Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-19

! his eyes with his hand, with an in
voluntary gesture, as if to shut out an
unwelcome vision.
Until, he repeated, then broke off
/ suddenly, ending in a harsh whisper:
1T is thy penalty" Still shading
his eyes, he pointed to the open door.
The messenger held out his hand,
| the soul chung to it with its own ten
der palms, and together they disap-
peared in the gloom
|
| The eastern sun, shining through the
! branches of the intervening trees,
! crept in at the half open window, shy
| ly at first, and hesitating, like a timid
| lover who fears he will be repulsed;
| then, growing holder, advanced steadi-
/ ly across the room to where a maiden
of rare aud bewitching beauty was
seated at a desk writing.
The dancing rays flashed across her
softly tinted cheek and rested motion
less upon the heavy coils of yellow
hair crowning the slightly bowed
head. as if Ioath to leave the vicinity
of so much loneliness. Then, darting
away again, and fitting here and there,
seemed, like things of life, seeking to
point out to some interested onIooker
all the dainty appointments Of the
richly furnished room, and revealing
! it to be the private apartment of wO-
man of wealth and refinement.
A door between two tastefuIly
wrought consoles quietly opened, and
a maid entered, bearing a silver salver
on which rested a card.
Madame, eet is re prince, he calls"
she said.
The golden crested head came up
with a jerk, and Madame" rested one
exquisitely curved elbow on the back
Of her chair.
Say l am not in, Celeste" she said,
without deigning so much as a glance
at the card lying like a lonely white
island in the midst of a shining sea.
But, madame" faltered the maid,
when l say Eat he glare, like Eat"
attempting to purse her small, good
natUred face into a look of stern disap-
prevail, at which her mistress laughed
merrily.
Never mind his glare Celeste
and when you come back I will have
this letter for you to post. What a
bOre!" she added to herself, when the
maid had departed, ''to call so early
in the day. Besides, l feel in no
mood to listen to his platitudes this
morning"
She turned again to her letter and
continued to write, while tender and
happy smile deepened the dimple in
her cheek. Then, suddenly ceasing,
she tore the page to bits and throwing
them into the diminutive waste basket
at her feet, seized her pen again and
hurridly scrawled:
Dear Carl: Come to me this even
ing for your answer
"Christine.'
There, Celeste" she said, when she
had sealed and addressed it in a firm
hand, when you return We will have
luncheon. Then 1 will take my
'siesta,' as the Spanish women term
it. After that, of course, you must
dress me for dinner
Twilight shadows were deepening
across the tapestried walls, the hand
some paintings and statuary, ancient
as well as modern, massive furniture,
carved and inlaid, priceless rugs and
rare draperies of the great drawing
room. Something other than the
evening breeze coming through the
low, open window stirred the rich
hangings, and for a moment white,
distorted face gaZed back over muf-
fed shoulder, then disappeared There
was no sound save the soft swish of
the shade against the pane.
But what is that lying mOtionless
where the shadows are deepest? A
CLEAN Of golden hair, the luster of a
trailing brOcade robe, and a dark stain
creeping ribbon like across one alabas-
ter shoulder and silently mingling with
the ancient stains Of the rug on which
it is lying face downward.
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