Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-07-06
LURED AWAY,
TIE STORY OF A WEDDLNG-R RING.
BY CHARLOTTK NJ. BRAEMR-

Yes she whispered, family. II would
give my life TO undo it; but it is too late
Paul says so. | went to ask him to take
me back; l would willingly have been poor
with him. But he is rich now. He would
not take me back; and it is killing me. ]
am afraid TO deny life has been 81
empty, my sin SO great"
Then she fell back faint and exhausted.
He rose in alarm to call for help; but she
caught his hand.
Tell me before You go-you tempted
me-you are old and wise-tell me. what
answer shall / give in extenuation of my
sim"
May Heaven pardon ms!' said the old
man. IL do not know"
He could not bear it; he gave one more
look at ;he closed eyes and the white face
and then hastily quilted the room. Those
words haunted and frightened him-"You
tempted me. What shall l sayy"
~ might have adopted the child, and
have left husband and wife together" he
thought II have lone wrong. For a
Carlswood to acknowledge that means
that he must frankly own it and atone 70,
it. l. who prided myself on my long de
scent, on my unblemished honor, on m,
stainless name must go TO this man ant
ask his forgiveness"
lie went again TO Ismay, and from hel
learned where Paul was.
His wonder was great ut finding in the
new member, the gifted orator, the man
OF the people" Paul Waldron, his grand
chi!d's husband He dared not wait TO
express his surprise. She was in great
danger, and he believed that her husbands
presence would save her. Her life seemed
ebbing fast Heaven help him if he should
te too late.
Once more Paul was disturbed mt his
books-thist time it was by the unexpected
announcement of Lord Carlswood." lie
had heard nothing Of his wife's illness. He
bad resolved upon leaving England after
that in~teryiew-he could not look upon
her face again.
He rose from his seat when he heard the
name, and stood ready TO receive his wish
tor. At last they stood face to face, the
~injurer and the injured, the proud peer
and the proud Paul saw a
stately figure bent before him, a grand old
face quivering with emotion and pale with
dread.
In his courtly, high-bred fashion, Lord
Carlswood held out his hand.
II have done you a grievous wrong, sir"
ne said, 'and | am here to ask your par
don" Lord Carlswood was gazing into a
face rs proud rs his own.
II have no pardon TO give, Lord Carls-
wood was the naughty reply. lit is too
late to ask it,"
You must not refuse me" said the old
nobleman.
Years ago, Lord Carlswood, you tempt
ed from me my wife, whom | loved as no
man ever loved n woman before; o took
from me my child: you laid my life bare
and desolate; you robbed me of every hope.
For such wrongs l have no pardon"
Tho old man bent mis- head with q hu-
L.ility rare in him.
Il did wrong, sir. did not think so mt
the time; l see it now. | did a grievous
to forgive me-"
stern reply.
Il come Of a proud race" continued the
old man; mo man springing from IL ever
bent his knee in su~pplication to his fellow
man. do it to you"
Paul half turned away: he saw tears
gathering in the old nobleman's eyes.
II shall look upon myself rs an assassin,
unless You give me your pardon" he con-
tinued. 1T was / who wronged you, not
Ismay, your wife. / tempted her-I stud
led every foible, every weakness OF her
character. l lured her away from you,
and it Is not just that she should bear the
blame"
Paul stood IN silence for a few minutes,
and then he said
Il do not understand your motive for
asking my pardon"
Lord Carlswood looked at him in sur
prise.
You did not know that Ismay was I'LL
Ismay is dying, sir! l am sure, If you
would 90 TO her. if You would speak kind
ly to her, she would live-she would get
better. You must not refuse me-. For the
love of Heaven, come and visit her!'
'Ismay DYING" repeated Paul, inter
rupting the passionate flow of words.
Come with me; if she dies, | shall feel
that / h nave killed here and Paul saw that
the old mans eyes were full Of tears.
"In the presence of death" he said, kind
iy, "all human love and hate disappears.
| will go with you"
'.And you forgive me?n said the low
| voice.
There was a short struggle, and then
Paul laid his hand on the trembling arm.
Il forgive YOU" hn said; and thsy .eft the
house together
CHAPTER XIX.
Gently and noiselessly they went mp the
broad staircase that 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, 1T 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
her room.
you had better 60 IN alone" he said;
and Paul, turning the handle, quietly
| went In