Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1914-02-26
CHAPTER XIV.
Anitra.

FEW minutes later they were
IA discussing this amazing pos
s&F6sS sibility.
G&ss22S2 II have no reason for this
conclusion,-this hope" admitted Mr..
Ransom. "It is instinct with me, an
intuition, and not the result OF my
Judgment. 1t came to me when she
first addressed me down by the mill
stream. If you consider me either
wrong or misled, confess that | shall
not be able to combat your decision
with any argument plausible enough
TO hold your attention for a moment.
but l don't consider you either
wrong or misled," protested the other.
THAT u.s." he warily added, Il am
ready to accept the correctness Of the
possibility you mention and after
wards to note where the supposition
will lead us. OF course, your first SEN
sation is that of relief"
"It will be when / am no longer the
prey OF doubts"
Notwithstanding the mystery"
Notwithstanding the mystery. The
one thing / have found it impossible
to contemplate is her death; the ex-
tinction of all hope which death alone
can bring. She has become so blend
ed with my every thought since the
hour she vanished from my eyes and
consequently from my protection, that
] should lose the better part of my
self in losing her. Anything but that,
Mr. Harper"
Even possible shame?"
How, shame?"
Some reason very strong and very
vital must underlie her conduct III
what we suspect is true, and she has
not only been willing to subject you
and herself to a seeming separation
by death, but to burden herself with
the additional misery of being obliged
to assume personality numbered by
such a drawback to happiness and
even common social intercourse as
this OF the supposed Anitra."
"You mean her deafness?"
ST mean that, yes. What could Mrs.
Ransom's motive be Qf the woman
sleeping yonder is Mrs. Ransom) for
so tremendous a sacrifice as this you
ascribe to her? The rescue Of her
sister from some impending calamity
That would argue a love Of long
standing and of superhuman force;
one far transcending even her natural
affection for the husband to whom she
has Just given her hand. Such love
under such circumstances is not pos
sible. She has known this long lost
sister for a few days only. Her sense
OF duty towards her, even her COM
passion for one so unfortunate, might
lead her to liSk much, but not so
much as that You mutt look for
some other explanation; one more
reasonable and much more personal
Where? where? I'm all at sea;
blinded, daZed, almost at my wits
end. can see no reason for anything
she has done. neither understand
her nor understand myself. I ought
to shrink from the poor creature
there, sleeping off don't know what
L Ls i
stead. irresistibly drawn, as If my
place were at her bedside to comfort
and protect"
At this impulsive assertion spring
ing from depth 0e feeling for which
the staid lawyei had no measure, a
perplexed frown chased all the urban
ity from his face. Some thought, not
altogether welcome, had come to dis.
lurb him. He eyed Mr.. Ransom close
" from under his clouded brows. He
could do this now with impunity, fol
Mr.. Ransom's chances were turned
whittier his thoughts and inclination!
had wandered.
II would advise you." came in SLOW
comment from the watchful lawyer
mot to be too certain OF your con
clusions till doubt becomes an apso