Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-19

at him. / took the rosebud, and ran
away shamefacedly.
CHAPTER *.
As | hurried from Mr. GILMORE,
almost ran against Lady GILMORE.
stopped to apologize.
Where are you going in such hur-
ry?" she asked
Il do not know, | replied.
Not know where you are going,
Kate? How strange!"
It was perfectly true. | only knew
that l was running away from happi-
ness so great that it daZed me as do
the rays of a burning sun. lady Gull
more looked at me earnestly-I would
/ have given the world if l could have
hidden my face from her gaze
ooh. child" she said, what is this
read in your eyes? What is it,
Kate?"
Nothing" l replied, trying guiltily
to hide the rosebud
''Nothing?" she repeated. Lift up
your head and look at me-
There was no help for it. l raised
my head, and looked at her She
gazed into my eyes and said
My dear, the light that is in your
eyes is the light that never yet shone
on land or sea. Do you know what
that is?"
NO." l answered.
THE light of love-" she said. "Oh,
Kate, what-who has brought it
there?"
The sunlight. l answered, as 1 ran
away a second time.
1t was only natural that | should go
to the library in search of a Ian
guage of Flowers, and l read, "Moss-
osebud-confession of love" All me,
I smile now! But then, when l read
it, great, an almost solemn awe
came over me. l felt as pilgrim feels
when he first enters a shrine Of
course it was all nonsense, merely
jest. 1t was not likely that he loved
me. Still | would far rather that he
had not TESTED with me on such SUBJ
ject. And then the delicious memory
Of his words came to me. He had
said that l was one of the loveliest
girls he had ever seen.
How my heart beat! How my whole
soul seemed filled with sunshine and
happiness! Could any one be
wretched in this beautiful world?
And then, like an icy wind, came the
memory of Lady Culmore. She had
loved her husband, and what was her
reward? I remembered what she said
when I told her of my prayer on
Christmas Eve. Yet, not needing the
warning, I wrapped up my precious
rosebud. 1 wonder if ever one small
flower made any girl so perfectly
happy before?
When | saw Lady Culmore the next
time, her face was pale from excess
sive weeping. and 1 could not help
wondering if what had passed be-
tween us had reused bitter-sweet mem
cries in her heart
Dinner was over; it had been the
ordinary curious, constrained meal,
with the usual complete estrangement
of husband and wife, the usual efforts
at cheerfulness on the part of Mr..
Culmore. How longed to get away,
longed for the brightness of the sun
light and flowers, for the fresh air
and outdoor freedom.
How it happened I cannot tell. l
seem to see that evening always
through golden mist. Sir Rudolph
was in his study, engaged on some
business about the estate, Lady Gull
more had disappeared, and Uric came
to me.
Miss Forster" he laid, do not
waste this beautiful evening indoors.
Our host and hostess have both with
drawn. Let us enjoy the last rays OF
the sun. Will you Gomez"
Would I? My heart went out to him
in answer Whittier could he have led
that I would not have followed?
"You will not need hat or cloak this
lovely evening"" he continued.
A black schawl of Lady Culmores
lay on the couch. He wrapped it in
Spanish fashion around my head and
shoulders.
Il will show the flowers her queen"
he said. LED us leave the world,
with all it's cares and miseries, behind
us, Miss Forster, and go for an hour
| into fairyland."
Where is fairyland?" | asked.
wherever we like to make it," he
replied 1--WE shall find ours near the
/ lake.
To be continued.