Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1915-04-07
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

CHAPTER VII-Continued.
Already had she stepped several
f-s; 10 her daughters room and
linked in, only to meet Reuther's I'M
nis, eve turned toward hers in silent
hmiry Was her own Ineasiness in
srtio1s2 Was the child determined
n share her vigil? She would wait
little longer this time and see.
Their rooms we're over the parlor,
md thus as far removed as possible
rom the Judges den. In her own,
which was front, she felt at perfect
case, and it was without any fear of
Hurbing either him or Reuther that
de finally raised her window and al
lived the cool wind to soothe her
hated cheeks. The moon emerged
] from scurrying clouds as she quietly
watched the scene.
Perched, as she was, in a window
rsrlooking the lane, she had but to
4 1T her. eyes from the double fence
/ that symbol of sad seclusion) to light
q the trees rising above that unspeak-
ole rarine, black with memories she
bit strangely like forgetting tonight.
Bgord how it stood out on
de bluff. It had never seemed to stand
oct more threateningly! the
Hucated mass of dismal ruin from
Thch men had turned their eyes
tae many years now! But the moon
bred it; caressed it; dallied with it,
Fitting up its topping chimney and
gpt! staring gable.
Slelcers Folly. Well, it had been
i h2t and Spencer's den of dissipation,
TO. There we're great tales-but 1t
US not Of these she was thinking, but
dIe night of storm-(of the greatest
Storm Of which any record remained
Shelby when the wind tore down
nlches and toppled down chimneys;
Vhel cattle we're smitten in the field
nd men on the highway; and the
I'M towering overhead, Jared into
lne and the house which was its
CORY was smitten apart by the de-
sending bolt as by Titan sword, and
'azed like a beacon to the sky.
This was long before she herself
lad come to Shelby; but she had been
0d the story so often that it was
quite vivid to her. The family had
Aen gone for months, and so no pity
Mingled with the excitement. Not till
os following day did the awful nature
he event break in its full horror
'goa Inc town. Among the ruins, in
sGoSet which the flames had spared,
aeg found hunched up in one corner
ae body Of man, in whose scared
~oaJ a wound appeared which had
]" oeen made by lightning or fire
SPENCER! Spencer himself, returned,
Esy Knew not how, to die of this self
rlicted wound, in the dark corner of
'S grand but neglected dwelling.
0ot as she continued to survey it the
s'eOs came trooping up once more,
"a The vision was wiped out, and
VIZ Il all memories save those of a
ssdty
'Indrawing from the window, she
a'E again to Reuther's room and
.y''su carefully in. Innocence was
\, %syp at last. Lighting a candle and
~'Il-ng It with her hand, she gazed
- and earnestly at Reuther's sweet
Yes, she was right. Sorrow
: slowly sapping the fountain of
U4rIings youth. If Reuther was
r., saved hope must come soon.
~ s%I a sob and a prayer the mother
\. ue room, and locking herself into
U"n' sat down at last to face the
A. pe5fplexity, the monstrous enigma
-'a had come into her life.
had followed in natural sequence
A.. - a proposal made by the judge
h, sumo attention should be given
> e-sNeg!ected rooms. He had said
n ,SlAg from the breakfast table
ut: Cd more OF less lmpoi
y, an really sorry to trouble you,
Ii, SV0Ville; but if you have time
s1s, ~HVEllng, will you clean up my
~, Ueiore I leave? The carriage
n ssIed for balf-past nine"
tss TASK was one she had long de-
81 -, =" perform. Giving Reuther the
eos.. :. Tue work to do, she presently
Inn. before him with pail and
1, sla pile of fresh linen. Moth
ss s,s commonplace could be imag-
~ 70 her, If not to him, there