Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-01-18


burst it in" He reflected for a mo-
ment, and then added: "Think-the
whole house will knowv'
He heard a movement as Of some
one slowly rising, and groans, "My
head! my headr' Then a heavy fall
to the floor. At that, eXerting all his
strength, he struck the lock with his
foot, the door flew open, and thick
white smoke, as from wood fire, curl
ed out toward him. A stove stood III
the middle Of the floor, from which the
vapOr rose, wreathing and twisting
From the clearness of some part of the
room he believed the fire had not beer
long burning. Quickly. lifting the girl
from beside the bed, he bore her into
his own room, where, placing her on a
couch near the open window, he
dOuched her head and throat with wat
err. Anxiously he watched for signs OF
returning consciousness, and was on
the point of running for help, when
her bosom f1uttered, the lips twitched,
and the eyelids slowly opened. She
gazed into his tender eyes for mo-
ment as if she did not recognize him;
then, turning, she burst into passionate
tears.
AS her hands leaped to cover her
face he noticed a wedding ring upon
her finger. 1t had never been there
before.
He rose from bending beside the
couch and began preparing a meal. He
would not look toward her as he went
about the room, but was conscious of
the restraint she put upon her weep
ing. In little while she was silent
and slowly rose from the couch. He
was instantly beside her. She MUIR
INJURED that she wished to change her
dress, which was wet. She was trem-
bling and seemed very weak. When
he had helped her into her room, which
was now cleared of smoke, he said. a
little brusquely:
'Mademoiselle, you will promise to
do nothing rash again?"
II will promise you, yes" she said.
almost humbly, her eyes dropping be-
fore his.
Whatever may be troubling you,"
he went on, "you can always depend
on me to help YOU"
"Thank you," she replied, with so
quick an emotion in her voice that he
was startled and moved.
AS they sat at tea, he tried by cheer
full talk to bring her mind away from
brOoding, and after the meal she was
betrayed into some brightness on see
ing him wash up the tea things and
wished, against his laughing protesta-
tons, to do it for him. Suddenly, in
the midst of their almost gay talk, she
became silent, the face clouded, and
shining drops started from her eyes.
II never dreamed you were so kind"
she said, looking at him, the tears fall
ing down her face. II always thought
you were so stern and cold. I called
you in my mind the man with the
hard eyes,"
"Oh, but you mustn't trust to ap-
pearancesw he replied, cheerfully.
"I've often thought you were in trou-
BILE and-and hadn't many friends, per-
haps."
II have no friends since my poor
father died, year ago." she said,
sadly, when she had wiped her eyes
and could speak quietly. HE had a
concession which he thought some rich
men here would pay him for, but they
took it and gave him worthless papers.
When he died, disappointed, 1 tried to
keep myself. All our friends seemed
to have hidden themselves. 1 have
suffered many things but 1 cannot
starve. It is so base. 1t is intoler-
able. oh, Monsieur, know you
despise me for being coward to-day,
but"
Don't say that" replied Stephen.
"None of us know how weak we may
be when the time comes. But now,
listen! You must begin again. You
must let me lend you some money to
go on with; and we must look about
and see what work you can get. Will
you do that?"
She shook her head, putting his offer
from her with quick forward ges-
ture of her hands, which seemed to
him both pretty and pitiable.
But consider" he said, stegnly.
you've got to do it. What else can
you do? Remember, you've promised
me to do nothing rash again."
He looked keenly into the distressed
eyes which sought to escape his gaze.
Pity and love moved him at sight of
her pain.
"Oh, "sshe said, with trembling voice.
II almost wish you had not-not found
me to-day!' Then, with a sudden
quickness in look and tone, she said
"How, Monsieur, did you come to sus.