Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-02-17

face has been warm in my heart all
these weeks"
Victorine felt that no fimsy evasion
would stand her here. She must be
honest with him at last.
"Mr. RANSOM" she faltered, her
gaze falling beneath the clear, truth
full, gray eyes, 'syou made a great mis-
take, for which I, perhaps, am to
blame. Whatever passed between us
last summer considered a mere pas
time, and had no thought of you TAX
ing it so seriously. Oh, forgive mel"
she cried, earnestly, as Ransom stag
gered and paled suddenly through all
his sunburn; 81 am sorry to have
wounded you. The men of my &C
uuaintance are so different"
Ransom regained his self-control
with an effort, and smiled sadly as he
motioned her to cease.
"You mean to say that all the while
have thought of you as the dearest
woman in the world [ have been re-
membered by you as a passing &C
quaintance?"
GA pleasant acquaintance, Mr.. Ran
SOM"
"Hush no more / cannot bear it
now. Your world is different from
mine. Well-well, let it pass. Good
bye, dear. | am going away now. If
you ever need a. true friend, remember
you have one In Scott Ransom
And before she realized his intention
he had taken her suddenly and closely
in his arms, then kissing her hair, and
eyes, and lips, solemnly and tenderly,
strobe from her presence and from the
house.
Just a year from that date Victor
ines uncle died g. bankrupt, and the
girl was thrown upon her own re-
sources for livelihood.
Lonely and heartsick, her adverse
fate brought her to q great Western
city, where she earned q modest re-
enumeration at coloring photographs.
One bleak, winter day, as she hur-
ried toward her boarding place, bend
ing before the keen blast, she came in
to sudden collision with a man, and
would have fallen had he not caught
her with hurried apologies.
1t was Scott Ransom, and Victorine,
recalling all the misfortune which had
come on her since their LAST meeting,
chung to his strong hand with q sudden
sense of his truth and loyalty, while
wistful tears rushed to.her eyes.
AS for Ransom, he made no effort TO
conceal his pleasure at the meeting, yet
his gentleness and kindness were more
brotherly than lover-ike.
He walked home with her, listening
sympathetically to her story, and beg
ging her so warmly to command him
in any way, that Victorine felt q new
peace and comfort at her heart.
After that she was lonely and fear
full no more, for with Scott Ransom
for a friend she felt that she could defy
the whole world.
And as they became more intimate
she wondered how she could have
thrown him over so lightly, for surely
he was king among men.
Yet when he came to her to ask
again for her love, she hesitated,
ashamed to say Eyes" in her poverty,
when she had said stno" in her wealth..
You may be sure that her lover,
reading the truth in her blushing face,
would not be put off. Therefore, they
were married on New Years eve, when
every one was as happy as could be,
and Victorine deemed herself the hap
piest of all.
Her husband took her home to s.
magnificent brown stone mansion
which he had been secretly fitting up for
her reception.
He laughed at the wonder in her
face, AS he led her up the broad steps
to the open hall, where a group of
smiling servants stood ready to well
come them.
CT thought you were poor man."
she stammered.
'Did ever any one tell you so, my
dear? I am worth snug half mill
ion, but if had not q cent I would be
rich now, my little wife"