Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-04-16


and daring witchery, pledged more
over to fulfil a promise wrung from
him in the face of some struggles with
conscience and with fear.
What do you want?" he asked. in
a thick, hoarse voice, holding the back
of the chair he had just occupied, and
turning away towards the window, SO
that she could see nothing of his fac,
''I am not disturbing you, am |,
Ned?" she asked, in a faint, meek
voice, full of persuasive sweetness.
Her soft eyes tried to meet his with
a plaintive entreaty which, as he
dared not allow it to move him, made
his voice harsher and his words more
brutal.
Get on with what you have to say:
| want to work." he said, stamping the
chair he held down upon the ground.
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.
J 81 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; | wish | could say it
was that, but it isn't" she said, in
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 it's breaking should
annoy him. 81 have been tiresome
lately, know-full of fancies, and diff
ficult to manage.
BY Jove, you have!"
We'll, and now under DIR. Armath-
L
day"
''Dr. Armathwaite! D. DIR.
Armathwaite. | suppose he put you up
to bothering me in this way?"
"Oh, 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 straw
for his wife, but he felt nettled on
learning that her intrusion was on ac-
count of another man.
''Oh, that was all, was it? Your fir
tation cut short just as it began to
grow interesting"
A pink flush appeared in Alma's
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 a few minutes, |
during which Crosmont fidgeted 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.
well, 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 a 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 lump in his
throat, as a sudden consciousness
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? Weln he knew the
value of it if anybody did. He felt
like man in 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 barrier of fire. Ignorant of
the tumult and the struggle raging in
her husbands breast, feeling only that
she had touched him little, since he |
neither scoffed at nor scolded her, she /
drew 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 little thing. 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 daren't look at |