Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-04-29
Mrs. scrope-Mrs. and Miss Jervis,"
L.

Mrs. Scrope-Mrs. and Miss Jervis, -
said Mr.. Scrope, his look riveted on Alice.
The face that had never left his memory
in spite of his marriage had grown to
higher beauty than ever be had imagined
to be possible And, though he knew it
not, it had come about through her striv-
ing after an ideal that she deemed worthy
Of him.
Shilling the pulses that throbbed so pain
fully, Alice conversed with him as with
an old acquaintance, and yet the remem-
brance of their parting on that moonlight
night was wildly present to both of them.
Mrs. Scrope talked necessarily, the more
especially as William Jervis was lively
talker, with a frank, half-jesting, half
deferentialmanner that had something very
winning in it.
Alice Jervis watched Mrs Scrope mar
rowly, and wondered why Mr. Scrope had
married her? And instinctively the
answer came, because he did not care very
much about her, but found that the ALI
ance would add luster to his career. There
was something paradoxical in the idea,
but it passed with her. She had argued
that if Mr. Scrope had really cared for
herself, to care much for Mrs. Scrops was
impossible.
So they met and so they parted, in the
little out-of- the-way Italian town; and
Alice had seen Mr.. Scrope once more.
Was she glad or sorry?
The Scropes returned to England-the
Jervises remained abroad. And they
heard nothing more of one another.
".
Exactly why she had come there she
could not tell. 1t was more to crafty an
old longing than for any definite reason,
though she had persuaded herself into the
belief that she had business at Shelford.
At any rate, upon the anniversary of that
day, eight years ago, when she had waited
under the yew-tree to say good-by to Mr..
Scrope, Alice Jervis stood with her hand
on the wicket-gate, quietly reviewing her
life, and once again asking herself Wheth-
er love or pride had had the greater part
in her decision.
The branches of the yews were waving
gently, the roses were rustling their silver
tipped leaves, and the white moonlight
fell upon the graves. Still with her hand
upon the garden gate she looked toward
the church, trying to believe that the
years had stood still, and she was there
waiting for Mr.. Scrope.
She was turning away when dark
figure approached her and well-remem-
bered voice said:
Miss Jervis!''
Mr.. Scroper'
eyes; [ was waiting for you. I wished
to see you before you went away"
Almost her own words in their last in
terview.
She looked up at him half fearfully. 1t
was so strange to see him there at that
hour of the night, and an almost supersti-
tious awe crept over her.
Il wanted to tell you that you have
ruined my life so far. [ heard that you
were at Shelford. | knew that you would
be here tonight, and [ have come to ask
you if you repent the past, and are willing
to atone for ito
Alice shrank back.
Mr.. Scroper was all she could say.
he inferiority, if there be any, is on
my side" he said; "you have improved
the past-I have wasted it. Yet the vast
ing Of it [ lay to your charge. I knew
you better than you knew yourself. I
wanted wife who would understand me
and would give me sympathy. You could
have done this, and you refused it. VIII
you refuse it nOw?''
Bewildered, and yet indignant, Alice
shrank farther away from him.
Mr.. Scrope," she said, % I bid you go
back to your wife. I bid you to repair
the brilliant prospects you seem so
wrongly to have marred."
81 wish l could" he answered sorrow
fully. My wife is dead, Alice, or I
should not be here tonight. She died
two years ago. You are hard and unjust,
as you have ever been"
"Dead!' stammered Alice Chow
could | know. have but Just returned
to England" She moved nearer to him;
she held out her hand "Forgive me,'
she said.
And their eyes met; and Mr.. Scrope,
looking down into hers, stopped and
kissed the quivering lips for the second
time in his life.