Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-22

am" he said. "You had for it the relish
of your fslsehood, this morning"
Oh how wrong she had been! She was
tempted to go to him and creep into his
arms, and beg him to forgive her, but she
remembered Mrs. Blessington's good
advice.
eyes, she sad, 81 had charming eve
ming: but am quite sleepy now, and am
going to bed"
She turned to leave the room; bat in
one stride he was beside her, and held
her arm in a grip of steel.
Coward, you hurt me" she said, IN
sudden anger.
He dropped ber ann as though she had
stung him.
"You meant that word-you have ceased
to love me! Why did you disobey me,
Grace!"
because do not intend to be a
slave to your caprice-because I
have had my own way all my life, and
intend to have it."
"And / say you shall not have it.
Choose between Mrs. Blessington and
me-between your unworthy friend and
your Observation-Disclosures your own viii
and your future happiness-on this in
slant choose, choose"'
II have made my choice: abide by it.
When you are more reasonable, will lis
ten further. Now, goodnight"
GLOW hateful I was!" she said to her
3elf. Gas if I would not give up fifty
Mrs. Blesslngtons for one Ernest. I will
give her up, too, but I'll do it in my own
way"
Once she unlocked the door to go down.
But not would undo al that frmness
had accomplished. So the night passed,
to her sleepless one.
In the early morning servant brought
note. It was from her husband and ran
thus
"lt nine o'clock / started for India, to
be absent SIX months. During that time
my lawyer will consult you in regard to
our separation, and make il as easy for
you as possible. I have known for
long time that our tastes we're diametri-
cally opposed, and that our sweet hopes
of home were wrecked, but not that you
could defy and outrage the love that |
so freely gave you. Do not think me
harsh in leaving you without g goodbye,
but / thought it would be less painful for
us BOTH
With tear-blindsd eyes she glanced up
at the clock. 1t was just eight. She had
one hour in whicn to act. It was but the
work OF ten minutes to order the carriage,
make hasty toilet, swallow a cup of tea,
then issCe her commands to the coaohmen
20 drive at any speed, but reach the ter
minus before the clock struck nine. One
hour to undo 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 realized
the whole: then the strain relaxed, and
the fair young head fell back upon it's
silken cushion in a dead faint.
GA lady fainted!n was the cry which
reached gentleman giving some direc-
tiCns about the luggage which he had
countermanded being put in the mail
train.
He turned quickly. There stood his
own horses, his own carriage, and within
it the lovely face of his unconscious
wife.
| It was the work of an instant TO spring
beside her and lift her on his breast, try
| ing to revive her With passionate kisses.
At last the beautiful eyes opened with in
| credulous recognition.
ooh, [ am DIRE aming," she murmured,
ERNEST, don't leave mer'
mo, darling, nc! At the last moment
my heart reIented. / thought perhaps
had mis- judged You, or thaG L had ueen
| too severe, and l ordered my luggage to
be taken Gus of rhe trair. and let. It start
without me. My wife, thought you did
not lCve me-that you had chosen the
world; because, my darling, no true
woman hnds II hard TO obey the man
whom she can respect and love; and
surely Grace, You do not find me a ty-
rant?"
! And she could only sob out her plea for
forgiveness plea all too easy TO grant;
and even tears are sweet when kissed
away by loves lips.
! But Grace never forgot her lesson.
| Each year home grows sweeter, more
| precious, and some of the jostling outside
world is shat away. But Grace misses
nothing. She has found her world with
in her husbands heart, and knows that
he is well content that she should nestle
there.