Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-11-03
CHAPTER xxvI.-lContinued.)

death was already over. but Will Lie
deceitfulness of the disease which con-
sumed her, she rallied. She came back
TO life, and to a certain amount OF
strength; she was able to be dressed ana
to sit propped with cushions in an arm
chair, before the fire. A bright color
tinged her wax like cheeks, her eyes
shOne and glowed with a strange prefer
natural brilliancy, and yet she was going
TO die, they all knew it; it was death
Eobbed of all his horrors, death clad IN
a beautiful and altogether wonderful
garment, but it was death all the same.
keppington Hall was a changed
house. Instead of solitude and silence,
and desolate empty rooms, there were the
hushed steps of many feet along the pas
sages, and fires in many rooms, where the
GadGened little group of friends, who had
rallied about her. had taken up their
quarters, meaning to remain by her till
the end, or at least until her husband
should come to her. To find Brian was
the difficulty. Rosamond, who had seen
him last, only knew that he had return
ed to London, and only hoped that he
might be there still. The house in
Lowndes Square was shut up Roy
could think of no better plan than to
telegraph to his club. They did so, but
40 answer came. The telegram lay there
q whole day, then the lawyers clerk
called and fetched it, together with sew
eral letters, and took it round to his
masters office. The lawyer found it the
following morning. According to his in
structions from his client, he opened it;
then being altogether shocked by it's i'm
pert, and fearing to deal too sudden
blow to the husband, he telegraphed the
substance out to Mentone, not to Des-
Inond, but to his cousin, Edgar Raikes
A great deal of all too precious time was
thus wasted while this took place.
At Keppington they watched and wait
ed, longing for news. Poor Mrs. Succur-
den's dismay and CONSERVATION, upon
learning that the little maid whom she
had bullied and scolded, was no other
than the wife of her master, was most
pitiable. She lamented her blindness,
and walled over her past conduct in a
fashion that was almost ludicrous. More
especially was her remorse great in the
matter of the broken crystal goblet.
ITO think" she cried, that l should
have been so dreadfully angry at her
breaking that glass goblet, when all the
time it was her own, and she was free
TO smash it into powder if she chose, and
aObOdy dare say 4 word!
Il would not be so very unhappy at
that, Mrs. Succurden," said Rosamond,
who happened to be the recipient of her
complaints. ut was certainly not your
fault that Mrs. Desmond chose to fill so
humble a position in her husbands
house; it is no use regretting the past;
what we have to do now is to see if by
any chance we can save her poor frail
life now"
But though Rosamond spoke brightly
and hopefully, she did not believe in her
own words. AS Roy entered the octa-
gon room, bearing the small, frail form
that was but a feather weight in his
arms, she felt that it was impossible
that in anything so white and fragile the
flame of life should ever blaze up again
unto vitality.
Tenderly and gently Roy put her down
6n the big armchair, filled with cush-
3ons, that had been prepared for her.
She smiled at him gratefully, but for
some moments she was 700 exhausted to
speak Her breath came quick and
short, her head sank back YEARLY
against the pillows, and her thin little
hand, which she lifted for a moment
between herself and the fire, fell back
again nervelessly into her lap. Roy,
standing a moment behind her with wild
anxious eyes fastened upon her, felt all
at once that he could not bear the sight.
There came a great choking lump in his
throat, a singing in his ears, and
binding mist before his eyes. He turned
away swiftly and noiselessly, and left
8he room.
Presently Kitten looked up. No one
was with her but Rosamond. Mrs.
Earle knelt in front of her chair upon
*he hearth rug, the red fire glow shone
apon her beautiful face, and upon the
she sick girl.
A little while ago, perhaps, Kitten
might have been startled at the sight of
her, she might have shrunk away, turn
ing from her with great and miserable
jealousy. But she was past all that
now. Nothing surprised her or seemed
wonderful now, nothing even distressed
her She looked at her steadfastly, with
those strange eyes, that Rosamond had
likened to a human soul, and then glanc-
ed upward TO where the colored minia-
sure of handsome Rosamond Gray. in
her dropping beaver hat and feather,
smiled down happily upon the two wom-
en- who had held Brian Desmond's heart
between them.
"You are Mrs. Earle?" she said SOFTLY.
For all answer Rosamond lifted the
wasted fingers for moment to her lips.
And you love Brian?"
my dear, all that is past long, long
ago. Do not trouble yourself about it."
she murmured soothingly.
as love ever past?" Kitten said
5rsamily, almost to herself.
Yes, yes" broke out Rosamond i'm
pstuously Thank God, yes!-or else
St were too great burden for a woman
80 bear"
The ready tears rushed into the elder
woman's eyes, but Kittens grave eyes
were dry, only she looked away into the