Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-09

"But you do not deny it's it not the
truth ?" he persisted. tsa
"What light have you to question me
Besides, as loyal lover, you should not
doubt your mistress word, not even if she
should deny having led on and encour
aged, by every speciOus art which willy
woman can use, another-and one OF the
purest and best hearts that ever beat
until his whole soul was wrapped up in
her, and then coolly dropped him like u
plaything she had tired of amusing her
self with
She paused, painting and out of breath.
Her cheeks were a fierce vivid crimson,
her lips like line of fire, her eyes like
smoulderiDg volcanoes.
"Do you mean Victor Montford, Miss
Blake? And is it a motherly interest you
take in the boy that makes you speak SO
feelingly?" he asked, in a trembling tone.
She grew suddenly white as death, but
her great eyes only seemed to burn the
fercer.
"Did you save my life that you might
have the weak pleasure of insulting me?
And must I, because am weak, and poor,
and friendless, submit Captain Ralph
Anderson, as God hears me, l wish, at
this moment, that you had let me lie there
under the snow! 1t was cruel mercy
that saved life hate. There will you
please leave me now?"
"Pardon me-" he cried, II am sorry for
Twill you leave me, sir?" she cried,
with quick, passionate gesture-a ges
ture that sent sudden wild thrill OF sur
prise and suspicion through his heart.
"Say you forgive me" he cried, humbly,
g and will 60"
II forgive you," she said, sound like .
sob in her voice, but her face did not
soften.
He turned off and walked down another
road, his face downcast and intently
thoughtful. He did not reach home for
more than two hours; but if his life had
depended he could not have told where ne
had been all that time, nor, indeed, any OF
it after he left Stella Blake.
Father" he said, abruptly, coming
into the room where he sat, Il have taken
q fancy to take little trip East-perhaps
as far as New York. l have been think
ing that would like to visit our little
Violas grave, as can take it in my way
something about the place 80 that snail
have no trouble in finding it."
"But you are not going Immediately,
II am going to start in the first train to-
morrow morning"
els there any need of such precipita:e
haste ?"
Eyes, am going, and don't want to
wait-I am not going to wait !" he de-
clared, impetuously.
"YOu will run up to see Blanche, then,
this EVENING"" she asked, hesitatingly.
"She might think 1t strange if you went
away without mentioning it to her"
mo, ! am not going to see Blanche,
and she can think strange if she likes! l
am not under any obligations to tell any
woman but my mother when take q
fancy to 60 anywhere. Maybe shouldn't
tell her 1t she wasn't such q foolish little
woman as to care great deal about her
boy, and to worry when he is out of her
sight," he added, fondly, smiling down
into her face, his own softening.
Will you never get over your boyish
impulsiveness, Ralphi Why do you wish
to start off so suddenly ?" she asked, half
smiling, and half sad. 4
"What is the use of waiting when one
has made up his mind?" he asked, little
impatiently. Now, father, If You please"
taking out;his memorandum book ut was
near Michigan City,"
ut was about two miles north, up the
lake, and within eight or ten feet of it,
should judge" Mr.. Anderson replied.
And there is something have thought
q good deal about ever since, and that is q
stone over the grave. / wish you would
get one and have it put up, Ralph. The
board may be destroyed or rotted off be-
fore this, and don't feel right to have it
reason" -
II will attend to it and do all that Is
necessary" he answered, quietly. "And