Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-13

Yes, she answered.
He stopped and kissed hes more ten
derby.
IN make it up to you, darling. Be-
lieve me, did not ask it without good
cause"
She stood quite still after he had left
her She was half tempted yet to obey
him. but-pshaw! what nonsense It
was.
SO, at O'Clock, the carriage stood
at her door, and, in bewitching
dinner dress, she was driven to the
house her husband had forbidden her
TO enter.
But the dinner drageed-not but that
Mrs. Blessington's chef had done him
self infinite credit, or that her guests
failed in their part. The trouble lay
only with Mrs. Redgrave's self. In
vain she strove to rally; compliments
palled on her; the lights tired her.
One thought weighed on her heart
and brain.
Suppose Ernest should be seriously
dispeased' Well, what if he were Mrs.
Blessington had told her how she had
managed her husbands first displeas-
ure.
"Never yield" she advised. "Never
show that you're sorry, and you'll soon
learn not to feel sorry"
So when, at 10 o'clock, she babe Xer
hostess goodnight, she determined not
to show that she felt any regret.
A light in the library told her that
her husband was home. She hesitated
an instant at the door, then went bold
ly in.
Ernest stood with his back to the fire,
his eyes fixed upon her, but not her
Ernest. The sternness had gone from
his eyes, but no smile was on his lips
Over all his face was an expression Of
WHITENING contempt.
"You have enjoyed your evening,
madam" he said. "You had for 1t
the relish of your falsehood this morn
ing
Oh, how wrong she had beenl She
was tempted to 60 to him, and creep
into his arms, and beg him to forgive
| her, but she remembered Mrs. Bles-
sington's advice.
EYES," she said, II had charming
evening; but am quite sleepy now.
Good night. am going to bed"
She turned to leave the room; but in
one stride he was beside her, and held
her arm in grip of steel.
"Coward, you hurt me" she said in
sudden anger.
He dropped her arm then as though
she had stung him.
"You meant that word-you have
ceased to love me! Why did you dis
obey me, Grace?"
because l do not choose to be a
slave to your caprice-because l have
had my own way all my life, and in
tend to have it,"
"And l say you shall not have it.
Choose between Mrs. Blessington and
me-between your unworthy friend and
your husband-between your own will
and our future happiness-on this in
slant, choose"
~ have made my choice, abide by
Iit.-When you are more reasonable, l
will listen further. Now, good night.
He made her no answer. She lin
gered moment at the head OF the
stairs, hoping ne would speak again,
but all was silent.
"How hateful was" she said to her
self. GAS if l would not give up fifty
Mrs. Blessingtons for one Ernest. l
will give her up, too, but LII do 1t In
my own way"
Once she unlocked the door to 60
down. But not would undo all that
her frmness had Accomplished; so the
night passed, to her sleepless one.
In the early morning servant
brought her a note. 1t was from her
husband, and ran thus:
"At nine o'clock / start for India, to
be absent six months. During that
time my lawyer will consult you in re-
gard to our separation, and make 1t as
easy for you as possible. have known
for long time that our tastes were dia-
metrically opposed-that all my sweet
hopes Of home were wrecked-but not
that you could oefy and outrage the
love which / so freely gave you. Do
not think me harsh in leaving you
without a good bye, but ! thought it
would be less painful 70 us BOTH"
With tear-blinded eyes she looked up
AT the CLOCK. IL WIS JUST elSut. chc
had one hour in which to act, 1t was
but the work of ten minutes to order
the carriage, make hasty toilet, swal-
low cup of coffee, then issue her COM
mands to the coachman to drive at any
speed, but reach the terminus before
the clock struck nine. One hour to un-
do what might be life's fatal work.
But time waits for no man. 1t was
ten minutes past the hour when the
terminus was reached, and already the
train was speeding on its way.
With low cry of agony Grace re-
allied tbs whole; then the strain relax
ed, and the fair young head fell back
upon its silken cushions in dead
| faint.
- lady tainted p was the cry which
reached d gentleman giving some direc.
tons about the luggage which he had
countermanded being put in the mail
train.
He truned quickly. There stood his
own horses, his own carriage, and with
in it the lovely face of his unconscious
wife.
| II ,yas tho work If an instant to