Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-30
THE OLD LOVE IS BEST.

Guy Carroll and Adele Hautville had
been playmates together and child sweet
hearts, but the dreams of their youth had
never been realized. They had separated
and she had wed rich old man. Guy
Carroll could never understand the rea-
son for this match; he had heard Of it
while travelling abroad, and the thought
cost him many a heart-pang.
When he returned home again, how
ever, it was to bring to Adele Hautville
an invitation to his own wedding that
was to take place in few days. But
Mrs. Hautville did not 90. She started
abroad at once, without saying anything,
and it was over two years before she re-
turned again.
"Why do you seek to avoid me soY'
said Viola Carroll to Adele when they met
one day at reception. Everyone Is
Noticing it,"
"You imagine it," said Mrs. Hautville.
II have known Guy too long to drop our
friendship. You are very fanciful."
Viola's only answer was to burst into
food of tears. Adele comforted her as
best she could, and finally heard her
story.
''You wonder, perhaps, why / am so
frivolous, and why fiirt first with one
and then with the other. Oh, yes; you
do wonder. You look at me In amaze.
You, you see, are one of the perfect
women who never do these things, who
never commit follies. One must do
something, though, to keep oneself from
brooding and brooding till one goes crazyl
Do you suppose if Guy cared for me that
l would do as | dor
''Oh, he does care for you-he does care
for you'll" murmured Adele, eagerly.
"Do you-do you think so? Oh, why,
then, is he so cold, so Indifferent And
Guy CarrolIs wife, married but three
years, buried her face once more IN Mrs.
Hautville's cushions and sObbed In an
abandonment of grief which made
Adele's heavy heart ache with a new
pain.
Of course, everyone was at Mrs. Haut-
ville's ball. A beauty, young widow,
woman of large means, who enter
tanned delightfully."-, why should not her
house be crowded?
She had been absorbed by her duties
until late in the evening. When she
passed Guy Carroll, who stood alone and
motionless in doorway, he offered her
his arm.
''Let me take you somewhere, that you
may rest few moments"
He led her to wide balcony, which
had been inclosed partially with glass
and filled with plants.
81 am glad that you brought me here"
she said. The place was solitary. The
dancing music reached them in softened
strains. 81 wanted to speak to you about
Viola"
about Viola?" He laughed little.
"What is there to say? She is happy.
Look at her dancing in there"
He turned his face away again, and in
the moonlight all its altered, haggard
lines were plainly apparent. Adele felt
hand grip her heart. But she spoke at
once.
''You think too easily that she is happy.
She is not"
He looked at her little surprised, she
thought, but without other manifestation
of interest.
"She is not happy" Adele went on,
feverishly. ''She is frivolous because she
thinks you are Indifferent to her. She
loves you well. If you would show her
the same affection that was between you
at first, all would be changed for you
both"
Re crossed his arms over his breast.
He spoke doggedly, and as Adele heard
him she sank down upon a low seat,
screened by plants, and buried her face
in her hands.
81 suppose you think me villain. You
used to think well of me in the long ago,
but everything seems changed now. Love
her as | oIce did? | don't think / ever
loved her. Do you know whom l have
loved for year past, and God knows for
how long beside? You-youl Yes, ]
knew you would shrink away from me.
4 should have allowed myself to be cut
into pieces before | committed the dis
loyalty of speaking to you. But l am
driven-driven! / have suffered so long
that | must speak"
''Hushl-hush! You must not-you
shall not say another word"
She had gathered herself together at
last and stood confronting him, with her
hands stretched before her in repellant
gesture, which he took for loathing.
Il have nothing more to say" he an
swered duly. Il shall never open my
lips again as 1 have done tonight"
She had fled from him. Hestood there
a moment longer in the moonlight, and
then he turned, hstlessly. automat ically.
There was the CLEAN of white dress,
Viola stood before him. The moonlight
flashed back family from the diamonds
on her neck. They burned with light
no deeper than her eyes.
you are not dancing tonight" she
said.
She looked steadily up at him. He had
never seen her glance have so strange .
brilliance.
mo, leave that to you," he said, not
mockingly, but YEARLY. 81 hope you
are enjoying yourself"
'This has been the happiest night of
my life"
II
The evening following the ball Adele
Hautville, sitting alone in her room, was
told that Mr.. Carroll was waiting to see
her below.
Her first impulse was to refuse to re-
ceive him. The disclosure which had
been pressed upon her the night before
had filled her with boundless agitation
which she dared not analyze. Her only
safety, the only hope of happiness for
Guy and that poor young creature whom
he had married and failed to render hap
Ply, seemed to lie in flight for herself.
She descended the stairs with firm res
olution that she would carry her purpose
into effect at once.
But as soon as she entered the room
and Guy turned toward her these thoughts
fled from her mind, swallowed in a sud.
den apprehension.
whats the natter" she contrived to
say.
''Viola-have you see herr
"No."