Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-06-15

| dreaded the thought OF returning 10 hel
humble home, OF giving up her jewels, o.
! growing accustomed again to an obscure
life. How she would miss the grandeur
the luxury, the magnificence Of Bralyn!
Yet she loved Paul-loved him as dearly
| and deeply as her light nature would al
| low her to love. There were nights when
| her pillow was wet with tears-when she
sobbed as though her heart would break
when she thought all the world well lost
for him. But with the morning sunshine
those better thoughts would flee. She
never forgot her husband-when she saw
anything especially beautiful she would
long for him. She would take her little
child out into the grounds, so that, un-
heard by others, she might talk to him OF
his father. There was hardly an hour in
which her heart did not turn to Paul, but
she was vain. weak, fond Of luxury, easily
persuaded. and the love of self, the love
of wealth and magnificence, was stronger
than her love for him.
IL am in my right place now" she would
say to herself; II never felt at home in
Paul's little cottage"
Then, when Lord Carlswood thought
the love Of present surroundings had TAX
en- deep root, he spoke to her. He was
calm, firm, and decided; he told her that
nothing would ever induce him to recog-
nize her husband, and he repeated his Of
fer.
II shall not seek to influence YOU" he
said. II simply lay both paths in life be
| fore you; you shall choose as you will. i
you make up your mind to return and take
| your boy with you, so be 1t. l will not re-
| proach you, but | shall never look upon
your face again; D~or-pardon me for speak.
ing SO plainly-shall l ever leave to you or
Lionel one shilling Of my money. Do not
think | shall ever change. If, on the con-
trary, you decide to remain with me, l
will make you heiress Of all my fortune,
and my estate shall go TO your son. You
shall have every advantage that | can offer
you. | will find some lady accustomed to
the usages of good society and the ways OF
the world to give you two or three months
instruction, and then next season you
shall 90 to London. You shall be mistress
OF Braiyn House. one of the most magnifi-
cent mansions in the metropolis. You
shall be n queen, a leader of fashion. You
shall live one Of the most brilliant lives
woman ever led. You shall have wealth
in abundance, and your son-your beauti-
ful boy-shall succeed to a large fortune"
Her face flushed as she listened, and then
grew deadly pale.
"And what is the condition Of all thisrn
she asked.
THAT you give up your husband, who
but | need not tell you what he is-thas
you consent to live apart from him, and
never to see him again"
81 iE pr,,nl1, ~, 81 ~ Il
Not so hard as you think" he rejoined.
Rank always has its penalties. How
many queens have married for the good OF
their kingdom, and have given up the man
they really loved2 How many noble ladies
at the call of duty, have married meI
whom they disliked? You are not required
to suffer so: you have but to leave u mar
whose tastes, habits, and manner cannot
fail TO be disagreeable to you"
II love my husband" " she opposed.
Certainly. Well, you must think Il
over, Ismay. and let me know the result. :
She tried entreaties, ~expostulations. re
monstrances, and prayers-it was all il
vain. The resolve he had formed he woult
not break.
At first she said to herself she would be
true to Paul. She would go home, an'
never mind the poverty, the privations
or anything else. Paul was worth any
sacrifice; Paul loved her so dearly tina
nothing should induce her to stay away
from him. Then she pictured to herself
with what infinite delight he would re
ceive her-how he would love her, bless
her for her truth, thank her for the sacri
flee. Her heart grew warm with love for
him, her eyes grew dim with tears.
But she was vain and weak; love and
vanity struggled hard for mastership, and
vanity won the day. She forgot the WOO
ing among the green lanes Of Ashburn.
ham, she forgot the early love Of her girl
hood, the bright, beautiful, fleeing ro-
nance; she forgot her wifely duty, her
plighted troth, her husbands love; she was
careless Of his suffering, needless of his
despair, when she told Lord Carlswood
that she had thought the matter well over
and had decided to stay.
His lordship sent for Mr.. Ford, and Mr..
Ford received instructions to write to Paul
Waldron to inform him OF Lord Carts
woods offer and of his wife's acceptance
OF 1t. He wrote, picturing to himself the
handsome, haggard face as he had see It
last.
"May Heaven pardon those who deliber-
ately break a human hearth he said, as he
finished the letter.
He had written very plainly, telling Paul
what Lord Carlswood had decided to do,
and that, although willing to adopt Ismay
and her son., he steadfastly refused in any
way to recognize his grandchild's husband.
Your wife has had plenty OF time to de
~s1~ - L. 5000 sk--l L. -
Bralyn."
BY Lord Carlswood's wish Ismay In
closed a note.
"It will be a confirmation of Mr.. Ford's
letter" he said.
She wrote
II cannot expect you ever to forgive me,
Paul, or to think as I think. I know how
much you have loved me-and l have
loved and do love you; still, for nv own
sake and Leo's, ! think l ought to accept
Lord Carlswood's offer. wish that it had
been different; | wish that you could share
all our advantages. You may think that
l ought to have refused and have returned
| to you but l should never have been hap,
Ply at Ashburnham again. The little
home that contents o would not have
tell you this frankly. | could not be happy
with you again. You must not think mi
unkind. | always felt that l was not in
my right place. For all the love and care
you have lavished upon me ] thank you
o in bidding you farewell"
So coldly, so heartlessly written, We,
blurred and blotted with burning tears
without one word she placed the letter in
II - -