Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-08-30
CHAPTER XX.

The Signorina sat there, looking very
thoughtful and troubled, but it seemed to
me as if she were rather undergoing a
conflict of feeling than thinking out a
course of action. Once she glanced at
me. then turned away with a restless
movement and a sigh.
| strolled up to the window to look out
1 had stood there a little while, when l
heard her call softly:
Jack !'
l turned and came to her, kneeling
down by her side and taking her hands
She gazed rather intently into my face
with unusual gravity. Then she said:
IF you have to choose, between me and
the money, which will it be?"
l kissed her hand for answer.
IF the money is lost, won't it all come
out? And then won't they call you dis
honest?"
Il suppose so, said |.
You don't mind thatF'
Yes, l do. Nobody likes to be called
a especially when there's a kind of
truth about it. But 1 should mind losing
| you more"
Are you really very fond of me, Jack?
| No, you needn't say so. / think you are.
come here l should have married General
| Whittingham long ago. 1 stayed here in
tending to do it, and he asked me very
soon after you first arrived. l gave him
my money, you know then"
! l was listening intently. 1t seemed as
if some things were going to be cleared
| up.
Well" she continued, you know what
! happened. You fell in love with me, |
! tried to make you, and then l suppose |
! fell little in love with you. At any rate,
| | told the President wouldn't marry him
! just then. Some time after, 1 wanted
| some money, and 1 asked him to give me
| back mine. He utterly refused; you know
! his quiet way. He said he would keep
it for Mrs. Nottingham Oh, could
| have killed him! But l didn't dare to
! break with him openly; besides, he's very
| hard to fight against. We had constant
| disputes; he would never give back the
money, and l declared 1 wouldn't marry
| him unless had it first, a. i not then I'M
less | chose. He was very angry and
| vowed | should marry him without
| penny of it; and so it went on. But he
never suspected you, Jack, not till quite
| IT, end. Then we found out about the
debt, you know; and about the same time
! / saw he at last suspected something be-
| tween you and me. And the very day
! before W ecamet OF he bank he drove me
| TO desperation. He stood beside me in
| this room, and said: Christina, I am
growing old. l shall wait no longer. 1
| believe you're in love with that young
| Martin Then he apologized for his plain
| speaking, for he's always gentle in man
ner. And defed him. And then, Jack,
what do you think he did?'
What" / cried.
"He laughed :" said the Signorina. with
tragic intensity. Il couldn't stand that
so l joined the Colonel in upsetting him.
| All, he shouldn't have laughed at me-
AND indeed she looked at this moment a
dangerous subject for such treatment
Il knew what no one else knew, and
could influence him as no one else could,
and 1 had my revenge. But now," she
said, sit all ends in nothing"
And she broke down, sobbing. Then,
recovering herself, and motioning me to
be still, she went on:
You must be quiet and cautious But
l must go to-night-to-night, Jack, either
with you or to the President"
said I.
"Where?"
"Oh, out OF this somewhere
l was full OF rage against McGregor,
but l couldn't afford the luxury of in
dulging it, so l gave my whole mind TO
finding way out for US. At last l seem
ed to hit upon plan. The Signcrina saw
the inspiration in my eye.
Have you got it, Jack?" she said
Il think so-if you will trust yourself
to me. AID don't mind an uncomfortable
night"
go on
You know my little steam launch? 1t
will be dark tonight. If we can get on
board with a couple of hours start we
can show anybody a clean pair of heels.
She travels good pace, and it's only fifty
miles to safety and foreign soil. 1 shall
land there a beggari'
81 don't mind that, Jack" she said.