Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-02-26

done her greater wrong. / know all
this, you see and can, unluckily for
me, watch this drama as well from the
four walls of this room as | could
when l saw it's scenes with my own
eyes. But l can do nothing"
He stopped. The story was over.
But there was another which Armath-
waite was still more anxious to hear.
You said sir" he began at last,
diffidently, during the first interview
you gave me, that it might be possible
for newcomer to move more freely
in this matter than you could do. If
you will only put me on the right tack,
and give me the benefit of your discre-
ton, will answer for it | shall not
want for energy"
Il am sure of that" said DR.. Peele.
But | begin to fear the time for &C
ton has gone by; to interfere would
only increase the danger for Aphra
Kildonan, without improving the cir
cumstances of Alma Crosmont."
| MAY | know what the danger for
Lady Kildonan is?"
|
doctor, hurriedly, drawing himself to-
I gether with an instructive demonstra-
| ton of reluctance to part with his
secret, which filled Armathwaite with
the fear that he might perhaps never
disclose it to him after all. 81 am
really tired; l cannot talk more to-
night. l will see you again tomorrow
yes, tomorrow"
But as the young man shook hands
with him, and wished him good night,
he saw look on the old doctors face
which suddenly drove all thoughts of
the secret out of his head, and made
him very gentle and solicitous, and al
most reverent, so that he retreated
from the room reluctantly, with the
soft steps and measured tread of one
| who leaves solemn presence-cham-
Der, turning at the door for one long
look at the man who had received him
SO generously, and conferred upon him
so great trust. AS he stood there,
| silent and quite motionless, DIR. Peele
turned round, and, perhaps reading
the expression of the young mans
| face held out his hand with a wan
smile. Armathwaite returned quickly,
and took the lean, dry fingers tenderly
in his warm, healthy hand. The firm
| clasp seemed for moment to COM
municate little life and vigour to the
shrunken and bent invalid; and he re-
turned the grip with kindly hearth
ness.
Il am glad more glad every day,
every hour, of your coming" he said,
in weak voice. 81 can rest now
know that am leaving a head behind
me when | am gone. l have left you
this writing-tabe with the papers it
contains. They will tell you all you
wish to know; you will keep them I'M
der lock and key as I have done. Good
night, God bless you, Armathwaite!"
With a long, earnest gaze into each
others face, the men parted; and it
was with a new and solemn sense of
duty and responsibility, Swallowed by
grave fear, that the young closed the
door of the sick-room behind him. His
mind, his heart his whole being were
absorbed by the last solemn words he
had just heard from the doctors lips;
they rang in his ears as he went down
stairs they echoed in his brain as he
stood, hesitating and cold with a new
| sensation, in the dimly-lighted and
tiny hall. Then, with quick but not
hurried movements, he took his hat
and coat from the stand, and went out
of the house in the direction of Mere
| side. He had felt again the prick of
/ the mysterious monitor which had
twice directed his steps against his
will to Alma Crosmonts side. On
this third occasion, with the romance
of her strange story strongly upon
him, he started off without a doubt,
without a pause.
! 1t was a cold and starless night,
with mist in the air and a drizzling
mixture of rain and sleet falling; the
reads were silent and deserted. 1t
was not until he had tramped fully
two of the four miles which lay be-
tween Branksome and Mereside that
he bethought him of the exceeding
| swkwardness of his position, on the
way to visit married lady against
the express wishes of her husband.
And then came a recollection which
made him pause and slacken his steps.
1t was the night of Ned Crosmont's
journey to Liverpool. With a flash
of discretion and of remembrance of
the conventionalities, Armathwaite de-
cided that it was impossible for him to
go to the house in the absence of the
master, who had positively forbidden
him to approach his wife again. He
turned back, and began to retrace his
steps at a run. But then in the misty
air before him, as the sleet drove in
to his eyes, he saw Alma's face, white
and wan, with the jaw drawn down
and the eyes fixed and staring, while
her voice seemed to whisper in his
ears as the wind and the snow and the
rain Kissed past him;
Come, come, do not fail me now!'
He turned again, and the wind