Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-14

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sleep? And what those dreams mean?
l hardly dare to ask
Il think you had better not trouble
yourself any more about this, and you
must think about it as little as you
possibly crn help, for can tell you
this: you need not fear that you will
have that sleep or those dreams
again
Not have them again?" she re-
peated, in a low voice. Then she
asked fearfully, What is going to hap
pen? Is it something dreadful-dread-
full for Ned? Uncle Hugh has writ
ten both to Mile and to me, saying
that am to keep a good heart, for
everything will be all right soon.
But if it will be all right for rue, it will
be all wrong for Ned, won't it? l feel
that it will. And l must tell you-I
get more and more sorry for him
every day. AS he gets harder and
more irritable, | can feel that it is his
trouble that makes him so; but I can
not comfort him; he will not let me.
And I am afraid to think what it is
that Uncle Hugh means to say to him.
Armathwaite was silent for little
while, considering this message of
Uncle Hugh's, and shrewdly suspect
ing that what he had to say would be
said not to his nephew, but to Lord
Kildonan. He asked if he might see
the letter. Alma produced it from her
pocket, and he read it through. Uncle
Hugh mentioned that he had heard of
his little ones" ever-increasing las
situde from Mile, and he spoke in
very harsh terms of Ned and said he
wanted a lesson, and recommended
Alma to leave him.
Il have written to tell him not to be
hard on Ned, since he is unhappy and
Overworked," said Alma, as she took
back the letter CAS- for leaving him
while he is miserable, and even i'll,
shouldn't think of doing it. For
though | cannot comfort him now, still
I may some day. A fancy has come
into my head am full of fancies,
you know" she added, smiling sadly
IlldI DSlOI Z lOllS lie VIII Wd1lI 1uS,
though he does not treat me very well
now. This fancy has only come to me
this morning, when | remembered his
face as he talked to me yesterday.
But it has quite taken away my fear
Of him.
'You can't care for him STILL sure
ly?" burst out Frank, in spite of him
self rather Indignantly.
Again her face flushed as she
answered.
I'm afraid I don't very much, es-
pecially when l feel afraid. But
want to-"
The feeling of duty, a natural yearn-
ing affectionateness and perhaps the
pretty feminine fancy for tanning a
brute, all conduced to make her, as
Frank thought, almost ridiculously
fOrgiving and meek.
''YOu see" she continued, noting a
little impotence in her companions
face and attitude, cit would be silly of
me to be afraid when l have such
good friends near" with a little up
look of the most innocent and yet al
Turing cOquetry to assure him that she
was not ungrateful.
How did you come here?" asked
Frank, after a pause. Surely you did
not walk the whole way?"
81 came part of the distance in the
carriers cart from Conismere. l had
spent the morning in my room, feel
ing very, very heavy and tired, as
always do after thOse-sleeps. and
heard the outer bell ring, and Lady
Kildonan's voice downstairs. She
went straight l. Ned's study" A
shadow came over Alma's face and a
reserve into her manner as she men
toned the lady's name. "The sound
of her voice reused me, made me feel
bitter and angry; all my thoughts
seemed to whirl in my head in con-
fusion, then I thought I would come
and see you. l could not stay in the
house while she was therel"
Alma's eyes flashed, and her cheeks
burned. Frank was pleased at this
show Of spirit.
Il have been invited to go with
Ned to dine there on Monday, at The
Crags; but I don't want to go; I hate
the thought Of going. I shall make
an excuse to stay away"
Frank made no attempt to combat
her determination, and at that mo-
ment Mile peeped into the room and
broke an awkward pause by enquiring
whether the consultation was over.
Alma had been lucky enough to call
upon a day when Mrs. Pee1e was per-
forming a weekly pilgrimage to her
husbands grave at Plasmere, from
which she did not return until half
past six o'clock.
AS there was still half-an-hour to
spare before the widows martial tread
might be expected to resound in the
little stone-paved hall outside, Mile
pushed Mrs. Crosnont back into her
chair as she rose to go.
No she said. 1T is my turn for
a consultation now, and I've something
very serious to say to you, Mrs. Cros-
mont, which will have all the more
weight from the presence of a wit
ness. Listen, and perpend, DR..
Armathwaite, if a man can do the
first, and knows what the second
means
Il am all attention, Miss Peele.
have even notebook ready. When
I have duly perpended, or weighed in
my mind, your valuable utterances,
down thew shall 90 here in mastery
shorthand
THAT will do. You are to listen,
not to talk. since Heaven has spared