Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-10

charged with the truth; and she might
have spoken to you'll All! anything-any-
thing but that, and then-then-Ia am keep
ing back nothing, Max, I am laying my
heart bare TO you-there was happiness.
through all the cruel pain, in being with
you; but oh! your own heart will speak for
me, that had no part or lot in the wretch
ed scheme that brought me here! In this
at least [ can prove my truth; Aston Law
ford wrote to me few days ago, asking
me again to be his wife. l tore his letter
into fragments, and flung them on the floor
that was my answer to him. Then aunt
Constance spoke TO me plainly. I could
win you if l chose, she said; l would not do
that, and / would not marry Lawford. No
matter in what words; she babe me choose
between you and Lawford, or she would
wash her hands of me. l told her would
give her my decision to-day, and that day
/ wrote TO uncle VIII, and said was COM
ing back to him. 1 told aunt Constance
to-day that l had made my choice. To-
morrow l return to Wexford. Maxr' her
voice faltered and broke now, "Ihave been
wrong and foolish, but I was young and
ignorant, and there was no one to guide
and counsel me: but it was my love for
you, not love of the world, that made me
seem false and mercenary. Iwronged you,
but it was in wronging myself first Can
you believe me, MaX?n
For answer, Beauregard threw himself
at her feet.
''Ealerie! Valerie! Oh, Heaven!' he
cried, with an agony that shook him like a
reed, chow can atone to you? l might
have known-I might have known! But,
oh! my darling, even when I believed you
unworthy yourself. Icoald not judge you
harshly, / loved you too we'll. All! how my
blindness has made you sutfer!''
MAX! hush!-hushr' she whispered, lay
ing her trembling hands on the mans
bowed head. 81 am to blame--I alone.
All! you were always so kind and tender
to me; thinking what you did-what YOU
only could think of me, you were so gener-
Gus; and you loved me through all! All!
nothing can take that joy from me-you
loved me through allr'
Loved you! / worshiped you'll hun
dred times had been ready to fling every
thing to the winds, and claim you; but al
ways came the hideOuS thought that, if
you loved me, it was not for myself alone;
but now-now.n he rose, and once more
locked the slight form in passionate en-
brace, 'nOw," he said, his deep voice trem-
bling, and he drew the golden head back
on his breast, and looked down in the dark
eyes, that sank beneath the passion of his
gaze, 81 know that my darling is mine
was mine always-my ra1ry Queen-my
own, only lovev'
Lower he bent, and again their lips met
Dizzy with happiness, the girl clurg to her
lover; was it a dream that all the shadows
were swept away, all the heart-break, all
the bitter weeping, the endless pain-that
Max held her to his heart, called her his
own, kissed her lips, folded her life into
hist All! she had dreamed Of this but on
the dream there was always a shadow; she
wept even while his lips pressed hers, but
there was no shadow now; it was all glOri-
Gus sunshine that dazzled by its brightness
and made her senses reel
And when Max spoke again-Heaven
knows how long he could only hold the
loved form to him, with the rapture those
alone can know who have suffered as he
had suffered, and kiss the dear face he had
never hoped to pillow on his heart!-when
he spoke again his voice at first sounded
far away, like a voice in a dream; but it
was dream of wondrous light.
TO be continued.)