Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-08-02
LURED AWAY;
or,
The Story Of a Wedding Ring,
BY CHARLOTTE ". BRAENR-


my going"
''Why'" asked the lawyer briefly.
"He would be afraid that | should never
come back" she replied,
But you do intend to return-you have
no idea of accepting Lord Carlswood's Of
fer?p
Not the least" she said; 81 told you I
would never break my husbands heart"
But it struck him there were no longer
the same fire and animation in her words.
you will come this evening"" she said,
land tell my husband all"
Paul. said Ismay, as they sat together
watching the sunset. do you see that
stranger Mt the garden gate' He is COM
ing to tell you the strangest story you
ever heard in all your life.
Paul Waldron heard Mr. Ford In stupe-
fed silence, in bewiIdering dismay. Once,
90 he listened, passionate cry Of despair
sme from his lips, and the lawyers heart
was touched with pity. When the story
was finished Paul forgot the strangers
presence; he turned TO his wife with love
and tenderness unutterable.
80 my darling" he said, my beauti-
full love, you are great lady after all"
IL am your wife, Paul." she rejoined,
her lovely face softening at the sight OF
his great emotion.
And this lord has invited you-yOu ana
our boy-tO visit him-you without mep'
perhaps he wants to see me first" she
returned. ut may be that he will ask to
see you next"
''You without mel" he repeated. "Oh,
my darling, do not think / feel it because
he is rich and great That would make
no difference to me. ] value no rank. |
value you my darling. If he should take
yon from meW
al" cannot" she whispered. "Who can
take me from your Am / not your wife
your own wife"
His great love, his passionate despair,
touched her; she felt thai she would rather
die than leave him Paul forgot that they
were not alone; he knclt at her feet, clasp
ed her hands in his own, and covered
them with passionate kisses, with passion
ate tears.
"My darling, how should | live If | lost
your You are the life of my life. You
are the light, the warmth, the center of
my soul-my heart lives in you. | love
you SO, sweet, that if you were to be taken
from me | should 20 mad | am fright
ened when | think of how | love you,
frightened AZ myself. May Heaven keep
from harm any one who would come be-
tween us. You are fair and fragile, [ am
strong with n mans strength: but, if you
babe me " uld lay myself at your feet
II would give you my life"
And love you, Paul" she whispered.
lie turned to Mr.. Ford.
'You see, sir, she loves me-loves me,
unworthy as am. This great man cannot
will not take her from me You see for
yourself she loves me"
''l sre' was the grave response. To
himself Mr.. Ford said, MAY Heaven have
mercy ON any man who trusts his happi-
ness to u womau's kccpingI"
You will not 20 for long, Ismay1" Paul
said.
She was so touched by his great passion,
his marvellous love- that she said-
q will not 90 mt all, unless you are quite
willing Paul"
But hc was too generous, too noble to
accept the sacrifice from her
"You shall go, my darling. and take the
boy with You. can trust you-ah, thank
Heaven, can trust you You will come
back TO me- and you will know then that
all the world can never give you the value
of my love-
81 know that now" she whispered, and
he was content.
She said aftcrward to Mr. Ford
1T was well we kept our secret and said
nothing of Lord Carlswoud's conditions; il
he Ind known them lie would never have
let me GO"
And Mr.. Ford sighed again as ho said 20
himself
''IIeaven help the man who trusts his
happiness TO a womnn's keepingp'
CHAPTER XII
OF the parting of Paul aud Ismay Wal
dron, Mr.. Ford could never endure to
think lie was strong, cool, shrewd,
calculating man, but when he recalled
that scene ne was filled with pain. Tho
grief OF the husbands honest, manly
heart, the silent anguish GA the handsome
face, the drspairing love with which no
chung to wife and child all came wildly
before him. More than once the lawyer
had been tempted TO tell her not To 20 to
Bratyn-morc than once Ismay was tempt
ed To clasp her arms round Paul's neck
aud promise never TO leave him IIo said
nothinl but he looked like man on
whom sentence OF death had been passed.
lie exhausted his resources in order that
his wife might be nicely dressed Ho had
bought dress of soft lustrous silk, and
they both thought in their simplicity that
This great lord will see that | have
taken care Of YOU" said the young hus-
band, half sadly, half fondly
The morning of departure came, and his
white face was pitful to see.
ut is only for visit" said Ismay, and
he clasped her in his arms.
"lsmay, darling, you will not let them
turn your heart from me-you will not
learn TO love wealth and luxury SO dearly
that you can never love me again?"
She southed him as women know how to
soothe the fears of those who love them
Mr.. Ford, who watched the scene, thought
he had never beheld a greater contrast
The husband was pale and haggard, full
OF great passion, great grief-the wife
beautiful, bright, and radiant her
loneliness enhanced by her tasteful dress.
her smiles brighter from the conscious
ness OF novelty. The little child looked
from one TO the other with wondering
eyes.
How can she leave himr' thought Mr..
Ford to himself "She has a STRONGER ma
ture than thought"
He turned away when Paul Waldron
held his wife in his arms and tried TO saw
farewell
You must enjoy yourself as much as
you can, lsmay. Do not sadden yourself
by thinking OF me here all alone / shall
be happy in thinking Of you aud. oh, my
darling, my darling" he cried, "be true
to me. Remember, the whole world can
give you nothing SO precious as my love"
And then he watched her until she had
passed out Of his sight His love for her
was So great that if in that hour he could
have foreSeen all he had to suffer he would
have died
Mr.. Ford was surprised 10 find how soon
Mrs Naldron recovered her spirits She
had wept bitterly ut parting from her hus-
band but the tears were soon dried. She
enjoyed the change and novelty. aud the
admiration she excited; her vanity was
hatteicd by the admirinG glances cast
upon her during the journey. No thought
of the lonely heart mourning for her and
refusing to be Comtorted came to disturb
her They reached Bralyn in safety, and
her delight at the sight of that magnificent
mansion was uubounded.
Lord Carlswood almost 10 st his self-pos-
session when his eyes fell first upon that
beautiful face.
at IS Katriue," he MISUNDERSTANDING
risen from the dead"
lsmay had all the Carlswood grace Of
manner and of movement She went up