Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-07-12
LURED AWAY;
OR.
The Story Of a Wedding Ring,
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEMR-

fert'
"What idle wordsp' she exclaimed, half
laughingly.
But you do not answer them, sweet.
Which would you prefer"
She looked up at him with half-startled
glance.
How could such state of things be,"
she asked. How could wealth and you
be rivals in my estimationW
THAT could never be, of course" he
replied. II am merely supposing such a
case"
He never forgot the hour and the words.
They had wandered down to the brook
side and sat watching the sunset. By
Ismay's side grew large bush of south
ern-Wood, and as they talked she crushed
the leaves In her hands. To the last day
OF his life, Paul Waldron associated all
his sorrows, joys, love, and pains with the
perfume of southernwoOd-
You have not answered me-" he per-
sisted
81 cannot" she said, laughing; "I have
not your faculty for suppOsing cases ]
have not the gift of putting myself in 9TH
er peoples places, and trying to imagine
what should do"
But, Ismay, the question is 50 plain you
cannot puzzle long over it. If you had to
choose between money and NE, which
would you prefer"
Such thing can never be-" she re-
piled. why try to make me solve a prob
lem that life will never offer to me' l
have read somewhere that people never
have the one thing they WANT shall
never have fortune"
"Is a fortune your highest ambitionp'
he asked, impatiently.
aft ia tho nm hilton of rnnet - "a
replied. 'They toll for it all day, they
dream of it all night they give up peace
and love for it, they sacrifice honor, trnth,
and principle to obtain it; some of them
are willing even to sell their souls in or
der TO win it. If do long for fortune /
am only like the rest"
He looked terribly disappointed.
There is nothing in the world you would
prefer to meP' he questioned.
And then she detected his anxiety, and
laughed again.
You want pretty compliments, Paul.
Suppose that | refuse to give them. Is
there anything on earth that wives prefer
TO their own husbands2"
The eyes raised to his were bea utiful In
their love and tenderness he could not
look Mt that most fair face and think the
heart beneath it anything but pure. He
bent down and kissed IL.
do not think doubted you. 1t is not
that; but, when mans heart lies in the
hollow of "A woman's hand-when his life
lies Mt her feet-when every hope of his
existence Is Centercd in hers it strange
that he should try at times to measure her
love for hhn1"
The passion of his wOrds-the love in his
face-the unuttcrable tenderness of his
manner-tOuChcd her deeply. She flung
away the bruised and broken sprays OF
southernwood and clasped her hands
round his neck.
mo one could ever love me as you do,
Paul, she said
And he was happy with unutterable
content. Life held much that was sad
and much that was pleasant for him, but
he never forgot that evening by the brook
side.
CHAPTER ~.
Another month passed; the beauty Of
the summer deepened, the corn was grow
ing ripe in the fields, the crimson roses
contrasted with the cool white lilies. the
fruit hung rich and mellow on the trees,
while lsmay Waldron still looked with
longing eyes toward the world that she
wished to enter She still, gave eyery
thought to the one master passion of her
nature. In vain the ring-doves cooed, and
the lark scared high with its triumphant
song; in vain the flowers bloomed, and her
pretty child stretched out his little hands
to her She was always thinking always
dreaming Of that possible future wherein
Paul might grow rich, and every desire OF
ner heart he gratifed
She had ceased to wonder about her
mother; all the romantic visions that she
had once woven faded into obscurlty; her
life seemed planned and arranged; moth
ing could alter It She was Paul Wal
dron's wife, and she loved him She
wished for no grea ter love than his: but,
If Paul could give her wealth. if he could
surround her with the luxury she loved
ah, then all would be WE'LL
Once-and lsmay never forgot it-she
went to the Manor House, there was a
grand fete to be given TO the tenantry. and
Paul for the occasion had bought his
beautiful young wife n dress of white
muslin, with bright ribbons When she
had put it on. with u flower in her hair.
she looked SO lovely that he was startled
at her beauty. She read his admiration in
his eyes.
You will own" she said, that dress
mCles some little difference All, Paul. If
l had but Jewels and rich dresses. such as
ladies wcHrl"
You would not look more beautiful. Is |
may. Now you gladden. my heart then |
you would gladden. other hearts. and / |
should not be SO happy. love"
irmay never forgot that day. She looked |
round the magnificent rooms on the pic |
lures, the statues, the superb hangings.
the furniture, the rare fiOwers-and her |
whole heart achcd with longing. She |
looked on the faces of the ladies-some of |
them county leaders of fashion-and she |
saw none that could be compared with her |
own. She watched the hundred evidences |
OF wealth, and her very soul seemed on |
fire with the eagerncss of her wishes.
why is there naught for NEE" she said |
to herself. why should others have
money, luxury. and splendor, while l. |
who am fairer than they, must pass my
life in lonely cottage, counting each |
shilling aS | spend it"
She saw the glarGes or admiration cast |
upon her; she heard one ask another: |
who is that beautiful girl?" and her
vanity wasilattercd. If, so plainly attired.
she could produce this marked sensation. |
what would size not do when magnificent
" dresscd'
In the midst OF her excitement and
pleasure she could not refrain from noti-
cling one thing-among all the crowd of |
men there was not one who surpassed in |
appearance her husband Paul Ii WAS the
nrst time she had mix ed in society, or had
seen what is commonly called the world.
She had imagined that all those who bore
noble names would carry the impress OF
those names on face and figure Here
were lords, barouets, and esquires, but she
saw among them no face more noble than
Pauls. no figure more manly; she heard
no voice with SO true ring, she saw no
smile so luminous and frank
He is one of Natures uoblemen." said
the young wife to herself and her heart
grew warm IS she looked at him. She
had thought that among people 50 greatly
above him in position he would perhans
show some ntuurdiSe hOnte-some shy |
embarrassment or confusion: but on his
frank, noble face there was no trace of
either
There's somewhat in this world amiss
Shall be unriddled hv ana by"
said lsluay to herself as she watched him. |
'lf IL were not SO, Paul would occupy one
OF the grand places these men cannot fill |
so worthily as he" She saw gentlemen
OF position talking to him, seeming deeply
interested in his conversation. She no
ticed another thing-his love was like a
watchful presence round her: he never
forgot her; he seemed to be always think |
N NgNfN NffNrF ~f,.,g I