Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-01-12

well, after she had once turned away
from him, in the just wrath and horror
III r'hich he knew she would turn away
VIII he confessed his rascality. then It
mattered but little what came of him.
He nerved himself, in all his weak
ness, like a man might nerve himself for
death-blow. He felt his heart grow
ing heavy, icy lump: he heard the
roaring of the sea, as if it were thou
sand miles away; he saw the look of con-
sternation on the girls face, that
changed to fear, to horror, to such NOR
tai woe, as he rushed like demon
through the confession he was bound to
make, and told her, on his knees, how he
was to marry Olympia Osmond-how he
had learned the lesson too late-how he
cursed himself for blighting her sweet
young life that had never before known
a cloud.
She listened, with a deathly ashening
on her face, with hopeless pain in her
eyes, whose patience almost killed him
to see.
Then, after silence of several terri
BILE minutes, her low, strengthful, vet
agonized voice answered him:
MI. heSle, 1O 10 uot III uy neafC TO
hate you for this. How could I when
you love me so, and Love you just as
well? You must try and not mind me,
but be as happy as you can with your
your wife. "
And then her voice deserted her, and
she turned quickly away, the tears flow
ing in warm, salt torrents down her
cheeks.
That was the way she gave him up,
this pure-hearted, good-natured girl;
and she went back to the Ocean house,
side by side with him, yet separated as
If by eternities to her room. and
knelt to pray God to help her bear it, to
help him to bear it.
Down in the parlors the music was
still crashing in loud, sweet strains, and
Mordaunt Leslie walked away from the
hideous mockery of gaiety and happi-
ness-away to the furthest end of the
long veranda, where the moonlight
came only dimly, and where, in one of a
dozen vacant chairs, he threw himself,
in sheer prostration of spirit, in utter
horror at the prospect that stretched end
lessly before him, in anguished dismay
at what he.had left behind him.
Into the almost uncomfortable pain of
that vigil, woman's voice, low, intense,
earnest, broke into sudden voice-a wo-
mans voice, from just on the other side
of him-of, whose presence Leslie had
no knowledge until he heard her speak
until, with start almost as keenly sharp
as if he had taken an electric shock, he
rec gnized Olympia Osmond and Mr.
Halvernon as the speakers.
There is no use of our recalling it,
Harold-no possible use. [ told you
then-that was four years ago-that, al
though [ loved you as I never should
love another man, [ should not marry
except for fortune. [ tell you, tonight,
Harold, as frankly as then, I shall mar
ry Mordaunt Leslie, because he can
give me the wealth my soul Graves and
will have"
Mr.. Halvernon's quick, eager answer
came:
"You are too cruel, too heartless,
Olympia! The woman never lived who
could deliberately act and talk as you do;
and, by the heavens above us, have
mind to go to Leslie with the story, and
make him give you upp'
Leslie Strengthened in his chair, and
listened to Miss Osmond's low, cold
laugh.
"No you wouldn't, Harry; and if you
did it would be of no avail. He believes
in me implicitly. Why, for months I
succeeded in convincing him that I would
not look at q man who had money-poor
dupe-when all the while [ was in
agonies lest [ should let him slip. So,
you see, Harry, that shall be all [ de-
sired-rich, courted, envied and humor-
ed"
Mordaunt suddenly stepped in front
of the two, perfect glory of thankful
relief on his face, perfectly crushing
contempt and disgust in his words:
''Permit me to add, Miss Osmond. as
one who is only too jubilant at this mar
row escape, that not as the wife of Nor
daunt Leslie will you reap your reward.
From this moment [ consider myself
well-released from my engagement to
YOU Be so kind as to return to me the
visible form of our late betrothal."
He stood there like prince in his
glad, stern authority, and Miss Os-
mond's face blanched to the hue of the
ivory silk she wore, as she returned his
calm gaze in speechless confusion and
rage.
''The ring, if you please, Miss Os-
mond. Thanks very much. Goodbye.
Good night, sir. ..t5
He tossed the glittering toy clear off
tho lawn, the avenue, the bluff, the
sands, into the ocean, and walked away,
almost staggering under the weight of
happiness suddenly opened to him.
He was free-fre as the air; and Vio-
let loved him-Violet his darling, his
treasure, his dear one. ...is 's.f
He looked at his watch; it was not too
late, half-past eleven, not too late to
claim his love for his own before that
fated day ended. So he rushed to his
room and penciled a short, imploring
note, half-explaining, haf-entreating her
to come to him for only one moment, to
tell him she would take him for all and
forever.
Then he waited for her, in the hush
of the midnight that was coming waited
for just one glance of her eyes to think
nf ~ no tod Il.