Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-10-19


Having finished my survey, crawled
back to my pillow and lay still for a
time, feeling very much exhausted with
my slight exertion. Presently the wom-
an woke up, came to the side of the bed,
drew the curtains, and looked at me.
''You are better" she said, kindly.
81 am so glad. You have had : long,
weary time Of it, but the doctor said
there would be a change one way or the
other tonight You're with friends. who
have taken every care of YOU"
Tell me, is Clara foundT' / asked,
eagerly.
"Oh, yes she's all right, and will come
and see you as soon as you grow strong
er, but you mustn't talk, or you'll have
a relapse"
If l had asked for the Emperor Of
Russia, l believe she would have told
me that he was coming to see me as
soon as | was better. Her answers were
by IL means satisfact"~J, but | could
perceive that it was useless TO tn to
extract others from her
Several days passed, and@ l saw no
person except the nurse and the doctor
| put some questions to the latter, but
he answered crabbedly, that if | wished
to get well, l must keep my mind calm,
and not ask questions.
TO keep my mind calm with such
memories as were haunting me was i'm
possible, yet, in spite of my anxieties,
| grew stronger and better day by day.
But the anguish of my mind waxed
strength with my body.
Nurse" | said one day. determined
| ly. Il must know where | am, under
| whose care, and | must have certain
questions of vital Importance to me solv-
ell | know you are concealing these
| things from me for a good motive. but
| it is a mistaken one. Instead Of calm
! ing, this incertitude is torturing me. re-
| tarding my recovery. For heavens sake,
| tell me where l am, whose house this is,
aud what people l am withY"
well, sir" she answered, II am only
| obeying my instructions; if / was to go
| f1om them, / should offend my employ
| ers and the doctor. too, and | can't af-
| ford to do that | win ask leave to tell
| you what l know, which ! can assure
| you is very little. But if you make haste
and get strong, and get about, you will
| be able to find out everything for your
/ self"
! That day l got out of bed Tor the
| first time, and sat at the window. 1t
| looked into an extensive garden, encoIn-
| passed. as far as | could see. by a high
| wall, lined within by rows of tall poplar
! trees. My room was upon the ground
| floor, and this wall and the trees bound
/ ed my vision. l could see naught beyond
| them.
One afternoon l had fallen asleep over
! the fire, suddenly | awoke with a jerk;
| the rays of a red, autumn sun were
streaming across me, and falling full
| upon the face of Judith, who was lean
| ing against the fireplace, looking at me.
At first, I thought it was a specter Of
my sleep. / could not believe my eyes;
| but | was not long left in doubt as to
| the reality of the vision. An ironical
| smile curled her lips at the sight of my
! dismay.
"A visit from your wife is evidently an
unexpected pleasure" she said, hooking
ly.
l could not answer her: could only
| bury my face in my hands and shudder
at her appearance
SIS this my reward for all the tender
care that has been given you during
your illness for bringing you away
from those wretched lodgings, where
you might have died? Our married life
seems likely to be bright one.''
Would to heaven you had left me to
die" l cried You are no wife of
mine"
You will find it rather difficult to
| prove that, or to shake me off,
What pleasure can it be to you to
torture me in this mannerF | cried.
why not leave me to myself?"
Because | hate you, and because |
| have motives of my own. 1t gives me
pleasure to torture you. No living being
has ever made me feel so deeply the deg
radiation of my life as you have; you,
miserable, spiritless outcast you. whom,
as a brat. l have beaten with a rod,
| and always despised; you shudder at
my approach, and turn your eyes from
me with loathing; and you ask me what
| pleasure it can be to me to torture you!
From the hour of my birth, my life has
been one torture. | have ever been the
victim At last, the tables are turned
you are my victim: and as others have
dealt by me. so will | deal by you! No
mercy was ever shown to me: why, then,
should | show it to others?"
She was still standing against the fire.
place l dared not look at her, but l
| could feel the tigerish ferocity of her
eyes.
But l did not come here to rave.
First, came, like a dutiful wife, to
congratulate my husband on his conva-
lescence," she went on, resuming the old
irony of voice. land to comfort him
with the knowledge that he is in affec-
| tionate hands; and, in the second place,
to arrange certain matters Of business
with him, which, il he will oblige me
with a few moments attention, l will
explain. In the course of tomorrow n
woman will come here-iu short, the
W man who committed you TO my faith
er's charge. l require that you shall
unhesitatingly acknowledge me as your
wife in her presence
"Neverr' l exclaimed, firmly. "You
may kill me. but will never utter such
words
Il have the means of forcing you to
speak them, or any other words that
may choose to dictate to you
At that moment the door was thrown
open. I turned my head and saw Mr..
Rodwell standing upon the threshold.
CHAPTER XIV.
was sitting in large easy chair,
with my back towards the door. and he
did 1oT 70 Tfroa alfhptJph hv