Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-07-31

Day Mrs. jennings was taken sudden
, ly i'll. Nest seemed much distressed.
We sent for the doctor from Avon
sleigh, and he pronounced her to be in
great danger. At first no one thought
much of her Illness, nor did we say
anything before our friends-the house
was filed with guests-lest they
should be nervous. One of the house
maids undertook to nurse her, and we
hoped for the best. At nine o'clock on
the morning of Christmas Eve 1 was
as happy as any one in England. l
rose from the breakfast-table, after
making plans for the day with my
guests. Nest met me in the hall, where
the men-servants had just placed
great bunch of mistletoe / took up
spray, and held it over Nests head.
AS | saw her face then l never beheld
it more. l kissed the lips that had
never worn anything but the sweetest
smiles for me, and at the same mo-
ment the housemaid who was in at
| tendance on the sick woman came to
me.
B.
nings babe me ask you if you would
go to her. She is much worse, and
she wants to see YOU
Il was on the point of saying that
would go at once, when saw a terri
Bile change come over my wife's face.
She looked for one moment as though
she was going to faint. she clasped
my hand and said:
You must not go, Rudolph. 1t is
only woman's foolish fancy
cannot refuse the poor creature.
must go, Nest | said.
You shall not!' she cried desper-
ately; and she chung to me with such
earnestness that / could hardly free
myself.
Why do you wish me not to see
her, Nest?' l asked.
Because she is wicked and mali
cious,' was the answer. She viii tell
you anything. She has mad fancies.
Oh. Rudolph, beloved, for heavens
sake do not go near her!'
There was something startling in
her manner. could not understand
1t. Was she afraid for herself, or for
me?
1 cannot refuse the request of a
dying woman said, more sternly
than | had ever spoken to her before:
but you can come with me, Nest
She shrunk back, shuddering.
No, no! she cried.
Then let me go alone, and trust
me-
7 shall never forget the despair on
her face when left her. | shall never
forget the cry that came from her
lips.
ct shall not be long. Nest, said.
i knew where the sick woman was
lying, and / fastened thither. found
the nurse at the point of death. A
servant was sitting with her; and the
sick woman looked at me with an en-
ploring face
Send her away, Sir Rudolph she
said. I want to speak to YOU
The woman went, and we were left
alone.
Sir Rudolph said the nurse. Il
know before I speak that the words I
have to say will break your heart. i
meant to die without uttering them.
but / cannot. I dare not depart with
this secret undisclosed. IL must con-
fess the truth
Certainly said. III you have
anything on your mind, you had better
tell me-
All, sir she said pityingly, 1t
will break your heart! You will never
be happy again. Know you so well,
sir; and yet, if l die without telling
you, / feel shall never sleep IN INV
grave. could not rest; | shall come
back from the dead to tell YOU
Tell me now said. for her words
had excited in me certain horror
that | could not endure-tell me at
once,'
She bekoned to me to go closer to
her. and did so She raised her hand,
and placed my ear to her lips.
:" i dare not speak aloud she said.
Even the walls have ears, and they
might hear me- What | have to saw
is fatal secret that you must tell to
no one. Another life hangs on II. Sir
Rudolph, your wife. Lady GILMORE.
poisoned the little baby heir herself,
Il started back from her with a feel
ing of ioathing and horror impossible
to describe My fair gentle Nest slav
that little, tender babe. | was filled
with anger.
To he continued