Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-08-16
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
Gently and noiselessly they went up the
broad staircase tnaU led to Ismay's room.
They passed the marble statues that
cleaned palely between the costly hang
ings, the rare pictures that adorned the
walls Paul, looking on the magnificent
display, thought to himself, sit was for
this she deserted me, and sold my love"
Then the bitterness died out of his heart.
She was dying, and he was going to her to
forgive her.
Lord Carlswood pointed to the door of
ner room.
You had better go in alone" he said:
and Paul, turning the handle, quietly
went in.
He never forgot the scene. The bright
sunshine came in, softened and subdued
through the shade of the rose-colored
blinds; the room itself was magnificentIy
furnished-every luxury, every comfort
was there; the suubeams fell on the bed
with its low hangings, and on the white.
worn, beautiful face that seemed to bear
the very impress of death.
The nurse left the room as Paul entered
it, and he knelt down by the bedside. Is
may had fallen into a restless, troubled
sleep, and as he watched her all the burn
IL anger, the bitter vengeance cherished
through so many long years, died away.
lie forgot the past-he forgot the agony of
those ten years-he remembered only the
beautiful girl he had woOed and won-the
lovely young wife he had worshiped; he
thought OF all her bright, graceful ways;
and now she l9y dying they said. She was
80 young when they tempted her away, and
they had tempted her through her love of
all that was beautiful aud luxurious.
She had not left him for annther-she h ad
never given one thought to any other; rralI
and feeble as her love was, she had given
1t all to him. And now she lay dying
never to give her love to anyone again.
W as IL true, as she sad, that her wo lan's
soul was only just awakened' 1t mis- hit be.
And in the awakening she tur1 ed to
me- he said-'no one else but me-"
What she must have suffered TO be
brought so near death because b ; would
not forgive herl How she must lave loved
him after all! Her whole hear must have
yearned for him. Was it not through love
of him that she lay dying7 IS he though,
of that, the last remnant of ride and an
ger died out Of his heart. T ow she must
have loved hint He remem )ered that and
nothing else. He bent do, n and kissed
tne thln wnite hand.
When he raised his face she wa. looking
at him-the sad, sweet e. es were fixed on
his face. She did not seem surprised TO
see him.
''Paulr' she whispered. Am 1 dream
ing'"
My darling" he said, gently. clasping
her in his arms, you are not dreaming.
l am here to love you, to win you back to
life, and to make you so happy that we
shall both forget the wretched past"
He raised her. and the beautiful wan
face dropped on his breast. She tried to
put her arms round his neck, but they fell
weak and helpless by her side
Put my arms round your neck, dar-
ling" she whispered; land, if l have TO
die, let me die So
Tears were raining down his face, her
weakness touched him as her beauty never
could have done
You shall not die, sweet" he said, If
the strength Of mighty love can bring
you back to life
Then. kneeling by her side, holding her
tightly clasped in his arms, he told her the
story of his love and his sorrow-of his life
since he had lost her.
She was as happy as s lost child restored
to its mothers arms.
How strong love isI' she whispered to
him. Il feel that while you love me 30
dearly cannot de-
He soothed ber with the long-silent
music of loving words, until the sweet
eyes grew heavy. and then she said
Paul, you viii not leave me If sleepl