River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-09-19

name now. He and Stella sat with |
claspei hands and sorrow.pl eyes; they
had never loved each other as they die |
now. Then in the night. as she lay |
half distraught with her trouble anc /
LeO's. the instinct of self-sacrifct /
which is in every good woman's nature
which has made heroines and martyr /
of them so often, inspired her; and 4
with shudderings and tremblings, she /
resolved TO save Leo even at the COS |
Of her own misery and despair. With. |
out a word or hint to Leo. sue |
wrote Standish that il he would moi
have pity on her, knowing how she
felt toward him, she must needs accept /
his cruel terms, since she loved her /
cousin more than aught else in the |
world. Would he. she wondered. still .
want to marry her after thaty
He took her az her word with Joy /
and triumph. He would know how to 1
guard her against Leo-against every
man in Christendom; and he had all |
the faulty common TO lovers who be-
lieve they can make a woman love /
them. Even then Stella had hope that |
she would be able to creep out of her /
promise through some loophole;. but |
Standish was far too clever for that. /
Leo had obtained weeks delay for /
the payment of his Goodwood losses /
Before Standish handed over Stel- !!
las purchase-mOney she must be
his. She must go through the form
of marriage with him at a registry |
Office. He would then leave her |
free for two months. during which he |
was to appear to her family to VOC
and win her. He knew she was not OF /
age. but he would hardly stick at such
trihe as lie now. And Stella, with
out word to Leo or any living soul.
with death in her heart, went out one
morning and married Standish, and
received from him her price. 92. 600 in |
Bank OF England notes. Her trembling
hands placed them that night in Leo's, /
and he went half mad with delight
and vowed that after all Standish was
a prince of good fellows and perhaps
had only meant 10 give him a fright
for his own good. Stella held her
peace. She could not, dared not tell
hin-not, at all events, until he had
paid away the money. She knew well
enough how he would fling it back in
Standish's face, perhaps with blows
and violence, did he but guess the /,
truth. When Leo sought his deliv-
erer. and. .grasping his hand, poured
forth all his gratitude with heartfelt
emotion, Standish experienced a sensa- /
tion that was not ploa surable.
A few days latel Stella's husband !
made a formal demand for her hand OF |
her uncle and aunt. The good people !
were delighted. Mercifully for Stella,
Leo had gone yachting with friend
for three weeks. Mrs. Grey could not |
make out why the girl was not over !
joyed at her wonderful fortune.
Standish was lover in ten thousand;
his settlements. his gifts were prince
ly. He did not trouble her with much |
love-making-he could afford to bide /
his time; but no woma:. could have I
had more tender thought and consid- /
Grafton shown her. He was so kind I
that a wild hope flashed across her !
that perhaps. after all. he would set
her free, for OF late the fond affection 4
she had formerly felt for Leo had |
grown into madness of love that was
eating her heart out. Suddenly one 4
evening she turned to Standish, and In 4
an agony of tears implored him to re-
lease her He bit his lip; dark red |
flush came into his face.
What you ask is impossible. even
If / were willing he said; and then.
in a tone which was quite low. and yet !
which terrified her, he added: do !.
you know that you are mine now, and 1
that could take you away with me
this moment if | cSose?n
Asyet Leo was ignorant OF Stella's en-
gagement; she had made it point |
that he was only to be told by her own /
lips. Ali what terrible telling it |
was on the evening when he came /
back, joyous and radiant from his /
cruise! The quivering aspen leaves /
which had listened to their former con- /
AAuCANIos Aidb u HStA lulC W Toll dANCE Z
that night-of wild sobs, and impreca-
tiOns aud agony. Stella, his Stella, the /
wife OF Standish! free only at this mo-
ment by his forbearance!
The cruel DAYS kept on. Leo aud !
Stella trying hard to hide their wretch I
eduess within their own hearts. Leo |
never met Standish; he was not to be /
at the marriage. His parents under I
stood that he felt little sore, but |
thought with light hearts that he would .
soon get over it. The night before the 4
wedding came; il was supposed that /
Leo had left London, but again the |
rustling leaves sighed over the sor-
rows of those two poor breaking |
young hearts. Their lips were pressed /
together in au agony of farewell; it |
was an agony in which no JOY mingled.
because there was no hope.
''Swear!n whispered Leo with wild /
intensity. "Swearr'
And she answered, in voice |
strangely like his: Il swear"
Never was bridegroom more tri-
umphantly glad than Standish, as he |
put his wife into the carriage that was /
to take them away for their honey /
moon. A friend had lent him lovely |
place in Surrey for a fortnight. |
Stella had borne up during tho cere-
mony. had smiled. had accepted aud |
returned the embraces OF family and /
friends. But no sooner was she in the /
carriage than the reaction came. and /
she sank back white and exhausted,
Standish was forbearance itself He 1
made every allowance for her. As he 4
was strong. he was merciful. She /
scarcely spoke a dozen words during I
the long drive, and when they reached I
their destination she complained OF 4
fatigue and went TO her room.
Dinner had been waiting half an
hour. Standish felt delicaey in dis |
turbing his wife. AT last he sent for I
her maid. The woman said she had /
knocked several times without receiv- /
ing an answer. Staudish ran up
stairs. knocked loudly, and after a
moment burst open the door.
Stella lay asleep on the sofa (
asleep. yes, forever. She had kept 4