Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-11-24

would go back aDd try to dissuade Pau
line from this mad freak. but that he
knew it would be useless; and any show
OF authority on his part just now might
perhaps undo the little good he believed
lie had accomplished
He drove straight back to the hotel.
and sat with his chin resting on his
hands at the little table in the window
of his room. He was in a strange state
Of mingled hope and dread. He did not
know what he wished; he only knew that
he meant to do what he conceived to be
his duty; the rest he must leave in higher
hands
While thus musing over the past, he
was brought back to the present by the
sight of his wife cantering by in COM
pany with several others; and, following
them, he noticed a fidgety chestnut horse,
with side-saddle on, which was being
led by a groom. Pauline looked up and
bowed gravely; he returned the greeting.
How handsome she looked. How we'll
she sat her horse! How proud he might
have been of her if she had never allow
ed the love Of riches to crowd the wom-
anliness out of her heart! He leaned
forward and watched her as far as he
could see from the window.
An hour later Polling was STOPPING
over his wife's poor crushed body in one
of the little chatlets in the Bots de Bou-
logne. She had been thrown and tram
pied on, and was dying of internal hem
orrhage. Her voice was very low, and
her words came slowly, with many
pauses.
1T is heavens justice! After you
had gone this morning l made up my
mind to do as you wished 1 thought
l would try to love you-you were 80
good-and we should be-happy togeth-
er. l had no right to be happy-after
my wickedness, and heaven has-settled
it,"
my poor mistaken grip
yes, that is true I've been mis-
taken all-my life. No one ever-tried
to make me good. 1 was always left to
servants-when l was-a child. Heaven
is just, and the great Judge will re-
member my-great temptations. Will
you kiss me-just once, Alec? Say you
forgive met will make my mind
easier"
In spite of his efforts not to disturb
her last moments by any show of feel
ing, a large tear dropped upon her face
She looked at him wonderingly, and put
up her finger to his cheek
For me-" she said very softly-"you
cry for me- | do not deserve-to have
one mourner-at my death bed. 1 have
done evil 10 every one-but Jack. Give
NJ
sages; they might bring curse"
Another spasm seized her; and, when
it had passed, the hue of death was
creeping over her face. 1t was all fin
ished now, and the strong young life that
had been so misused had come to an
end
Polling took out card and left it
with the people of the house. and then
went straightway to see that all the
necessary arrangements were made for
the interment of her who had once been
very dear to him. He wrote a short let
ter to Sir Godfrey that night 1t ran:
Dear Sir Geoffrey-Your niece. nv
wife, was killed by a fall from her horse
to-day. We were reconciled at the last.
Tell your daughter | can never express
my gratitude to her for sending me here;
it will always be a source of thankful
ness in my heart. The family jewels
are intact, Babette tells me, and they
will be sent by special courier. When
the funeral is over, [ think l shall join
Dornton in Italy, and toward the spring
we may work our way homeward in
company. Ask Miss Ethel to keep us
ever green in her memory. I've set my
heart on seeing our young friend Jack
a Royal Academician before many years.
With his talent, he wants only a little
judicious pushing, and | mean to devote
my time to pushing him.
Always your sincere friend,
ALEXANDER PELLING."
Ethel was greatly affected by this let
ter, and she went about with d very
sober face for some weeks, until the
preparations for Christmas absorbed her,
and left her no time for thinking of
handsome young artists or anything else.
But, even in the midst of the excitement
of Christmastide, there was always a
craving in her heart, dreary sense of
emptiness, which grew and grew until
she was compelled, with many bushes,
to admit its presence, and to acknowl-
edge to herself that only one person in
ali the world could fill the void.
Go be coptinuedl