Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-12-13

AnuEGW IGlL the SOFGluOIs ana went
to the hotel for his lunch. Seyera.
times during the consumption Of a
modest chop he paused with a morsel
on his fork, and stared thoughtfully
before him, as if he were struggling
with some knotty problem; and after
his lunch was finished and paid for,
he lit a cigar and sauntered to Hawk
wood. Woods. He stood in the glade
where the murder had been commit
ted, and Faradeane arrested, for sey-
eral minutes, carefully noting the
fallen tree, and indeed every inch II
ground; then he walked back to the
Grange, and back from the Grange 10
The Naples. Having surveyed that
huge pile of red brick for some min.
utes he made his way to the railway
station ard disappeared.
CHAPTER XVIII
For more than a fortnight Olivia
wandered in the valley OF the shadow
of death; then the crisis came and
passed, and life still counted her
amongst its subjects. But her re-
covery was so slow that another fort
night elapsed before, thin and pale,
bruised and broken lily, she was car.
ried from her bedroom to her bou.
doir
During all the time of almost unen-
durable anxiety and suspense Bessie
had scarcely left her. No nurse
could have shown more devotion, ne
sister more tender and self-sacrfic-
ing love
Almost as thin and pale as Olivia,
she watched beside her night and day
fully repaid IL Olvas hand closed
upon hers with a feeble pressure, or
If she murmured gratefully her name
Quite a thrill of relief ran through
the county at the news of her con
yalescence, and attention, which had
been mainly devoted to her, concen-
trated itself upon the man who lay in
prison awaiting his trial, and upon
Mr., BARLEY Bradstone.
He had never been popular; but
those who liked him least-and no
one liked him oyermuch-felt con
strained to pity him. He seldom left
The Naples, excepting to walk up to
the Grange to inquire after his bride,
and those few persons who CHANGED
to meet him were struck by the
change In his appearance. He haG
been rather ruddy and robust, but he
was now thin and emaciated, and
looked ten years older than he had
done on the day of his wedding.
There was not only look Of age, but
an expression of anxious unrest, which
struck everyone who saw him; and,
strange to say, the wan and haggard
expression on his face did not leave it
when Olivia was pronounced out Of
danger.
THAT poor devil Bradstone has
been completely bowled over" one
man said Looks as if he had all
the care of the world on his shoul-
ders," and that very exactly described
BARLEY Bradstone's appearance.
He haunted the Grange daily; but
he had not seen Olivia since the we'd
ding-day.
Keep him away from her If you
wish her recovery to continue" the
doctor had said, and the poor squire
repeated his words.
"Oh, | won't worry her" said Bart,
ley Bradstone. in the dull, apathetic
manner which had settled upon him
Sick people take all sorts of fancies,
she'll see me when she's better, and
and Wen get away"
Yes, yes" said the squire with a
heavy sigh, 'wnen all this trouble Is
over 1t is this terrible murder which
hangs like a dark cloud over us all"
'Does-does she speak of 1t at all?"
asked BARLEY Bradstone, looking
down at the carpet, as If he were sud
denly interested in the pattern.
The squire shook his head.
Not to me; not to Bessie, think.
She has seen no one else excepting
the doctor"
That's right" said BARLEY Brad.
stcnc. Don't let anybody talk to her
about 1t; she'll forget 1t before long
1t almost seemed as If Olivia had al.
ready forgotten it, for day after day
passed and she made no mention OF
the terrible incident which had
stricken her down, She lay on the
sofa, her thin and now fragile form
carefully enwrapped, her hands folded
lightly in her lap; her lovely eyes
strained with hidden pain, fixed on
, the elms which showed through the
window. Bessie, who even now
, scarcely ever left her would sit silent
for hours, sometimes with a book
sometimes at needework II was
only when the squire entered that
! Olivia's pale face warmed with 9
smile But one morning, after a Ions
silence, she said. so quietly but sud
denly that Bessie started and let the
work fall from her hands.