Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-11-21
RENEE'S LOVE.
8. Reneel Renee!"

hanging lOOS6lN VI uSl ohouiiSA NiSIS
she had pushed it back from her face,
while standing in the shadow. Margaret
Gray's voice had reused the girl from
dreams of Lester Sinclair, the handsome
bue-eyed stranger visiting at the house
that nestled amid linden trees in the
hollow below, where the old-fashioned
cottage OF the Glays stood. She had
been dreaming of his deep laughing
eyes, his sunny, chestnut curls, his gay,
nonchalent manner,t that always changed
to tenderness for her. Whatever WAS
the charm Of Lester Sinclair's manner,
he had surely won the first love of Renee
Courtland's girlish heart. Years before
the father of Renee CORTLAND left her
to the care of Margaret Gray-fair,
calm Margaret Gray-who had been
his girl-love in their early youth, and
who had never married, in memory of
that first love-dream. She scarcely
knew herself what had come between
them, only it had ended in bitter words
and a still more bitter parting, and
then, in his passion, Charles CORTLAND
had married pretty, dark-eyed French
girl-the mother of Renee.
Years after, when his wife died, he
had come to his early love and asked
her to be his wife and a mother 10 his
child.
But, with all her gentleness, Margaret
Gray was prouder than many naughty
women, and she gravely answered him
-" Gently, almost sorrowfully,
yet still it was "No."
He made no second appeal, knowing
how useless it would be.
But when, three years later, death
called himself, he left his orphaned,
penniless child to the care of Margaret
Gray.
The child bad grown up to dark,
slender maiden, with great gray eyes
and a chidlike smile, to be the darling
of Margaret Gray's heart and the day
star of Victor Gray's life.
Some distance down the road Victor
Gray stood leaning against a tree, his
face grave and thoughtful, even beyond
his wont.
He Was not handsome man this
Victor Gray.
But there was something better than
beauty in his dark, proud face, for
manhood was stamped on his broad
brow. Courage, honor and truth cleaned
in his eyes, and, though the general ex.
preston of his face was stern, his
smile could be gentle almost as a
woman's. and this man loved pretty,
childish Renee with all the strength OF
his heart, and she-well, she loved Les
ter Sinclair.
He threw away his halfburned cigar
and turned toward the cottage, his face
still grayely stern.
Renee came to meet him.
ooh, Victor, can't / go down to Ray
mond's this evening? Kathie is going
to have croquet match. Margaret
says no, but you-oh, Victor, may | not
go? You might come with me, Victor.
Kathie asked you"
He looked at the pretty, childish face.
ayes, | will go Renee" he said.
Two hours later Renee came down,
looking like a wild rose in her pink
muslin robes, with clustering flowers in
Ter breast and hair.
They were rather early III the croquet
ground, so Kathie and Renee played a
game by themselves.
Victor Gray watched Renee with pas
sionate, plying eyes, knowing the pain
in store for her, which he had been too
cowardly, he thought bitterly, to warn
her of.
II could not tell her." he said, "and
yet | wish had.
He watched her wistfully, turning
pale as he saw how her eyes wandered
to the gate.
She had thrown her hat aside and the
soft breeze lifted the short, dark curls
off her low brow and deepened the rose
tint on her cheeks.
He saw the red lips part in smiles
and the lovely dark eyes deepen, and
turning towards the gate he saw Lester
Sinclair coming up the pathway, lady
leaning on his arm.
The one look at Reneo's face told
Victor that she never suspected the
truth.
Her faith, like her love, wus unwaver-
ing. She believed in Lester Sinclair as
she did in her own loyal love.
The lady on his arm was a delicate
little thing, with certain kind of beau.
ty, Of the wax-doll order, With big blue
eyes, dainty features and clustering
haxen hair.
They came forward to where Renee
stood.
"Clare," he said, "ths is the young
lady | told you of-Miss CORTLAND.
Renee-Miss CORTLAND, my betrothed
wife, Mrs Duvane."
"His betrothed wife"
The words rang in Renee's ears, then
seemed to die away in faint, moaning
sound.
Remember she was only II, and child
ish for her age. -.
The bright young face grew psllid as
death. and all the sweet light seemed to
fade from her eyes.
Victor strobe TO her side.
Take me home, Victor. II don't
feel very well. Please take me
The words died away on her lips, and
the next moment Victor held her white
and senseless in his arms.
A magnificent room, large, lofty, and
furnished with almost Oriental splen
- frny,, - x,.l.-aA 1n~rof into UhIrn