Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-07-03

Continued.
Not only had his face grown Whlte,
but his hands trembled. l did not
like to ask him any further questions.
He stamped his foot impatiently.
How foolish I am, Kate he cried,
"frightening myself with scare
crow I must have terribly de-
oraved mind for such an idea to cross
it. That is the worst Of my profess
sion; we are always diving into mo-
tives Kate, this has spoiled our pic
mic Let US forget it"
He spoke lightly; but it was in vain;
Ne could not forget l saw him shud-
der again and again. He rose from
his seat, and pacNl up and down by
the lakeside, his arms folded, his head
bent, intense misery on his face.
Truly our picnic was spoiled. l went
to him at last, and laid my hand upon
his arm.
Forgive me, my darling" he said.
81 have fit of the horrors. I am
ashamed Of myself Tell me one thing
more Justice is justice. Tell me- in
all her raving and her prayers, has
Lady GILMORE ever said anything
about little child?"
why" | cried in wonder, chat is
the very thing she is afraid of"
told him of the scenes which had
occurred He stood like one trans
fixed.
Great heaven" he said at last, "T
believe | am right! / believe with my
whole heart and soul that am right.
Kate, It is all over with our picnic.
Come back to the house"
CHAPTER XII.
From that hour Uric Culmore was
a changed man. The blight, the shad-
ow that lay over the others had spread
now to him. He was silent, distracted,
and gloomy. At times he seemed to
try hard to become his old genial self
again, but the attempt always failed.
What was the mystery that hung
over Ullamere, that seemed to blight
every one it touched? Something
about little child; yet Lady Culmore
had had no children no little brothers
and sisters. What could it be? 1t
Sttlu5u USELESS IUlukluS.
The change in my lover grieved me
exceedingly. 1t was not that he loved
me less-I could see that-but that his
mind was SO preoccupied. He had been
anxious that our engagement should
be made public; now he never spoke
Of 1t. He had been anxious that we
should be married in the autumn: now
he never mentioned marriage Yet
felt quite sure In my heart that it
was not for want of love, nor because
he loved me less.
One morning-it was in the begin
all II bloom-he was standing in the
porch, looking round him with GER
tainly the saddest expression l had
ever seen on his face. I went up to
him and clasped both my hands round
his arm.
"You look so unhappy, Uric" I
said. "You have never been yourself
since the day of our picnic What
can | do to win bick the smiles?"
Bear with me, my darling" he
said until have made up my mind
what to do. Kate" he added sud
denly, you are one of the noblest aid
least mercenary of women. Has it
occurred to you that, if my brother
dies without children, the estate and
title come to me?''
No, | have not thought of it," re-
piled
ut is So" he said sadly. eff no son
be born to Rudolph, I shall be Sir
Uric GILMORE"
He looked so grave, and he spoke so
sadly, that l could not help saying
You do not look very happy about
it, Uric"
Il am not" he replied I'll hear
there has been a great wrong done. If
oh, heaven, how can even say the
words ?-if what dread be true. I will
take neither title nor estate would
rather go to the backwoods and make
fortune there
Shall you never tell ME what it is,
Ulric?" asked.
1T would serve no purpose, Kate,
and would only imbitter your life" he
replied. you say rightly that I have
not been the same man since the
thought came to me, and it would be
as bad for you"
"Are you always going to be miser
able, gloomy, and sad, Ulric?" I asked
Not always, darling, I hope" he
answered, with a sigh.
When shall you be your own self
Uric? I love the old self the best
You were so bright. so happy and
blithe. When will the Uric I love
come back AGAIN."
''When this terrible doubt is set
died." he replied.
'And when will that be?" l asked
He stood silent for some minutes
and then answered.
When l find courage to speak tc
my brother"
when shall you find courageg' !
pursued after time.
1 do not know, Kate; honestly
speaking, do not know. If am cor
rnc+ in my terrible suspicion. ther
there is very little happiness for u:
in this world IF am not correct. my
brother will be so bitterly angry Will
me for the suspicion that he will neve
forgive me. I must watch for nv on
pOrtunity, Kate"
later on that same day Sir Rudolph
called him into the library, and showed
hin the plans for some alterations a
Brooke Hall. He related to me al
that passed betrreen them.
"Ulric. core and look AFT thes