me the face of an angel!
And, 10, before my eyes
Was the face of my sainted mother
Who dwells in Paradise!
Paint me the face of a sinner!'
A darker shadow swept
Down the hills, and l thought, in the
twilight
The unseen artist wept;
And, 10, from magical pencil
A face in a moment had grown,
The sad white face of a sinner,
And | knew it for my own!"
Two white hands were laid gently
upon my shoulder, and fearful voice
whispered
Kate, do you love me?"
"You know that do, Lady Culmore,' -
I replied.
Then do not sing another note; l
cannot bear it. 1 used to sing once
My voice, they said, was sweet and
clear as silver bell; and / loved
music
Il have never heard you sing, Lady
Culmore," l said.
I have not sung a note since-since
we came here" she returned; "and l
never shall sing again. then we parted
for the night.
The rector had not been near us all
day, nor had he had any news or little
Willie; but on the following morning,
when We sat at breakfast, all four to-
gether, for wonder, he was an
nounced. He came in looking very
anxious, with dark shadows beneath
his eyes. Before he greeted us he
cried, in a distressed voice.
Little Willie is very ill.,
We were all grieved. The poor rec
tor seemed heart-broken
What is the matter?" asked Uric.
One must not attach too much i'm
portance to the ailments of children.
They seem to be at deaths door one
day, and they are quite we'll again the
next"
Yes; but he is very ill.," said the
rector gravely. Il was sent for early
this morning to visit the poor woman
who lives by the west lake. AS I was
returning, | met DR.. Johnston. who
had just been to see my little boy, and
he tells me that he is very i'll indeed
| thought l would call here, and ask
you to let the groom drive me home.
| shall reach the Rectory so much
more quickly"
Sir Rudolph insisted on driving him
himself, and he left us all very sorrow
full
That evening we were just finishing
dinner, when a note came from the
Rectory which was addressed to me-
1t told the terrible news that little
Willie was i'll of smallpox of the ma
lignant type The nurse had taken him
to some cottage where a woman Law
stricken with it, and the child had
caught the cOntagion To add 70 the