Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-07-24
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RENEE'S LOVE.
How Victor Gray's Patient Affection Was
at Last Rewarded.

How Victor Gray's Patient Affection Was
| at Last Rewarded.
"Rcncc! Rencc?"
The sweet French name noatcd out from
the open window ofthe cottage and Renee
CORTLAND came ont from the shadow OF
dropping trees, her broad hat hanging
loosely on her shoulder where she had
pushed il back from her face while stand
ing in the shadow. Margaret Gray voice
had reused the girl from dreams of Lester
Sinclair, the handsome, blue-cyed stranger
visiting at the house that nestled amid
linden trees IN the hollow below where
the old-fashioned cottage Of the Grays
stood. She had been dreaming Ofhis deep
laughing eyes, his sunny, chestnut curls,
his gay, nonchalant manner, that always
changed to tenderness Tor her. Whatever
was the charm OF Lester Sinclair's man
ner, he had surelcy won the first love OF
Renee COurtland's girlish heart. Years
before the father of Renee CORTLAND had
left her to the care of Margaret Gray
fair, calm, Margaret Gray-whO had been
his girl-love in their carly youth, and who
| UtNtl III VI bllttJ lllNl
love dream. She scarcely knew herself
what had come between them, only it had
ended in bitter words and II still more bit.
ter parting, and then, in his passion,
Charles COurtland had married pretty,
dark-eycd French girl-the mother Of Re-
nee.
Years after, when his wife died, he had
come to his early love and asked her to be
his wife and mother to his child.
But, with all her gentlcness, Margaret
Gray was prouder than many naughty
women, and she gravely answered him
mo" 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 call
ed himself, he left his orphaned, pcnnilcss
child to the care of Margaret Gray.
The child had grown up to dark,
slender maiden, with great gray eyes and
a childlike smile, to be the darling of
Margaret Gray's heart and the day-star OF
Victor Grays life.
Some distance down the road Victor
Gray stood leaning against a tree, his
face grave and thoughtful, even beyond
| its wont.
He was not handsome man, this Victor
Gray. But there was something better
than beauty in his proud, dark face, for
manhood was stamped on his broad brow,
Courage, honor, and truth CLEANED in his
eyes, and though the general expression
of his face was stern, his smile could be
gentle almost as woman's and this man
loved pretty childish Renee with all the
strength of his heart, and she, well, she
loved Lester Sinclair.
He threw away his half burned cigar
and turned toward the cottage, his face
still gravely stern.
Renee came to meet HIM.
"0h Victor, can't | go down to Ray
monds this eveningP Kathic is going to
haye q croquet match. Margaret says
no, but you-oh Victor, may | not gol
You might come with me, Victor, Kathic
asked YOU"
He looked at the pretty, childish face.
eyes, will go, Renee" he SAID.
Two hours later Renee came down, look
ing like wild rose in her pink muslin
robes, with clustering flowers in her
breast and hair.
They were rather early in the croquct
ground, so Kathie and Renee played a
game by themselves.
Victor Gray watched Renee with pas.
sionate pitying eyes, knowing the pain in
store for her, which he had been too cow
ardly, he thought bitterly, to warn her
Of.
81 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, a lady leaning on
his arm.
The one look at Renee's face told Victor
that she never suspected the truth.
Her faith, like her love, was unwaver-
ing She believed in Lester Sinclair as
she did in her own loyal love.
The lady on his arm was a delicate lit
tie thing, with certain kind of beauty Of
the wax-doll order, with big blue eyes,
dainty features and clustering aaxen hair.
They came forward to where Renee
stood.
"Clare," he said, "ths is the young
lady | told you of, Miss CORTLAND. Re-
nee-Miss Courtland, my betrothed wife,
Miss Duvane!"
"His betrothed wife!"
The words rang in Renee's ears, then
seemed to die away with faint moaning
sound.
Remember she was only seventeen and
childish for her age.
The bright young face grew pallid as
death and all the sweet light seemed 10