Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-16

| Alma was struggling valiantly with
! her fear of him, struggling too against
/ the old numbness which his very pres.
ence seemd to cast upon her.
| Il have seen SO little of you for the
last fortnight, Ned" she began.
And you're painting to see more OF
me again, l suppose?" said he, grimly
Very wifely and natural. Well,
that's it, isn't it," he added, with
rough jocoseness, as she did not
answer.
mo, Ned; l wish l could say it
was that, but it isn't" she said, in a
| low voice, tremulous with feeling. 81
can't wish to see more Of you till it is
a pleasure-to you-to be-with me,
and it can't be that until I'm more like
myself again-more like the girl at
Kensington-you used to come-and
say-you loved she ended in a
whisper.
Did you come in here to tell me all
this?" he asked, passionately, striding
away, and refusing to look at her
mo, Ned, no. Don't be angry with
me-" she said gently, trying to keep
her voice firm, lest its breaking should
annoy him. II have been tiresome
lately. |. know-full of fancies, and diff
fcult to manage.
by Jove, you have"
well, and now under Dr. Armatn-
T
day"
DIR. Armathwaite! D DR..
Armathwaite. suppose he put you up
to bothering me in this way?"
ooh, no. Only he didn' come this
morning, and | came to ask you why
Crosmont stopped short in his pac-
ing about He did not care a straw
for his wife, but he felt nettled on
learning that her intrusion was on &C
count of another man.
oh, that was all, was it? Your fir
tation cut short just as it began to
grow Interestingly"
A pink flush appeared in Almas
cheeks and died away again, but she
did not answer.
That was it, wasn't it? Answer
me. Don't give yourself these airs
She raised her eyes to his face very
simply with the unaffected dignity
of the most perfect and confident in
nocence.
There is no need for me to answer
that she said, quite gently, 'fOr you
know you don't accuse me in earnest"
There was silence for few minutes,
during which Crosmont fdgeted with
the fire and with his papers, and Alma
stood quite still with one hand clutch
ing the wooden mantelpiece and the
other pressed tightly against her
breast.
We'll, what are you waiting for?"
he asked at last.
Il don't like to leave you quite like
this, Ned, when at last I've found the
courage to come and speak to you
myself"
why do you mind? I'm sure I
DON'T
That's just it. Ned, she turned
imploring eyes towards him and spoke
in d whisper-'I do so Wish-you
did,"
He was moved at last in spite of
himself Turning abruptly to the win
dow he looked out, with a troubled,
scOwling face, but with a lump in his
threat, as sudden cons ciOusness
came upon him Of the fair days he
was missing, OF the sweet peace and
the charm of life he was foregoing
and all for what? Well, he knew the
value of it if anybody did. He felt
like a man in a burning fever who
suddenly sees before him a cool,
shaded river into which he would fain
plunge up to his thirsty lips. But
between him and the shining water
there is a barrier of fire. Ignorant Of
the tumult and the struggle raging in
her husbands breast, feeling only that
she had touched him a little, since he
neither scoffed at nor scOlded her, she
drew a little nearer to him. He felt
the air stirred behind him as she
moved quickly forward and stopped.
Ned" she whispered, Med, I'm go
ing to ask such a little thing. I don't
want you to be kind to me; only let
me be kind to you. Don't make me
afraid of you, SO that I daren't look at
your face for fear of shrinking, and so
offending you more. l am so lonely,
Ned. It is so horrible to be moved
only by one feeling-dread; to know
that you have done no harm, and
wished no i'll to anyone in the world,
and yet to feel always afraid-so that
the shadow of the ivy over the win
dow frightens me if the wind moves
it, and when I hear your voice and try
to be glad can't, for I know you will
frown at me and turn away, as if
there were something poisonous in
my very look"
1.-THE old story-yOu want to go
away, suppose?"
To be continued.