Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21

| HAiu hO" uitl YOU Steep. uetT:
'Oh, well: too welln' exclaimed Mona.
| We'll, stay where you are. I'll bring
You cup OF coffee and 4 bit OF toast, for
| have long, busy day before me"
| She hurried away, and soon returned
with a fragrant cup Of cafe du tdtt and a
| slice of buttered toast.
I'm off now, make yourself comfortable
| dear: there are some books in the next
room; with splendid stories in them, they
make your hair stand on end, and forget
the time Goodbye, DEAR
Mona dressed slowly, and went into the
sittiug-room. 1t was a stormy, wet day
| The fire had been hastily loaded with coal.
and had succumbed to the load The hand
| bell evoked tall, hard-featured woman,
with thick, grizzled hair, a spotless cap
and dark print dress.
The fires gone out?'' she repeated. in a
high-pitched tone. II dare say madame
thinks Goals II light of themselves; she
just pitches them on. whether there is
spark alive or not. I'll fetch a few sticks
MISS
The fire burning, the hearth swept, and
q few tidying touches bestowed on the
room, made vast improvement.
Mona threw herself into an armchair.
and tried to think what was best to do.
The previous evening she had posted a few
lines to the Chase, announcing her safe
arrival; she might therefore postpone her
next letter for twenty-four hours.
She could hardly expect All answer from
Waring till the next day. He was staying
not very far away-with the gentleman
who had been his guardian, and for whom
he had a great regard.
She strove to swallow norsel or two of
the dinner set before her; she tried to
gather the sense of an agonizing tale and
interest herself in the tremendous perse-
cutions of the heroine. All in vain. Time,
however, was rolling on; she might soon
expect Nine. Debrisay. Four o'clock struck
when she had gone into the bedroom to
seek for some piece of fancy work, when
the sound of the front door-bell, followed
by step in the next room, made her hope
that her kind hostess had returned Going
quickly in to greet her, she beheld Jane,
the servant, in the act of lighting the gas,
while by the window, looking paler-stern-
er than she thought he could, stood Leslie
Waringl
Good morning." he said, stif1y, 81
thought L would find you in"
This while Jane pulled down the blind
and retired. Then he made step forward
to where Mona stood, motionless-her
trembling hands locked together, her eyes
wide-opened, gazing at him.
do you seriously mean what you have
written here?' he asked, i'll thick, I'M
steady voice, as he drew forth and opened
her letter
Yes, " she said; 81 do"
''Then have a right to ask the reason
of 7 is oh n
to deserve it?''
''You have deserved nothing but good
and gratitude from me-" falterad Mona,
sinking into chair, as she felt her limbs
unable to support her
''Then why do you desert me?''
81 told you in my letter-the whole truth.
1 cannot love you as a wife ought to love"
I'VE agreed to get over that difficulty.
I hoped to win your affection If you were
quite free from any other attachment"
''And I I'M, Mr.. Waring! There is not
man in existence whom l would accept at
this moment. But''-she was growing
calmer under the desperate necessity of
explanation-"I also told you-what, in,
deed, | bushed to write-that my Grand
mothers wish, her overpowering need, in
duced me to consent to what, otherwise, !
should not have accepted"
Il understand. Then, Mona, you have
treated me very badly. You took me when
l was necessary to you; you throw me aside
when you think you can do without me!
And love you so! Thought 1 was going
straight into heaven when you promised
to be my wife! | had faith in your promise
to try and love me; and, after all, you were
only sacrificing yourself to maintain your
grandmOther-a sacrifice you gladly escape
as soon as you can! You have broken your
contractp'
You are justly angry. I cannot defend
myself. But do you not think you will be
happier with some woman fairer and bet
ter than am, who will love you heartily,
and"
NO one will ever be so fair and good as
you seem to me; and as you reject me, how
am to believe any one will love me? You
had every reason to love me, yet you could
not"
Love cannot reason"
Then you know what love is?" cried
W.Eng, sharply. "There is something
still in your heart which you will not speak
out! All, Mona! why can mot please you?
Why are you so cruel? You have destroyed
my life!"
There was such passionate despair in his
7oice that Mona was profoundly moved.
She felt guilty, culpable, to the last de-
cree; and wavering in her Fes0iut1on-wisb-
ing, if possible, to do the right thing, she
stammered-
Tiff you think it worth accepting, [
will retract that letter, and-and do my
| best"
Mop interrupted Waring, with digni-
| ty Of which she did not imagine him capa-
| bic. 'You cannot endure me! l do not
want victim! love You too we'll for
! that. But, ah, Monai it is an agony to
think you will have to face the roughness
/ of life! Whether you love me or not
whether you desert me or mott would
| gladly give half I possess to shield you
| from all you dare TO face. Promise you
will let me help you if you need help
promise, Monar'
Surely" she cried, greatly touched
'surely Heaven has cursed you with some
! thing OF a woman's heart, or you would
not feel so tenderly and generously for one
who has panied and wounded you! 1 feel
your superiority, and humbly beg your
forgiveness. will always think Of you as
a tree gentleman. May you find greater
| happiness than l could bestow. Here
take this backr'
Pray keep it." he said, as she held out
her engagement-ring of diamonds.
q cannot, Mr. Warning; you must take il
back"
He thrust it on his finger.
.eThen it is all over between usr' he
said, passionately; "a1 quite overt Per
haps it is better so. 1t would have broker
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