Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-10-21
Miss Merton he gasped, q must
have some brandy quick. It's for

MISS MGIlOu, uO SdSpCu, muos
have some brandy quick. It's for
Alice
Then as he became aware of her
mute establishment, he whispered
more coherently: It's Miss Matt
land. She fainted in the mirror room
and / can't make her open her eyes
Oh, won't you ocme quickly?"
Then Cousin Edith became heI
customary quick-witted self and fol
lowed him with her remedies SO silent
ly and expeditiously that none of the
company was aware of the catastro
phe. Yet even in her bewildermeni
she had noticed one thing. Frank FL
lis had called her cousin Alice. Also
as she watched him feverishly chafing
the girls inert fingers, she learned
something else. He loved her and
there was a romance here, the mys
terry of which was as yet known tc
only the parties concerned.
II wasn't aware that you were &C
quainted with Alice-Mr. Ellis" she
said, quietly.
The mans eyes never left the white
face as he answered wildly-"Yes,
knew her-I used to know her. It's
my fault that don't know her now
I never thought | would brighten her
so if looked over her shoulder into
the mirror. Oh, do you think she will
open her eyes?"
Even as he spoke there was a faint
dutter of the lids and Alice saw the
pale face and white funeral garments
bending over her. Her eyes closed
again. "The ghost, the ghost!" she
moaned in terror. Her lips were
growing blue again when Edith seized
the chill, trembling hands in hel
warm ones.
Alice, dear, you are dreaming" she
said in tender tones. There are nc
ghosts here-only cousin Edith
and one other. You know him Alice
1t is an old friend of yours. Open
your eyes and tell him you are glad
to see him.
The clear, incisive tones of Edith's
calm voice restored courage to heI
half-fainting cousin. Alice opened hel
eyes and gazed, still half fearfully
into the anxious face of her long-lost
lover.
Frank" she whispered, sis it really
you, are you really alive?"
Ellis caught her in his arms an6
raised her to her feet. She stood
swaying, her head bowed upon his
shoulder. Cousin Edith glided softly
from the apartment and closed the
door behind her. The color crept
back into the girls pale face as
Franks lips touched hers.
Poor little sweetheart" he muir
INJURED, so you really thought I was
dead? 1t was all my fault, dear, my
foolish pride that kept me from writ
ing to beg forgiveness. But only
just got back from the Orient an(
didn't know l was reported as being
among the missing in the wreck O.
the Evening Star. At least [ would
not have left you in such suspense
whatever our quarrel may have been
I began a search for you as soon a:
I returned, and, finding you were stay
ing with Miss Merton, decided to joir
the maskers, make myself known tt
you and bes for pardon tonight. Blu
1 never meant to brighten you SOL"
Alice smiled as she raised her head
and looked steadily at him, a colder
glow of happiness shining in her darl
eyes.
81 forgive you the fright, dear,
she said, land as for pardon for the
past-you have but to look before
you
She pointed with slender HAND
into the crystal depths of the mirror
which reflected the figures of the tive
lovers. AS the man gazed, the girl:
arms stole gently around his necl
and the picture in the glass stood com
plete.