Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-06-16

ure, to sacrifice once more my own VIII TO
your caprice. 1t pteases you to think you
care for my fOrgiS cueSs-take 1t freely."-
He spoke with intense pathos
She SAW the pain in his eyes, in the work
ing of his face, and tile tortured seIf-con-
troll he was exercising.
"And in return Florence" he went on,
81 ask you q last favor-never try again to
see me after to-day: never let your con-
science be troubled with any fresh doubts;
content yourself now. Ask me to-day all
you wish to hear; and, for the future, leave
me in peace. Let me forget your love,
your sweet voice, all that you have told
me, the charm Of your bcauty-all the
sweet Wiles I have withStood so feebly-
You see, Florence, | admit them aIl,' he
said, trying to smile. '|And. after to-
day, leave me in peace and let me be dead
to you ~
1t pleased her to hear him speak thus;
but the future seemed to her so inevita-
Bile that she could lot now avert her cruel
fate.
''Tell me of yourself Florence" he re-
sumed. "Put your plebean cousin from
your mind entirely. Set your conscience
at rest, if that only is troubling you; for
your happiness must be nearly complete, |
am forced to believe"
EtMy misery is, if you mean that" she
! said, in passionate tones. at is IA mock
cry to wish me happiness, and you know
it, for I am utterly and hopelessly Inisera-
bler'
E1 on must be eXaggerating your troubles
Florence, [ think. You have struggled
hard-sacrifced some happiness, YOU adj
nit for brilliant future. \ more brill
liant one could scarcely be imagined-at
least in conventional sense-and | sup
pose that is all you care for"
81 am utterly wretched," she answered,
breaking down and weeping bitterly. Il
hate my life, lOathe my future husband;
the sound Of his voice Sickens me, his step
is the signal for me to wish to lily from
him." She continued passionately. She
yearned for word Of love, and he would
not grant her one.
ga dangerous admission, Miss Worth
ingtOn, and one / cannot respect You for
making or confessing, but it is safe with
me. suppose you have counted well the
compensation you viii have for absent love
or want Of sympathy with Lord Vernon.
Dresses, jewels, carriages, coronet~-aI
these are, I suppose, beyond price to wo-
mans heart, or-thank Heaven Ito some
women" He got up hurriedly and stood
hatred of the life you are choosing-worse
still, Of your future husband. Believe me,
you will do him less wrong in sending him
from you now than in marrying him.
Leave the brilliant future you have chosen.
BE my wife, Florence; my right is greater
than Lord Nernon's even now. Prove
your words to me. If you love me as you
say, your life shall be one long dream of
happiness. | can give you that, my darl-
ing, if lesser things are lacking. Oh, Flor
ence, come to me, throw all your pride, all
your false ambition, to the winds, while
there is yet time to save yourselfn'
He was standing close to her; his arms
were held towards her, love shining in his
passion-lit face, and from his soft. dreamy
eyes.
She was tempted almost beyond endu-
rance; but fear withheld her even more
than pride or ambition. She glanced round,
as if appealing to the walls to aid her. A
moment more, and she must have yielded
would have been in his arms; but he saw
her hesitation and would not brook it. If
she had repented as she said-sutfered as
she said-how eagerly would she have
caught at Il straw to save herself He
dropped his outstretched arms.
"Ah, Florence, | have judged you right
all that is now so nearly within your grasp.
For my own sake, for my love alone, 1 am
little to you. BE it so, was worse than
mad to try to tempt you again"
'Phtlip, | dare not do what you ask
Surely [ am pledged, beyond any power to
release me, to Lord Harcourt Vernon"
"And [ ask you whom you are now
wronging most? Who will suffer most? L
can tell you that even now-yourself; but
scorn your love now, Florence. L have
tested it and can see its worthleSsness"
She rose and clung to aim, but he put
her from him; he put down her clinging
arms; and she fell back into her chair, COW
ering her face with her hands and crying
bitterly.
"May you find happiness in the path you
have chosen, and may we never meet
againr' Philip said.
Her hands still covered her eyes; she
scarcely heard his words; she only knew
that her pain was agonizing. She longed
for courage to break her gilded chains, and
it was almost coming to her; but, while
hesitating, she was lost.
In another moment his quick step had
passed from the room, and he was gone
from the house, leaving the future Lady
Harcourt Vernon trembling and crying in
her chair, conVulsed with grief, craving
for power to break her bonds
"Ah, he was mine-mine; he would give
| me now all the sweetness of his loye-all;
and have lost himp' she moaned. But in
the black darkness came a CLEAN of sum
shine.