HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1888-12-28, Page 6Fi31 )AY, DEO 28. 1888,
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.SUNSHINE and. SHADE,
'OJ A.PTER XXX.VIL--Pzrovixa nt
Gasp.—comnfImp
At length she spoke, When I'
:sane, she said in a fainter voice now
.yats roust put IT a stone by ' Elsie'
:grave. I'm glad Elsie at least wa
.true to me 1
.Hugh's heart gave a bound, Then
she wavered at last 1 She acoepted his
account 1 She knew that Elsie wan
',lead and buried 1 He had carried his
point. She' believed him l—she be-
:•lieved him 1
Winifred rose and staggered feebly
'to her feet. I .shall go to bed now,
Ishe said in husky accents. You may
-send for a doctor. 1 shan't last long.
But on the whole, 1 feel better so. I
wanted lileie to be alive indeed
because I hunger and thirst for sym-
pathy, and Elsie would give it nee.
But Pin glad at least Elsie didn't
deceive mo She paused for a mom.
•ent and wipedher eyes; then she
steadied herself by the bar of the
window—the air blew in so warm and
fresh. She looked out at the palms
And the blue, blue sea. It seethed to
calm her, the beautiful south. She
gazed long and wearily at the glassy
water, Bat her dream didn't last
undisturbed for many minutes. Of a
.sudden, a shade carie over leer face.'
'Something below seemed to sting and
ape!! her. She started back,tottering
from the open window. Hugh, Hugh!
•she cried, ghastly pale and quivering,
,you said she was dead 1—you said she
was dead ! You lie to me still. 0
dieaven, how terrible 1
So she is, Hugh groaned out, half
'catching her in his arms for fear she
,should fall. Dead and beried, on my
honour, at Oriordness, Winifred.
Hugh, Hugh 1 can you never tell me
the truth ? And she stretched out one
thin, white bony forefinger towards
the etre t beyond. One second she
;gasped a terrible gasp then she flung
out the words with a hast wild effort :
That's sfie 1—thlat's Elsie ! •
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CHAPTER XXXVILI.-- Gaon, ox
WOMAN? '
"Winifred spoke with sugh concen-
trated force of inner conviction that,
absurd :end incredible as he knew it
to be—for had he not seen Elsie's own
grave that day at Orfordness 1—Hugh.
rushed over to the window in a fever
rot sudden suspense and anxiety, and
:gazed across the street to the exact
spot where Winifred's ghostlike finger
poiuted eagerly to some person or
thing on the paveinent opposite. He
was almost too late, however, to prove
her wrong. As he neared the window
he caught but a glimpse of a graceful
figure in light half -mourning -like
Elsie's, to be sure, in general outline,
thouglh distinctly a tribe older and
uller--disappearing in haste round
the corner by the pharmacy.
The figure gave him none the less a
hook of surprise. It was certainly
.a very strange and awkward coinci•
:deuce. He glanced at Winifred. She
:stood triumphant there --triumphant
• but heart-btroken—exulting over his
defeat with one dying told you so,'
stud chuckling out inarticulately ire
;tier thin small voice, with womanish
,persistence : ' That's she f — that's
Elsie 1'
It's very like her 1 lie moaned in,
bis agony.
Very like her t Winifred cried with
a fresh burst of unnatural strength.*
Very like her I--0 Hugh, I despise
;you ! I tell you I saw. tier face to
.face l It's Elsie—it's Elsie
His brain reeled and whirled with
the unexpected shock ; the universe'
turned roiled on him as on a pivot.
Winifred, he cried, you're right !you re
right!' there cant be anybody Mae on
earth so like her 1 1 don't know how
-slew's cotl]e 'bank to life 1 She's dead
'and bided at Orfordness 1 It's a
iniracle 1 a mimeo 1 But that's she
that we eaw 1 I can't deny it. That's
mho I—that's Elsie 1
His hat lay dowt on the table by
iiia sides He snatolied it up in has
*sager Mete to follow and track down
tuis nesetarious resemblance. Ile
couldn't let Elsie! double, her bodily,
simulacrum, walk down the Street
unnoticed and unquestioned. A pro.
found horror posreeered his Souk A
doubter by stature,he seemed to feet
the solid earth failing beneath hits
fe'4 Ise bad never before in all i,is wa
life drawn to porilnuely slots to the 1 he
tier: meat and toareia of the unseen' ey
universe. It was E'sie herself—the
„rave had yielded up its shadowy
occupant.
tie rushed to the door, on ere with
his sense of mystery and astonishment.
A loud laugh by his side held Max
back as lie went. He turned round.
It wee Winifred, laughing; choking,
exultant, hysterical. She had flung
herself down on the sera now, and
was catching her breath in spasmodic
bursts with unnatural merriment.
That was the awful kind of laughter
that bodes no good to those who laugh
it -hollow, Horrible, mocking,delusive.
Hugh saw at a glance that she was
dangerously ill. Her mirth was the
mirth of mania, and worse, With a
burning soul and a chafing heart, he.
turned back, as in duty bound, to her.
He must leave Elsie's wraith to
walk by itself, unexplained and un-
investigated, its ghostly way down the
streets of San Remo.
He had more then enough to do at
home. Winifred was dying 1—dying
of laughter.
And yet her laugh seemed almost
hilarious. in spite of all, it bad a
ghastly ring of victory and boistorous
soy in it. 0 Hugh, she cried, with
little ohoking chuckles, in the brief
intervals of her spasmodic peals, you're
too absurd 1 You'll kill Me—I can't
help laughing; it's so ridiculous.--•
You tell ire one minute, with solemn
oaths and: ingenious lies, you've seen
her grave. -you !snow site's dead and
buried ; you pull long faces till you
almost force me to believe you—you
positively cry and moan and groan
over her—and then the. next second,
when she passes the window before any
very eyes, alive and well, and in her
right mind, you seize your hat, you
want to rush out and find her and
embrace her—here, this moment, right
under my face --and leave lee alone
to die by myself, without one soul on
earth to wait upon ire or help me 1 Oh
you make me laugh 1 Yon have broken
my heart ; but you'll be the death of
me.—Puok and Don Juan rolled into
one 1--Elsie's dead 1—Why, there's
dear Elsie 1—It's too incongruous ;
it's too ridiculous. And she exploded
once more in a hideous semblance of
laughter. '
Hugh gazed at her blankly, sobered
with alarm. Was she going mad ? or
was he mad himself 1 --that he should
see visions, and meet dead Elsie?
Could it really be Elsie 1 He bad hear
strange stories of appearances and
second -sight, such as mystics among
us love to dwell upon; and in all of
them the appearances were. closely
connected with dead bed'scenes.
Could any truth lurk, after all in those
discredited tales of wraiths and vis-
ions? Could Elsie's ghost have conte
from the grave to prepare him betimes
for Winifred's funeral 1 Or did
Winifred's dying mind, by some
strange alchemy, project, as it were,
an image of Elsie, who filled her
soul, on to his own eye and brain, as
he sat there beside her 1
He brushed away" these metaphysi-
al cobeebs with a dash of his hand.
Fool that he was to be led away thus
y a. mere accidental coincidence or
resemblance 1 He was tired with
leeplessness ; emotion had unmanned
im.
Winifred's. !augh dissolved itself in.
to .tears, She broke down,, hysterical
y, utterly. She sobbed and moaned
n agony on the sofa. Deep sighs and
oust laughter alternated horribly in
er storms of emotion. The worst
ad come. She was dangerously ill.
ugh feared in his heart she was on
he point of dying.
Go 1 she burst, in one spasmodie
effort, thrusting him away from her
de with the palm of her open hand.
don't want you here; Go—go—.to
leis 1 I can die now. The found you
11 out. You're both of you alike;
oteve both of you deceived me.
thigh rang the bell wildly for the
wise waiter. Send the chamber -
aid he tried! he cried in his broken
talian. The patroness 1 A lady 1 The
,nova is ill. No time to be lost.
rant run at once and fttid the En.
lisp doctor.
When Winifred looked around her
ails, she foawl two or three strange
aces orowded heside the bed on which
ey had laid her, and a fresh young
alien girl, the landlady's daughter,.
oldies her head and bathing her
rows with that universal specifie,
range.Sower water. The faint per.
ire revived her a little.`' The lands`
ally's daughter was a comely girl;
tit sympathetic eyes, and she ensiled
e winsome Italian senile as the poor
le ebitd opened her tips and looked leaves San Iteino, this very day, and
aguetlly up at her. Don't cry, alga- let. you hear from her own lips,beyond
a, she said soothingly. !Chen her dispute, her true story.
nue fell womanlike, the I
woma i , upon t e plain Winifred. clenched her thin hands
Id ring on Winifred'e thin and bard and tight. Ile shall never enter
steel fourth finger, and she correeted this room *gain, she, whispered hoarse.
well' half nnconeoicnely: Don't cry ly, till he eaters it to toe aro laid out
•gttora, Your huebaud will soon bo} for barite.
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CIIAElt,XXXIx,.-.-Arrzs1t lasso Jtarrn than good in s
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I dont want him, Winifred cried,
with intense yearning, hi her board.
ing sihool Preach, for she knew barely
enough Italian to a iiderstund her new
little .friend, I don't want my lius.
band • I want Elsie, Keep hint away
from me --keep hint away, I prey,
—
Hold my hand yourself, and send
away my husband! de ne I'aime pas,
cat homrnela 1 And she burst ono
snore into a discordant peal of hyeter.
foal laughter,
The poor signora 1 the girl mur-
mured, with wide open eyes, to the
others around, Her husband is cruel.
Ah, wicked wretch 1 Hear what site
says ! She says she dor,sn't. waist any
more to wee him. She wants her
sister!
As she spoke, a white face appeared
suddenly at the door— a bearded
man's fade, silent and sympathetic.
Warren Relf had Beard the commotion
down stairs, from bis room above, and
had seen Messinger rush in hot haste
foe the doctor; He had come down
now with eager enquiry for poor
wasted Winifred, . whose face and
figure had impressed hire much as he
saw her borne out by the porters at
the railway station.
Is the signora very i11 ? he asked in
a low voice of the nearest woman.
She speaks no Italian, I fear, Can I
be of any use to her ?
Ecco 1 'tis Signor Relf, the English
artist 1 the woman cried in. surprise;
for all San Remo knew' Warren well
as an 14 inhabitant..- Come in,
signor, she continued,' with Italian
frankness—for bedrooms in Italy are
less sacred than they are in England.
You know the signora 1 She is ill—
very id : she is, faint—she is dying.
At the name, Winifred turned her
eyes languidly to the door, and raised
herself, still dress in her travelling
dress, on her elbows on the bed.
She yearned for sympathy. If only
she could: fling .herself on Elsie's
shoulder 1 Elsie, who had wronged
her, would at least pity her. Mr.
Reif, she cried, too weak to be sur-
prised, but glad to welcome a fellows
countryman and acquaintance among
so many strangers—Pm going to die.
Rut I want to speak to'you, You
know the truth. Tell me about Elsie.
Why did Elsie Challoner deceive me 1
Deceive you 1 Warren answered,
drawing nearer in his horror. She
didn't deceive you. She couldn't
deceive you. She bnly wished to
spare your heart from suffering all her
own heart had suffered. Elsie could
never deceive atiy one 1
But why did she write to say she
was in Australia, when she was really
living here in San Remo'!• Winifred
asked pitiously. And why did she
keep up a correspondence with my
Husband ?
Write! she was in Australia 1 She
never wrnte, Warren cried in haste,
seizing the poor dying girl's thin hand
in his. Mrs.Massinger,this is no time
to conceal anything. I dare not
speak to you against your husband,
but stiII
I hate him 1 Winifred gasped out,
with concentrated loathing. He has
done nothing since I knew him but lie
tome and deceive nee. Don't mind,
speaking til of hien ; 1 don't object to
that. What kills me is that Elsie
helped hitt 1 Elsie has helped him !
Elsie has not, Warren answered,
lifting up her white little hand to his
lips and kissing it respectfully. Elsie
and I are very close friends. Elsie
has always loved you 'dearly. If she's
hidden anything from 'you, she's hid
it for your own sake atone.—It was
Hugh Massitlger that forged those
letters.—I can't let you die thinking
ill of Elsie. Elsie has never, never
written to him.—I know it alI.-1'1I
tell you the truth. Your husband
thought she was drowned at White.
strand 1
Then kluge doesn't know she's
living here 1 Winifred Dried eagerly,
Warren !Leif hardly knew how to
answer her in this unexpected crises.
It was a terrible moment, tie
couldn't expose Elsie to the elianee of
meeting Hugh face to face. The
shock and strain, he ltnew, would he
hard for her to bear. But, on the
other hand, he couldn't let that poor
broken -.hearted little woman die with
this fearful load of misery unlightened
on her bosom, The truth was best.
The truth is always safest. laugh
doesn't know the's living here, he
answered slowly, But if I could only
be sure that !Hugh and she would not
meet, I'd btisig her round. before $Ire
Geier AND PMN,
The,tizne to stend upon trifles was
past, Let him run the riek of Meet-
ing Massinger by the way or not, needn't conte back for the, resent,
er Vous criselt,
Nobody should be n, l"Eo iuereaee her
exoiterilent,—!;lave the kiudnees to
shut the door, if you please, Yost
Warren Itelf must needs go round thank. you..
(ro DS CONTINUA)). )
and fetch Elsie to comfort and oonsole
poor dying Winifred. 1{e Hastened
away at the top of bis speed to the
Villa Busse. At the door, both girls
together met !Ilan. Elsie had just
returned, basket in hand, from the
Avenue Vittorio•Einmanuele, and had
learnt from. Edio .se mush of the
contents of Warren's hasty letter as
bad been intended from the first for
her edification,
Warren drew her aside gently into
G1enanxrau.
Mr. Robert Muir returned from
Louisiana on Saturday, the letb. He
is very muoli pleased with the appear.
ince of the country.• -,-No service we -
held in .Eaddle'a Ohurelt on Sunday
week, as Rev. ,lir. Hartley preached its
Kincardine towit ehip....A prayer meet -
hag was held at Mr. Huttou's, on
the tiny salon, and motioned to tides: C1,ristmasnight.—These1ioal house of
not to follow them. Elsie's !tenet, S• 8, No. d, T`ernberry, was probably
beat high with, wonder, She was never so crewdcd as on Friday, they
aware liow touch it made her pulse
quicken to see Warren again—with
something more than the mere frater.
nal greeting she pretended. Her
little self deception broke flown at
last; she knew she loved hint—in an
unpractical way;; and she was almost
sorry she could never, never make him
ha� pt Warren's grave face bade her
heart stand still for a heat or two
next moments He had clearly some-
thing most serious to communicate-...
aDmething that lie knew would pro-
foundly distress her. A womanly
alarm cause over her with a vogue
surmise. Gould Warren be going to
tell her —011 no 1 Impossible.
Site knew dear Warren too weil for
that; he itt least could never be cruel.
If Warren was going to tell her
faith in her kind would die out for
ever.
Well Warren ? she asked with
tremulous eagerness, drawing closer
up to him in her sweet womanly con -
14th of - Eeveinber, on the occesJon of
Mr. G. iiusgrove's closing examilatioaa,
About one hundred visitors inusl, have°
put in an appearance before the day
was over. The Various classes were
put through drill by .the teacher,
assiett'd by Misses Camphe.l, Porter
and Weir and hiesere, A. Musgrove,.
Barton,. Hall and .8laekwell. The
ordeal gone over gave every iudicatioii
of- thorough and paiustpkiug work ora•
the part 'of both teacher and. pupils.
At the dinner hour the visitors and
pupils were treated to a most bountiful -
repast provided by the ladies of the
section, Work was resumed at one
.o'clock and was continued until about
three o'clock, when an excellent pro
gramme of recitations, dialogues, and
music waw carried out. 'Mr. el•usgrove
was presented by his pupils with a
flattering address and a handsome
shaving case. After speeches by Iitessrs.
Lewis, A.Musgrove,l3:aokwell,.13artazz,
and others, the day's proceedings were
brought to a close by singing the
fidence, and gazing into his eyes, half Watio,ial Autbene. Mr. G. Musgrove
affectionately. How could she ever Iias taught in this neighborhood nearly
have doubted hint ,were it only for. frfive years and by his high abilities,
second ? energy and earnestness has won a high
Elsie, Warren cried, laying his hams
with unspoken tenderness on her
shapely shoulder, I want you to come
round at once to the pension on the
piazza. -It's better to tell it all out
at once. Winifred Massinger's come
to San Remo, very ill—dying, 1 fear.
She knows you're here, and she's asked
to see you.
Elsie's face grew red and then white
for a 'moment, and she trembled vis-
ibly. Is he there 1 sfie asked, after a
short pause, Then, with a sudden
burst of uncontrollable tears, she
buried her face !tiller hands on the
table.
Warren soothed her with his hand
tenderly, and leaning over her, told, in
baste and in a very low voice, the
whole; sad story. I don't think he'll
be there, he added at the end. Mrs.
Messinger said she wouldn't allow hire
to enter the room. But in any case
—for that poor girl's sake -you won't
refuse' to go to her now, will you,
Elsie 'I
No, Elsie answered, rising - calmly
with womanly dignity, to face it ail
out. I must go. It would be cruel
and wicked of course to shirk it. For
Winifred's Sake, I'll go in any caee.
But Warren befote I dare to go--..
She broke off suddenly, and with a
woman's impulse held up her pale face
to him in mute submission.
A thrill coursed through Warren
Relf's nerses ; he stooped down and
pressed his lips fervently to hers:
Before you go, you are mine then,
Elsie ! he cried eagerly.
Elsie pressed his hand faintly in re-
ply. I ain yours, Warren, she Woven,
ed at last very low, after a short
pause. But I ain't fbe yours as you
wish it for a long time yet. No
matter why. Y. shall be yours, in
heart.—I couldn't have gone on any
other terms. And with that, 1 think,
I can go and face it.
At the pension, Hugh had already
brought the English doctor, who went
in alone to look after Winifred,
Hugh had tried to accompany hien
into the bedroom; but Winifred, true
to her terrible threat, lifted ono
stern forefinger before his swiinming
eyes and cried' out, Never 1 in a voice
so doggedly determined that Hugh
stank away abashed into the anteroom.
The English doctor stopped for.
several minutes in consultation, and
Winifred epoke to him simply and.
unreservedly, about her husband.
Send that roan away 1 she crie&
pointing to Hugh, as he stood stii'lr
peering across from the gloom of the
doorway. I won't have him in here
to see me the 1 won't hove hitir its
here 1 It makes me Wattle to see hint
about the place. I hate bins 1.1 hate
hint 1
You'd better go, the doctor whisper-
ed softly, looking him hard in the face
With his inquiring eyos. She's its hi
very excited, hysterical condition.
She's best alone, with only the woman.
,4.husband's ,?sesame erten does mere
place in the teaching profession arid;
his many friends wish him every sue•
cess in the nese field of work which he
has entered, -
Bluevale•
The lecture announced to be deliver.
ed on 'Thursday evening, leth instant,
was not a success from a financial
standpoint, but considering the night,
it was very good. Itev.A.Y,.1_-lartley'a.
subject was the "Sciiuy South," The
lecture began about St. Looks,, wbitli
was described as a beautiful city. The
country was treated in , a systematic
way from there South. The mown-
tains' scenery, the meandering rivers,,
the plains of sand, the cotton fields,. i'i '
were all minutely described till you
aituost fancied you stood on the top
of one of those rugged crags and the
land lay pictured before you. Scenes.
and sights in the late war were noted.
Climate, products, soil, .the people
from all standpoints, of all classes,
grades and societies were referred to.
The lecture was full of vivacity and
life, and fun enough to please even the
funniest. Some times the rexerend
gentleman soared away ernang the
clouds of oratorical grandeur. Then
again a picture was painted in such
glowing colors that you almsst forgot
you were in 'Bluevale.. sir. Dungan
King filled the ebair and succeeded in
this position very well. -.--The dinner
and 'ware in the Foresters' Hall and
Methodist Qhureh,onTuesday evening,
was very well attended, and the lecture
was a grand aurones, a treat to every*
one who. beard it. The . ladies always
set good tables in Bluevale. That is
one of the oharaater sties of the faire
Tuesday evening was not an exception
to the rule, for could it have been
better than before, it certainly would
have been, Fowls of all sorts were:
provided, besides all the delitaeies' ora
the season. Everyone who missed the
hall,, missed what will make' them
sorry, if ever they are told of alt the .
good things they trussed. But sifter
the wants of appetite had been tsp.
peataed and the inner .tun's cravings
satisfied, all repaired. t� the church,
where the Rev, lir. gampbell, of St.
Marys, delivered Jaxaeelebrated lecture
entitled "God Save the Queen." Mr.
0. olid full justice to the oceasion and
to his subject and vindicated the
abatement merle by .Mr, McGibbon of
the quality of the lecture. The lecture
was full of patriotism, rich with grand
thoughts,graced with noble sentiments*
ko. A vote of thanks was :noved by
Rev. A.Y.Hartley, 13luevale., tseeoaded
by Rev. A. E. Smith, Wroxeter, and
fully oedema and unanimously carried
by the audience.
"et Etelklits, k ernsmus and alt tlaaftif „
Disorders at children.
ueott`e EmA,ton bf Pato Cod Lim On, **At«.
pa htspph1ted,h► tanegaelltd. The rspidlty vutFi,
width ahltdron g►dn Audi and ,,trenotth upon., 11 1.,
tery wonderful. "'hove amid ikons -wawa In
won of rkakois ane nawnotnne of long #tsndd Irl
's't'ory Duothe Ln rnvotnent thio tusked. r sf.
Niton, rt, ly,y rr ask., 7Bnid bg su drag$t ' se
rata 41.011