Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-10-06
thinking"
He shook HIS head.

Not tonight, Nellie" he said, crate.
fully. Il will come I'D and see your
father tomorrow. Tomorrow l am
going to set to work again"
"Oh, no, no." she said; you must
mott You must rest, Besides"-she
paused-'it is different nowi 1t is
not fitting that you, who are"
stop, Nellie" he said, quietly but
firmly; as l have been. so l shall
be! l am still Clifford Raven, and
shall never be any other. l have
buried tho past, and all it's hopes and
fears"
She shook her head.
We cannot, any of US, do that" she
said in low voice; land something
tells me"-she paused-"that a
brighter time is coming. Look how
the mist is thickening."
Yes, and you are out in it." he
broke in, anxious1y.
Presently it will get its worst, ano
then it will clear away, and it will be
light and bright again. IL think il
will be SO with you, Mr.. Raven!" hen
voice grew very sweet and low. and
yet so sad-so sad; land some Iay
you will find her, and you will be
happy"
Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE. l heard
you say that one day. Yes, you will
be happy, you and She"
He looked at her gratefully.
1T is always for others you are
thinking, Nellie" he said; what OF
yourself?"
Mel" she replied, and a faint, sad
smile passed like a cloud over he1
face. Il am nothing, and it does no.
matter! 1t is of you-of her," she
corrected herself, timidly, chat
think; and l feel that the time will
come when you will remember what ]
said, when you and she are together
never to part again"
He rose, and drew her hand through
his arm.
Heaven bless you, Nellie!" he said
But for you l should have broken
down entirely
Then | have been of some use?'
she said, with a wistful smile.
Use! My sister," he murmured.
She started suddenly.
What was that?" she said with a
little pant.
"What?" he said quickly. why
Nellie, l see nothing"
Nor l." she said, breathing heavily
But heard-there in 'front.'"
"a rabbit" he said. Come, you are
cold and I'LL saw it the moment ]
looked at you. Why, Nellie, if you gel
i'll, do you think that l should ever
forgive myself? Let me draw your
shawl around youths mist"
He took the ends of the shawl and
drew them tightly and then, with a
little stare of dread, he said
My child, you have grown thini
What have you been doing with your
self while have been away?"
Nothing" she murmured, "only
waiting for you to come back"
If it had been to save her life
she could not have helped the piteous
little reproach.
He looked at her with a sudden
sense of guilt.
"Oh, Nellie!" he said, in accents OF
keen pain and remorse; Il am not
worth thinking about. Not worth
Unconsciously, he drew her toward
him, and for a moment she rested
against mis- breast; then she drew
back.
NO, no." she breathed, q am moth.
ing-it is She
The words broke off suddenly, ano
in their place rose from her lips q
wild cry, and she flung herself upon
his breast again, with arms out.
stretched, as if to shield him from
some peril.
AT the same instant a strange
sound, like low whistle, cleaved the
air, and, with a convulsive shudder
her head fell forward upon his
shoulder, and her arms dropped to
her side.
''Nellie!" he cried: 'Nellie!"
Then he knew what had happened
for over the hand that supported her
crept a tiny stream of warm blood.
With a cry of agony, he caught her
to him, and ran to the cottage, and
with his arm still around her, knelt
beside the fire, and gazed at her face
distraught with terror, and still cry
ing in anguished tones upon her name
AS if the sound of his voice had
power to call her back from the grasp
of death, she opened her eyes and
looked up at him, with-ah, heaven
such love and tenderness,
Still here?" she breathed, family
and painfully. Il thought l was dead
without saying gooi-bye!"
"Oh, my child, my child" he
moaned, you shall not die"
She put her hand to his lips.
Hush am dying! IL know
that. And you-don't-don't cry. /
am glad. glad, glad l shall sleep
now and rest. Oh, yes. l am glad!"
Her breath came quicker and more
heavy. and the beautiful eyes grew
of a deep violet as they dwelt on his
face, in a wistful insentness.