Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-03
EAvEsDROPPERs BOTH.

| And you still love your little Alice as
much as In the old days!
| These words SO electrified handsome
young man lying on the gorgeous oriental
lounge that he sprang up as II stung by
wasp.
Well they might startle him, spoken as
! they we're by the silvery voice OF his own
Young wife, to visitor so lately arrived
that he, Sir Geogrey Herrescombee, lord
of the manor, had not yet greeted him.
He knew, however, that he was Capt.
Frank Halifax, friend of his wife's child
! hood and youth, and also man OF no
slight reputation as charmer OF the tar
| sex.
The very interesting conversation Sir
Godfrey now had the pleasure OF overhear.
! ing was carried on just the other side of
the heavy double curtains between his
sanctum and the drawing room. The door
was usually closed, but had been lnadvert-
entity left ajar. A velvet tete-asete on the
other side furnished the seat for the two
whose words seemed now to carry
death to his love and happiness in every
syllable.
more, if possible! Do you remem-
her-'' Here the hum of general CONVEX
sation in the drawing room rendered the
gallant captains next words undistinct to
| the strained ears of his host.
at was only after your marriage that
realized how deep my love was. When |
learned that it was returned | sold out at
Cnce and came home, and here | shall
stay until" Once more his voice was
drowned by the others.
| Shl Frank Let us not take all the world
into our confidence. There is much to be
planned and done before"
! By this time the usually placid young
man on the other side was nearly dancing
with rage and wounded feeling.
How can she be so false? Only this
morning she assured me Of her love, with
her sweet violet eyes looking love-lighted
into mine What 4cting!"
So saying Sir Godfrey flung himself
out of the room, ordered his feriest horse
sad died, and took ride across the coun-
| try that worked off the wrath possessing
| him, leaving only feeling Of the deepest
sadness.
When he returned his guests had just
separated, after lingering over the tea
table, and were dressing for dinner. He
went directly to his own dressing room,
where he was still haunted by the sound
of those hateful words ringing In his ears
He must not let them suspect that he had
overheard them, and his face flushed hotly
at the remembrance of the way he had
listened to words not intended for his
ears, but
When he descended to dinner his face
woru a look of icy composure so new to
his wife that it struck terrible chill to
the heart Of Lady Alice. Instantly. how
ever, her pride rose to the occasion, and
the few words she spoke to him were so
studied and cool as to confirm his sus-
picson that she did not love him, and never
I had.
To her neighbor. Cap. Halifax, she was
so gay and charming, and at times so con-
| fdential, as to make the evening one Of
torture to her husband. And so shadow
lay upon these two young hearts, deepen
ing as the hours passed into dense black
cloud.
| A week later Lady Alice came slowly
down stairs, one warm forenoon, her love-
| iy eyes dark with sorrow, and her whole
bearing lisIess and detected. Approach
ing the door of her husbands ''den," she
stepped In, knowing he was going for
walk with Loren Fairhaven, college
friend who was visiting him.
He told me when he fitted up this
room that it was to be perfectly free to
ne; he would be always glad to see my
dear face in the doorway. Why, oh. why
should he change SO! He confines him
self TO simple civities when speaking to
me- canrot understand it, but he shall
never, neve. never know how 1t hurts"
How warm and tired / feel! l think
| | will lie down for few minutes ] can
go away when hear him comming."
Thus thinking she threw herself upon
| the lounge and soon sank into slumber,
her charming face showing, even in sleep,
he traces of her morning disquiet.
Half an hour later she sprang to a sit
ting posture, aroused by the sound of
voices from the other side of the por-
| there's.
Your wife is darling creature, Geof!
Your lucky dog!'
Am II" was the laconie answer, in
| Slightly satirical tone.
| ''Of course you do not need any lnfoIma-
| ton on that point, but could not help
! speaking. She seemedto me, even at my
! Introduction, quite the sweetest little lady
! | mad ever met, and she grows more lovely
/ on nearer acquaintance. | wish | could
+ lind another just like her; you would soon
/ see, me among the Benedicts-if she d have
MEL
Say, old fellow, you and have been too
| close friends for me to mince matters with
you now My married life is a dead
| failure!"
Then with rapid change to his former
! light conversational tone:
Now tell me what became of Charlie
Gray? Did he ever marry that girl lie
was SO fond of-the pretty girl with dark
ewes? %
Much surprised but with the innate
good breeding of a gentleman, Loren
replied mo; she died. 1t nearly killed
| him and he went to India soon after.
/ He is doing we'll and will shortly become
! q colonel
For some time the ebb and flow of col
| lRge Renaissance went on while Lady
| Alice sat stunned by these several cruel
| words.
'.Oh that could die" was the first
! thought. Life is uncomfortable.
i She gave 40 heed to the conversation
| still going on. the two young men seeming
to enjoy the exchange of news of
former friends until Mr.. Fairhaven ex-
| clsimed:
by George, you were sentimental
chap In those days Geofrey! | remember
! the day | caught you telling Maud how
YOU loved her, and that nobody could ever
take her place in your heart. ] shall never
! forget the look on your face when it dawn
ed upon you that had listened to the
whole rhapsody.