Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-07-29

! and i cOulQ Invent SOIuS 1dudCSd AOI
minds diseased, what fortunes we
should have, eh"'
| And, nodding and smiling, the great
Sir John departed.
The days passed, and in due course
the fever subsidized, and then DR.. Grant
| found that Sir John had prophesied
| truly. Pale an wan, Lucille rose from
| her bed, and sat like ghost in the
sunshine by the window, and taking
as little interest in life as ghost it.
self might do. All through her illness
Marie and Mrs. Dalton had nursed
| her with a devotion not to be sur
| passed. Marie Werner had scarcely
! left her, but sat beside the bed
| watching and listening to any word
| that might come from the parched
| lips, day and night; but no word
| came. It seemed as if Lucille had
| set a lock and key upon her heart,
had crushed down everything connect
| ed with Harry Herne and the rob-
berry. His name never passed her
| lips. even when the fever was at its
height; but Marie Werner, sitting
| watching her, knew the overturned
mind was but numbed for time,
and that the past would all come
back to her.
| Day by day Lucille sat by the win
| dow, her thin hands folded in the lap
of her dressing gown, her eyes fixed
upon the park, listless, almost mo-
| tionless. They brought her flowers
and books, they tried to talk to her
and rouse her, as Sir John had said,
but nothing seemed to interest her.
| To sit silent and thoughtful, watch
ing the sun steal over the hills and
sink into the sea, appeared to be all
she desired. The doctor limited at
change of air, and Marie made the
suggestion in = usaA. cry &ssaasa,
but Luc1ne snooK ncr mead rstiessfs.
81 do not care to go away" she
said uielyq. why should l? l am
quite well-only tired, tiredt''
One day, among the books which
lay upon a table beside her, Lucille
saw copy Of the Times, which Mrs.
Dalton had been reading. She took 1t
up mechanically and let her eyes rest
upon it, Suddenly her face blanched
and she let the paper fall. Her glance
rested upon the trial of a man for
burglary, and upon the sentence
Seven years' penal servitudeI@
It was a man IKE rn1s-a wne, Tow
criminal, whom she had permitted
herself to love. Shame enveloped her
had been to believe, to trust him? She
had hung upon every word he had ut
! tered. She had thought him the
noblest of mankind, and all the time
| he had been laughing at her love, had
been plotting crime with her own
maidservant for an accomplish.
She sat covering for half an hour,
shrinking from her shame and self
abasemen, then suddenly she put her
hand to her chair and rose, pale and
trembling still, but resolute and de-
termined.
With uncertain steps she went to
the bell and rang it. Marie Werner
and Mrs. Dalton hurried in at on e.,
but both stood transfxed by the
change in her face. They had left
her an hour ago listless, inert, life
less statue, they came back to find
statue endowed with life.
81 think l will go out" she said
quietly. will you send my maid?"
The two women exchanged glances
Yes, but we will dress you,'' re-
spOnded Mrs. Dalton as carelessly as
she could. You feel better, though
dear? Do you think you are strong
enough?" for the change was so sud-
den that the good lady trembled.
Il am quite we'll" said Lucille
smiling a cold, mirthless smile. 'T
have been moping too long You were
quite right, l was not going the way
to get we'll
Yes. dear, yes" assented Mrs. Dali
! ton, nervously.
Il viii order the carriage" said
Marie, watching her. You had better
have a closed one"
NO" said Lucille, firmly. THE
Victoria, please. shall get more air"
Marie left the room, her thin lips
set tightly. The marquis must know
of the change at once. AS she went
down the hall, Lady Farnley's car
riage drove up and her ladyship got
out.
Where rs she?" she demanded
the instant she cauoht SIGHT of Ma
RE. I've only just got home and
heard of her illness. Let me see her.
Why did, some of you write
Miss Darracourt has been very Ill
Lady Farm, ey; any excitement" be-
gan Marie Werner, in a smooth.
sweet voice.
''Potn! do you think l haven't seen
p sick person before. young lady? Tell
your mistress am here" she added,
sternly, to a footman, and she fol-
lowed him upstairs.
Lucille was seated before the glass.
with Mrs Dalton and the new maid
about her. and she WINGED as she
heard Lady Farnley's voice outside.
The moment had come to test her
uewly-found courage.
Come in; of course l may come
in" exclaimed her ladyship, as she
/ entered; then she stopped short, and
her voice fell. ''Oh, my child, why
didn't you let me know? What has
been the natter" and she took her
in her arms.
E oil = =