Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-23

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4 was thinking of a case OF conscience, as
1 came here, said .OakhurSt 1T was, how
far promise is binding. when it involves
lasting and irretri evable wrong in its fulfil
mentr
Irene looked at him in dumb astonishmene
He continued:
suppose that you were 10 find, by-and-by,
that your affections had cooled towards me
that you discovered incompatibiities of
taste and temper-that you felt sure a true
union of souls was imposSible-that marriage
would be only a mockery!"
Dear james, how you brighten ME! Why
do you ask such dreadful questions in such a
solemn way! You know love You, heart
and soul"
But consider the question as an abstract
one. l ask you only TO suppose the casa
Should you thrust conscience into the cellar,
stifle its outcries, and give your consent TO
performance of holy medlock!"
Il can't suppose the case. And 1 don't see
the use of torturing ones self with imaginary
evils. The real troubles of life are quite
enough to bear"
Il know such case. I know man who
has TO decide it 1t is not light matter for
any man, and his is soul as sensitive as God
ever made. He was betrothed TO a woman
every way worthy; he loved her sincerely.
His chief fault, and serious one il is, came
from his susceptibility to fresh impressions.
The pleasure of the present had more power
over him than the recollections of the past
The influence of the living woman at his side
was greater, for the moment, than that of
any absent love. In an evil hour, he COM
mitted himself to another, She was, doubt
less, formed to inspire his passion and to re-
turn it But he was not free, and had no
right to hnger on forbidden ground For
weeks, nay months, he lived this false and
wicked life, of different mind every day,
and lacking the courage to meet the diff
Guilty. At last he became sure that his love
belonged where his faith was due-that, if
he would not live wretched hypocrite, he
must humble himself to confess his criminal
weakness, and return to his first engage
mentn
He paused; he might we'll do So Irene
with some difficulty, was able TO say, through
her chattering teeth:
"You seem to take deep interest in this
weak minded person
Il do-the deepest. lam the man."
She rose to her feet aud, looking scorn-
fully down upon him, exclaimed:
"Then you acknowledge yourself a villain
not from reconciliation, which would give
your baseness some dignity, but a weakly
| fool so tossed about by Fate that he is made
a villain without either desire or resistance!n
You may overwhelm me with reproacheS 1:
l am prepared for Them l deserve them.
But God only knows through what a season
of torture l have passed to come to this de-
termination"
"A very ingenious story, Mr.. Oakhurst!
Do you suppose that the world will believe it.
| the day after our losses? Do you expect me
| to believe it, evena"
81 told you that | had not heard of the fail
ure. 1 am in the habit of being believed
For instance, when you vowed that you
| loved me, and me only!'
| You may spare your tauntS. But to show
| you how mercenarY l am, let me assure you
that the woman to whom my word is pledged
and to whom must return, is without any
| property or expectations"
"Nery well, Sir," said Irene, rubbing her
hands, in the endeavor to conceal her agIta-
| ton; 1--WE need not waste words After what
you have told me, could only despise such a
whiffier-a scrap of refuse iron at the mercy
of any magnet-a miller dashing into every
| light. A lover so helpless must needs have
| SOillS hSN phoStoueii Is lilS
phrase, believe-with every changing moon.
| The man love should be made of different
stuff" She drew her figure up proudly, and
her lips curled like beautiful fiend's "He
should bury the disgraceful secret, if he had
it, in his heart, and carry it to his grave.
He would not cry out like boy with cut
finger"
Precisely, Miss Norcross. And for that
reason you would be no mate for me- Nv
wife must have no skeletons in her closet"
men generally claim the monopoly of
those agreeable toys, | believe"
Love is impossible where there are con-
| cealments. A secret is like a worm in the
heart of an apple, and nothing but rottenness
and corruption follow"
| Fortunately, you harbor none. You have
turned your heart inside out, like peddler's
pack, and a gratifying display it made! /
am more than satisfied"
"The tone you have adopted is a warning
to me to stop. l wish to handy no epithets
or reproaches. l came sorowfully to tell you
what have told. | had no fault to impute
| to you. But | must confess that this morn
ing you have shown yourself capable of
thoughts and feelings l never suspected and
l shall leave you with a far lighter heart
than l came"
| "You expected to see me at your feet, i'm
| ploring your love and striving to melt you
| by tears-did you2 1t would have be pleas
| ing triumph-one that your Sex prizes, be-
| lieve; but you have not been gratified
know what is due to myself, and | do not
stoop. But there may be ways to punish the
| betrayer of confidence " she said with heay-
ing bosom and distended nostrils. 81 have a
brother; and even if he is forgetful, | shall
not forget"
Il am obliged to you for putting me on my
| guard. | wished to part otherwise. Be it so,
since you will. "
| He turned to leave the ROOM Swift as
! lightning she ran to the front door and
| braced herself against it, at the same time
calling loudly to her brother Mr. Norcross
came to the top of the stairs and listened
with apparent apathy, while the maddened
woman poured out her rage. He stood a mo-
ment like one in dream, and then slowly
| came down.
There is your cane" said Irene, fiercely,
pointing to the umbrella-stand.
| II give you fair warming" said Oakhurst,
calmly, "that you will never strike more than
one blow No man shall assault me but at
the risk of his life."
what is the need of this fury" asked Mr..
NOrcroSS. Il don't want TO quarrel with a
pauper. You are well rid of him. If you
were to be married, you'd only have the
pleasure of going to Coney Island for your
bridal trip"
"Then you will see me insulted without lift
ing fingers Coward! Broken down like a
weed for the loss of little money! l should
be ashamed to have beard, if l had such a
timid soulIH
81 trust. Miss Norcross," said Oakhurst,
"you do not wish TO prolong this scene Let
the pass"
"Oh, yes-you can go; can't he brotheri7
| She opened the door, looking scornfully
| from the one to the other.
At that moment Mrs. Norcross came down
! bringing a satchel, and asked Oakhurst to
walk with her until she could get carriage.
He cheerfully promised his aid, and took the
satchel. Her eyes were sadly beautiful, and
still humid from recent tears: and her face
wore touching look OF resignation She
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