Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-09-12
A "MIGHP HAVE BEEN"
BY vELMA CALDWELL MELVILLE.


low moan of the wind sounded about
tie easements, or Trough the leafiess
branches Of the llacs by the window.
Within the parlor Of tho old farm
house, known as The Bend, all was
warmth and comfort. The open wood
fire cracked and blazed, throwing
fantastic shadows over the pale drab
walls, quaint old portraits, and softly
shaded carpet and furnishing. The
chandelier Was turned low, and all
was still, save for the noise of the fire,
the ticking Of the clock, and the rustic
of a woman's garments, as she restless
ly paced to aud fro. Her fingers were
claspea tightly before her, and at
almost every turn she consulted the
time piece on the man lie shell.
will he never c>me2" she cries at
last, my Courage Is fast torsaklng
me-"
A step. light, ringing and familiar
sounded on the gravel walk, and the
lights were flashed up revealing a
woman, whose classical face was as
white as the filmy fabric at her throat.
Soft, brown HAN waved back from the
low, white forehead, and tender, Sor-
rowful eyes of gray shone with an un.
wontod excitement from under their
long. straight lashes.
The mouth was large, red, and
sweetly firm. The dress, of some soft,
dark material, fitted the full, graceful
figure To perfection and was, save for
the lace friiIs aud gold brooch, guilt
less Of ornament.
"VIolrt Dare" was a truly handsome
woman, and yet the charm lay less III
form and feature than in the indetin-
able grace OF look, word, and manner.
Evidently she was no unSOphlStlcated
uri; but a woman woman III cX-
perlenCr If not far advanced IN years.
Good evening, vi"
Good evening, Bernard, you are
late"
yes, | was detained by an old lady
who, according To- her own testimony,
has every disease under the sun, that
human flesh is neir to. | listened
patiently for an hour and then sent
her off, promising to call to morrow;
but am almost glad it happened, for
had il not, should never have known
that you cared for delay on my part.
Eh? Violet
Don't, Bernard, | cannot Jest to
night for must tell you, we must
cease this Iricmiship"
Cease tins frIendship!'
eyes, that is, as we entertain it now.
You must come sometimes for the
sake of dnid tang SyIe, but as -"
81 understand. AS Violet Dare's
Iorcr, | am to step aside. " he Kissed
bitterly.
Don't Bernie Let rMe tell you that
Violet Dare loves you far to- well TO
let you unite your fresh, young life
with her faded, blighted one. My
past woald ever be Il skeleton in the
closet Your friends would sncer at
your choice, and the time would
come when your titlers would be gall
ing"
"Ncycr, no Hcrcr. wan you, earth
is Parable, wHhOW you, u barren,
drcary waste No, Violet, it is like
you to imagine such things; but for
Bernard Clinton there exists but one
ideal of female lovelnesa, and it is
all embodied in my royal Violet"
1t was only for IA moment that she
faltered as she ga2cd into the eager,
poylsh face.
mo, Bernie. you think and believe
all this Hor, but we'll, if am only
II year your senior counting III That
way, | am u score of years ripper IN
experience, much, very much the
senior there. We are no fitting mates
i'll the eyes of the world ut least"
What care I for the world. 1t
must indeed hca GENEROUS world that
would dare to- scroll Mt the man who
won The farcSt bride for miles around
Thus they argued and reasoned until,
suddenly sprlHginu to ms feet, the
young physician staggered toward the
door like one severely dazed by an I'M
expected blow.
we part as frcuds2" she intcrro-
gated, holding out her hand IN her
quiet, mastorful way. You will call
S0metimCSE
"Cunt say Good night, " was the
brief rrJomdcr as, without Seemin~ to
notice the outstrelched palm, he pluug-
ed out into the storm and dark ness.
''She don't care for me now; but
I'll win her yet, - he muttered over
and over in his pain and chagriu.
Was it true Didn't she corcl
All that weary might the brave,
proud woman paced her silent rooms
wrlnging her hands iii helpless agony,
or sat like carved marble vaiuly try
ing to bring some glow into the APP
parentlY frozen vIcuS. Poor heroic
heart
Fer SO capable OF Ioring, teir so
capable of SmRsriRg Hers was
rare nature, as rarely appreciated.
Left motherleSS ut an early age. she
had been all in all to her idoli2cd
father; but, as years and Ill health
began to to tell upon the once noble
MAJ, he conceived the idea that he
could not die in peace until he had
seen his daughter welded to the son
of an old friend, living in the village
near by. The young man was one
whom she had known and dlslIked
from childhood; but her parent turn
ed a deaf ear to her proleStations of
aversion. You can love him if YOU
choose, nothing but obst lnacy, he
reiterated, and at length, in despair
of ever convincing hlm that il was
martyrdom for her, she permitted the
eXultant youth to lead her, an unwill-
nag bride. To the altar
Hers was proud, imperious
nature, but her lofty mind aud pure
soul could not quietly contemplate
a duty unfullfled; and faithfully did
she strive TO be all that a wife should
De. But, alas her efforts were wholly
impoverished by the narrow minded,
Jealous hearted creature whose name
she bore. Again and again she sum
moned new courage and went bravely
on, ignoring his insults and abuses.
until 4 climax was reached by his
rudely ordering 1.-The old man Cher
beloved father) out Of doors Thea
all else was forgotten and drawing
her commanding figure TO its full
height she SAID; Go, Arthur Mont
gomery, 90, and never cross this
threshold more, never let me beoblig-
cd to gaze upon your cowardly face
again,
With q terrible oath he raised his
hand and struck her blow that fell
ed her 10 the floor, and then, the base
wretch fled Though she afterwsrd
sued for. and obtained divorce, she
never did see hIm SgaIn for he went
South, and perished among the "Yel-
low fever" victims. For weeks she
lowered between life and death, and
tba,, hnr rh;ll N,,as l>.,, -,