Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-05

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Continued.


tapping at the window, and | woke in
a great fright. Then | heard the wall
ing of the child, pitiful tiny voice
sobbing with the fainteSt breath, and
the sound came from the window.
went there, and drew aside the cur,
tains as you have done now, and l saw,
oh. that heaven would darken my
eyes for evermore!-I saw tiny child
standing there, dressed in little white
shroud, and he was rapping with a
feeble little hand on the WindOw-pane.
For one moment the baby eyes flashed
into mine, and I knew that if he came
in | should fall down dead"
at was a Dream said, with sigh
of unutterable relief-"only dream"
But she broke from me with ter
rible cry. She flung herself upon her
knees, she tore her fair hair, she beat
her hands together wildly, and l spent
the remainder of the night in trying
to soothe her. Verify l had cause to
remember the bitter winds of March!
CHAPTER v.
April, with it's soft showers, it's odor
of sweat violets and growing buds, it's
sweet daffodils and. pale primroses,
was passing quickly, but still there
was no change at Ullamere. It was
nearly four months since l came, and
there was the same gloom, the same
constraint, the same wretchedness in
Sir Rudolph's home; but by this time
! had lost ali desire to leave the place.
All my affection and interest, all my
thoughts, were entered in the baronet
and his wife.
There was nothing very mysterious
about Sir Rudolph, except the way in
which he lived The whole mystery
seemed to cling to Lady Culmore.
After that night when the winds of
March blew so terribly, had linger-
ing suspicion that her mind was I'M
hinged-had lost it's balance. And yet,
even if it were so, that was no solu-
ton OF the mystery of Sir Rudolph
conduct. A man who loved his wife
would but study her the more for any
misfortune of that kind.
| remember another incident. This
happened in the calm, early, gray
morning light. Again l heard foot
steps in the corridor, and again the
handle of the door was turned. I knew
this time that it was Lady CuImore.
She was standing outside, with the
same terrible fear on her face.
Il want you, Miss Forster" she said.
g
course, | went
She carefully closed the door of her
room, placed the wax-taper on the
table, and turned to me. The distress
in her white face vas terrible to see.
Now" she cried-"now tell me
what you heart" She seemed to
breathe with difficulty; great gasps
came from her lips Quickly" she
said-"tell me quickly! what do you
hear?"
Nothing" l replied. There is not
sound; even the wind is still"
She struck her hands together with
passionate cry.
you must hear it, You say No to
calm me. | shall not be frightened if
you hear it; but, if it comes only to me,
oh, heaven! what shall do?"
She hid her face in her hands, and
trembled so violently that | became
alarmed.
TEL me what you hear, Lady Gull
more" l requested
'The cry of a child. Can you not
hear it? 1t has been wailing round my
pillow all night long, until it has driven
me mad" she said. 81 am mad! O,
Miss Forster, look for it! I am sure it
is here! Some of those wicked serv-
ants have hidden it here on purpose
that it should cry and brighten me.
We must find it! l can bear it no Ion
ger!" And the most painful spectacle
i ever saw in my life was the spec
tacle of this beautiful, desperate
woman searching everywhere for that
which did not exist. Suddenly she
looked at the door.
''Ah, she cried, sit is outside now!
1t is dying away at the end of the cor
ridor. 1t is gone! Thank heaven. it
is gone."
She shrunk, nuddering, from the
door, and sunk down upon a chair
She was exhausted, white, trembling
went to her and took her hands. They
were cold as death itself.
you have been dreaming again,
Lady GILMORE" l said. You must
remember that you had the same
dream before, and how it terrified you
Try to be cheerful You must be ill
or nervous; such fancies and dreams
as these do not trouble strong or
healthy people. You should go away
from here. l shall certainly speak to
Sir Rudolph about it; he does not
know how i'll you are"
She chung to me with passionate
cries and tears.
You must not do that l cannot go
away Promise me that you viii not
say one word to him. l will kin my
self if you dol"
Her vehemence startled me.
Certainly, I will not, unless you
wish it," I said. You are really i'll,
though, Lady Culmore, and you should
have medical advice. These terrible
fancies of yours are only the result of
Illness"
She flung her arms around me, and
laid her fair head on my shoulder.
DO you think so?" she whispered.
"Oh, comfort me, for my heart is torn
and desolate,"
How was l to comfort her when I
did not even know her trouble? |