River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-02-19

said; ''and do not remove my vail, be-
/ cause il is best for you never to see my
/ face. / was unwomanly, unkind enough
/ TO ask you to marry me, but l can not
/ and will not ask you to link your life
with mine, except in name. No, we
/ will part at the church door; then if we
| should meet in the far future, you will
not recognize the face of your wife"
Il shall never forget your vOicer' he
exclaimed half passionately.
Life will not be very much changed
/ 20 you, unIess-yOu love another. Tell
me. do you2 II is not too late. Better
far better that should wed the other
rather than tear you from your love"
NO, have no love-" and his quick,
/ frank answer treasured her. II am
perfectly free and my own master,
/ therefore l am yours, because you wish
it."
Thank YOU" she said. simply but
earnestly. Then follow me now, for
/ tomorrow will be too late"
He did as she babe him.
There was a closed carriage at the
door. and as Max stepped inside he
heard her order the driver to proceed to
1 ~ NtNDA tAAs1AfAAehr -
IF You are willing" she said TO Max
/ in an humble tone, 1--WE viii have Rev.
/ Janues marry us. You will ask him to
/ follow Us 10 the church. "
Then, as if it had suddenly dawned
/ on her that she was asking this man to
/ give up much for her sake. she clasped
her hands appealingly.
/ oh, how you must hate me- she
/ cried. Truly. am frightened now at
the step I have taken. Shall we turn
baclz-shall | marry the other?"
| Never. You shall marry me. You
| wish It. and-ycs-I wish it also
! He could not see the glad Light that
1 flashed into her eyes
/ They soon reached the parsonage, and
a few minutes later were on their way
to the church. accompanied by the
4 pastor-a kind. benevolent looking
gentleman, who gazed in silent wonder
at the vailed girl.
I II was over at last. Max took his
mothers wedding ring off his own fin
/ ger and placed it on IIelen's, and thus
the bonds were sealed. Helen Castle
ton and Max Rutherford were husband
and wife.
i VI the altar, as they were turning to
90 down the aisle, Max bent low and
whispering said:
My wife, will you not allow me TO
see your face? once-just once"
Without a word, she tore the vail
/ from her face. flung off the long. black
cape that encircled her form, then,
throwing back her head with proud,
I graceful movement, she faced him.
+ Max gave a faint cry of establishment
I when he saw the glorious face that was
/ revealed to him-a sorrowful face, as
! white as marble, large. dark, plaintive
/ eyes that looked at him frankly yet
pleadingly-eyes that thrilled aim
through and through. 1t was a face
that Max Rutherford never could for
get.
He made movement as If to clasp
her in his arms. but she started back.
and. with a frightened cry,snatched up
+ her cape. then turned and fled down the
+ long aisle. And before Max could real
ize il She was driven away.
Nothing was left now for him to do
{ but to return 70 his boarding place.
Three years have passed and Max
Rutherford has reached the goal at last.
lie has made for himself a name and
has attained position TO be proud of.
He won not only that one case, but
many more. His briefs were concise
vet eloquent, sharp vet truthful and
powerful. and success crowned these
fearless, untiring efforts
London society now greets him with
extended arms. yet he turns away and
shuns all such advances.
lie is not happy or even satisfied
there Is something wanting. He yearns
with all his soul to make one other plea
longs to win one other case, and then
he viii rest content
lie has never seen or heard one word
from his wife since that strange mar
riage occurred. His search for her has
been untiring but fruitless.
Not a penny of her money did he
touch. but carefully treasured it, hop
ing to be able 10 restore it TO her ere
long.
one day he was called to the bedside
of dying man, who wished to make
his will As Max entered the room the
attendants were sent out.
II was not an Unlocking face that
Max gazed ON. but it was aged by suf-
fering and there was a haunted express
sion IN the eyes painful TO see.
Before the viii Is drawn up" he
said, u wish to make a confession.
You have "a good face, and have heard
of YOUR merited success as a barrister.
Perhaps you can help me"
II will endeavOr to do 50"
Three years ago my niece, Helen
CaStiet0n, was living with me. She
was a good girl and / did not APP
preciate her. tried to persuade her 10
marry a man old enough TO be her
father. but a man worth even more
than ! am. ana I can count my wealth
by the millions. She refused To marry
him. At last said She should be forced
% It. remember that She replied that
She would sooner die. And that night
she fled. We found her the next morn
iur inst outside of London. She proud
IT. held up "a folded certificate. saying
that we were too late. that she was al
ready married. Then wicked sinner
that I was and AMI cursed her, add
ing that I never wished to see her I'M
grateful face again, and | never have.
May Heaven forgive. | would give
much now to see her once more-little
Helen. my dead sisters child,' and his
eyes gli>tened with tears. He con-
tinued more slowly;
Il wish You 10 search fer her. Find
her. and leave the sum of ten thou
sand dollars 70 YOU The remainder is
Heleu's. II She be dead | bequeath il
10 her husband and her heirs | wish
Ia sign a will TO that effect. Make
haste. Send for the housekeeper to
witness. Quick, I can not live much
+ longer" And the dying man gasped
for breath.
f The viii was draw and signed.
You viii search for her?" he
+ pleaded.
Yes and Heaven helping me | will
find her and Max turned away strug-
CLING u master himself. As he did so.
the door opened and a woman's form
flew 70 the bedside.
Uncle she cried. they told me
+ You were dying. Uncle, uncle, do not
die without taking back that terrible
. cur>e-for mothers sake bless your
ns.Se~
Helen. thank God. Ibless you-for-
give your uncle Pray-for-pa-don!''
and with that last word his soul passed
away.
+ For a moment longer she lnelt in