Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-02-05

HeI ullSlISSS SS b SERVANT leaves. SGs
prepared place. and when the time camS
| Beatrice found her grief hghtened by an .
loving woman can do for another in such s
| plight. OF course there was deceit-deceit
seemed to have forced itself into the girls
/ life. There was long visit to pay some
where, visit from which Beatrice returned
shadow of her former self. But mons
knew, none even guessed the cause.
Until the child was born Eeatrice'S prayer
was that both she and it might de. Can s
sadder, more pitiful prayer be framed by 4
womanl The truth could then be told 10 all
The early death would be the full eSpiatiol
of her folly. The few who loved her would
forgive and pity her, But her prayer was
unanswered-death never even threatened
mother or babe.
The child was born. the tiny head nestled
on the mothers breast, and q strange new
feeling awoke within her-the overpowering
| instinct of maternal love. Her thoughts
which had once been, in case the child lived.
TO hate it for the fathers sake, turned to pure
sweet affection for the innocent, helpless
! little being So far from wishing it dead.
she would not now have wished it unborn.
When she returned to her home she left il
with many tears in Sarah's charge.
For years she saw it by stealth, saw it
Q -
childhood; loved it and worshiped it more
each time she saw ii, and at last, when she
returned to her fathers house, and felt that
her visits to her treasure would now per-
force be less and less frequent, wild crav-
ing TO have il with her always, to see il
every day, every hour, awoke in her passion
ate heart.
Then came the second quarrel and the
new home And even as she settled to go
down TO her uncles' the nucleus of the daring
scheme for regaining her boy framed itself
in her brain, and was eventually shaped into
form and acted upon with perfect success.
But the five years were passing, passing
At the end of them stood what Beatrice
shrank from picturing, convict who would
come and claim his wife. Beatrice had, in
deed, expected that when first arrested he
would find some way of proclaiming his
marriage, if only in fulfllment of his threat
of drag ging her name into the dirt.
Yet he made no sign. He was crafty and
calculating. The term of the sentence was
not to him an eternity. When it ended be
knew that by keeping the secret he should be
| in a more advantageous pc lion to turn
| matters to his own benefit. Beatrice would
be well past twenty-one, and IN command of
large income. He meant to be thoroughly
| revenged for the obstinacy she had displayed
m refusing to perjure herself, ana so find
him means to buy up the forged bills, but he
meant to have money also.
This is the story of the life of the last five
years upon which Beatrice looked back that
afternoon. These are the pictures of the
man and the woman-the husband and wife
who were to meet on the morrow like foes in
a deadly duel
And over and above all this, there was
another matter ever present in the girls
mind-another name which came to her lips
not in accents of hate, but love. She had at
tempted to deceive him, but not herself. In
fact it seemed part of her punishment-the
hardest part of all-that she loved Frank
Carruthers She had sobbei out the secret
on the faithful Sarah's breast. She had wept
through the weary hours of many a night as
she thought of the utter hopelessnass of love
between them. His coming to Oak bury had
doubled her grief. She had not only to
lament ''what has been," but to regret what
might have BEEN
Blame her if you musti Forgive her if YOU
can! AT least pity bert
CHAPTER XXI.
MAKING PROUD KNEES BENZ.
Provided he is not French journalist,
whose dropping honor is cured by scratch,
a man about to fight duel has generally
preparations to make. Maurice Hervey's
approaching duel being Of a peculiar nature,
the preparations he made We're also peculiar.
They consisted of inducing the room he oc-
cupied-which, in an unmolested state, was
q nice, tidy apartment-to look as dsrepu-
table and dissipated as, with the resources at
his command, It was possible. He gave no
orders for his breakfast things to be cleared
away, but added to the relics of the meal a
bottle of whisky and glass. He also laid a
short pipe and tobacco pouch on the table.
With great satisfaction he found ir a draw
er dirty pack of cards; these We're also
placed in a position to carry effect. He tolI
the servant not to attend to his bedroom
just yet; SO that by his leaving the door of
communication between the two rooms open
a visitor might have the privilege of gazing
on dishevS' sleeping apartment. Given
the materials at his disposal, he made very
fair effect with them.
He kept his own appearance in sympathy
with the surroundings. He wore slippers
which he trod down at the heel His clothes
were too new to look shabby, but by putting
on soiled shirt, discarding his waistcoat and
cravat he managed to get within reasonable
distance of his requirements.
ALI these preparations were inspired by
phorically he meant to bring Beatrice down
on her knees and his cruelty told him that
to one of her type, the process would be
doubly disagreeable when it took place in
such scene.
'Gadr' he said, as he gazed round and
approved of his handiwork II wish had
my prison suit here I'd don it once more
for your benefit, my lady"
He gave orders that if lady called she
was to be shown up at once; then he lit q
cigar and lounged in the easy chair. At five
minutes to twelve, just as the man was WON
dering whether she would come or not, aud
If, in the event Of her not coming, it would
be well for his own interests to seek her at
Lakewood House, the door opened and Bea-
trice stood before him He laughed low,
hooking laugh, and without changing his
lounging attitude, looked up at her
She took it all in. the disreputable look OF
the place and of its tenant; ne could see that
by the CULVER of her nostril, and the look Of
deepening scorn on her firm mouth. His eyes
cleaned with triumph.
And she, as she looked at him, the thought
ran through her, how could she ever in her
most foo Il girlhoods days have loved this
man-have loved him even for an hourf His
features We're the features she had once
on the earth could have inspired her with
such loathing. She did not fear him, simply
because she knew the worst he could do-the
heaviest penalty she could be called upon to
pay. Or she thought she knew.
well, my affectionate wife" he said.
knocking the ash off his cigar, and looking
her up and down; you've grown into quite
fine piece o. goods, quite a tip-topper, no
end Of a swell. You haven't pinned much for
me, guess
shivered as she heard his voice and
coarse, knocking compliments, but she kept
her proud eyes upon him. 'fYou have some
thing to say to me-say it" She spoka
sternly.
'.Sayi I should think It was for you to
say something. You who sent me TO herd
with felons for five years You who would
not stretch out hand to save me. What
have you to sayf He spoke with a vicious,
bitter intonation.
She said nothing. She might have told
him of misery which she had undergone
misery which she had to undergo to which
his well-merited punishment was as nothing.
Nearly five years." be went on, ''think OF
that - dull, dead drudgery. Week after
week, month after month, year after year
the same All through you-through you!
And now, my sweet wife, which do you
i L.