Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-12-03
the poor squire, sorrowfully.

the poor squire, sorroWfully
She'll get over it," said BARLEY
Bradstone, putting on his hat It's
it's the shock, and all that. I'll go
now, l think. Give her my love, and
tell her I'll come and see her directly
they'll let me- Well get away the
moment she's strong enough; the
change will do her good. If it hadn't
been for their dragging that fellow
Faradeane here we should have been
miles away by this time, confound
it,
He passed into the hall and beckon-
ed to footman who was passing.
Let him come with me, will you,
squire? lists dark, and I'm upset
and nervous. It's enough to drive a
fellow out of his mind
The squire motioned an assent to
the servant, who fetched his hat and
a lantern.
At the hall door BARLEY Bradstone
paused, and came back to where the
squire stood, looking vacantly and sad
ly out at the silent night
"Don't-don't tell anybody I walked
over to The Naples unless you're
obliged" he said, with forced careless
ness. 'These police fellows are al
ways too ready to get a gentleman
mixed up in the business, and they'd
make a mountain of mole-hill, and
want me to appear at the trial, and Ell
that Goodnight. Give my love to-
tony wife"
He held out his hand, with his rest
less, bloodshot eyes fixed On the
squires boots, and as the old man
took it he noticed in a dull way how
cold and clammy it felt.
The door closed on Mr.. BARLEY
Bradstone and his protector, and the
squire went upstairs again.
AS he approached the door he
could hear his darling's voice talking
wildly and incoherently, and the doc
tor met him with grave face.
"She is delirious," he said, gravely.
HAS Mr. Bradstone gone?''
They entered the room. Olivia
was lying in Bessie's arms, her eyes
open and staring, torrent of words
streaming from her feverish lips.
Bessie! Bessie! Save him! He
is not guilty! My love commit-mur-
der! Ha, hal" and her wild laughter
ran through the room. HE, so good
and gentle! They are mad, mad,
Yoodi To1-o mo fo him fo+bari No11a
me to him! It is my place! I tell
you that if all the world pronounced
him guilty, I would love-love-
him! He is innocent! Father, don't
let him take me away! No! Let
me stay! Hide me from him!
hate him! I hate him!"
What does it mean?" moaned the
squire piteously.
1T means just nothing" replied the
doctor, who had watched beside many
delirious patient, and was discreet
and silent as the grave. "Pay no at
tention. Who's that?"
1t was Aunt Amelia's voice at the
door, begging to be admitted.
her away. please he said, quietly;
and the squire persuaded her weeping
bitterly-for Amelia's heart was sounu.
though her head was flighty-to go
back to her own room.
All through the highland how
long it seemedi-the three watched
beside the fever-stricken girl, listening
to her delirious cries; but towards
morning they grew less wild and as
the dawn broke they ceased altogether
and she lapsed into deep sleep.
The doctors brave face cleared
Thank God" he said, with a long
breath of relief. go and lie down,
squire; the worst has passed. We
shall only have to fight against the
weakness and exhaustion now But
mind" he added, as he gently forced
the squire out of the room, keep Mr..
Bradstone out of the way, and don't
mention his name before her. There
must be no excitement"
The squire asked if he should send
to Wainford for a skilled nurse; but
the doctor shook his head
mo-" he said, decisively. "You
could not get better than this girl
Bessie, and-nurses talk" he added
under his breath.
The morning came and the long
day passed. The hushed household
moved about on tiptoe and spoke in
whispers. Almost every hour, as he
had promised, the squire sent word to
BARLEY Bradstone; Olivia was lying
in the sleep of unconsciousness.
About six o'clock in the evening
BARLEY Bradstone entered the library.
where the squire sat, his head resting
in his hands.
"I-I couldn't stop away any longer"
he said, sinking into chair. How
is she now?"
Gust the same" replied the squire,
looking at his white face, pityingly
"She lies now like one dead, indeed"
BARLEY Bradstone groaned and
wiped his forehead
1--WE spent wretched night" he
said ''wretehed. I suppose you've
hoard tho naws3 ." ho aSIxad cuddenIv