Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-25
LOVES VICTORY,
~ BERTHA II. CLAY.


which he saw in hers was a revelation to
him. The next moment he had ciaSped her
TO his heart, and was pouring out torrent OF
passionate wOrds-Such words. so tender, so
loving, so full Of passion and hope, that her
face grew pale as she listened, and the beau
tiful figure trembled.
II have frightened you, my darling" he
said, suddenly. "Ah! do forgive me. was
half mad with JOY. You do not know how
have lon@ed to tell you this, yet feared
knew not what-you seemed so far above
me, sweet. See, you are trembling nowl l
am as cruel as a man who catches in his
hands white dove that he has tanned and
hurts it by his grasp. Sit down here and
rest, while | tell you over and over again, in
every fashion, in every way, how | love
you"
The sun never shOne upon happier lovers
than those. The golden doors of Loves
paradise were open to them.
II never knew until now,' said Vane,
show beautiful life is. Why, Pauline, love
Is the very center of it; it is not money or
rank-it is love that makes life. Only to
think, my darling, that you and | may spend
svery hour of it together"
She raised her eyes to the fair, calm heav-
ems, and infinite happiness filled her soul to
unSpoken from her heart.
Suddenly she sprans from his side with
startled cry.
'Oh, Vane' she said, with Outstretched
hands, 81 had forgotten that l am unworthy.
can never marry yOuW
de saw such wild despair in her face, such
sudden, keen anguish, that he was half start
led; and kneeling by her side. he asked:
"Why, my darling? Tell me why. You,
Pauline" he cried-"you not worthy of me!
Ny darling, what fancy is it-what foolish
ldea-what freak of imagination? You are
the nObleSt, the truest, the dearest woman i'll
the whole wide world! Pauline, why are
you weeping 50? My darling, trust me-tell
me-"
She had shrunk shuddering from him, and
had buried her face in her hands; deep, Bit
ter sobs came from her lips; there was the
w1ry eloquence OF despair in her attitude.
Pauline" said her lover, you cannot
shake my faith in you; you cannot make me
think you have done wrong; but will you
try, sweet, to tell me what it is?"
He never forgot the desparing face raised
to his the shadow Of such unutterable sorrow
IN the dark eyes, the quiyering of the pale
lips, the tears that rained down her FACET
was such change from the radiant, happy
girl OF but few minutes ago that he could
hardly believe it was the same Pauline.
lie bent over her as though he would fain
kiss away the fast falling tears; but she
shTank from him.
do rot touch me, Vaner' she cried; II
am not worthy. l had forgotten; i'll the hap
piness of loving you, and knowing that [
was beloved, | had forgotten tiny own
deed had dlshOnOred me! Wemust part, for
am not worthy of you"
lie took both her hands in his own, and
his influence over her was SO great that even
In that hour she obeyed him implicitly, as
though she had been child.
'You must let me Judge, Pauline" he said,
gently. "You are mine by right of the
promise you gave me few minutes since
the promise to be my wife; that makes you
mine-no one can release you from it. BY
virtue of that promise you must trust me,
and tell me what you have done"
be saw that there was desperate Strug-
gle in her mind-a struggle between the
pride that babe her rise in rebellion and
leave him with her secret untold, and the
love that, bringing with it sweet and gra-
cious humility prompted her to confess all
to him. He watched her with loving eyes;
as that struggle ended, so would her life take
its shape.
He saw the dark eyes grow soft with good
thoughts; he saw the silent, proud defiance
die out of the beautiful face; the lips CULVER
ed, sweet humility seemed to fall over her
and infold her.
81 ha e done a cruel deed, Vane," she
said-'an act of vengeance that cuts me off
from the roll of noble women, and dishonors
me-"
Still keeping his hold of the white hand,
he said,-
'Tell Inc what it was-I can judge far bet
ter than you"
1t seemed to her fevered fancy that the
song of the waves died away, as though they
were listening; that the wind fell with a low
sigh, and the birds ceased their SOng-a ST.
lence that was almost terrible fell around her
the blue Sky seemed nearer to her.
Speak to me, Nanep she cried; II am
frghtenedv'
He drew her nearer to him.
at is only fancy, my darling. When one
has anything weighty to say, it seems az
though earth and sky were listening Look
at me, think Of me- and tell me ALL"
She could never remember how she began
hur story--how she told him the whole his
tory of her lite-of the happy years spent
with her father in the Rue d'Orme when
she learned to love art and nature when she
learned to love truth for its own sake, and
was brought up amidst those kindly, simple
hearted artist friends, with such bitter Scorn,
such utter contempt of all conventionalites
OF her keen and passionate sorrow when
her father died, and Sir Oswald took her
home to Darrell Court telling her that her
past life was at an end forever and that even
the name she had inherited from her father
must be changed for the name of her race
how after a time she had grown to love her
home with keen, passionate love, born of
pride in her race and in her namc-of the
fierce battle that ragged always between her
stern, uncompromisng truth and the worldly
polish Sir Oswald would have had her ac-
quire.
She concealed nothing from him. telling
him of her faults as we'll as her trials. She
gave him the whole history of Aubrey Lang
toms woong, and her contenptuOus reiec-
ton of his suit
Il was so proud, Vane," she said humbly.
"Heayen was sure to punish me- | surround.
ed myself, as it were, with a barrier OF pride.
scom, and contempt, and my pride has been
brought low'
She told him of Sir OSwalds anger at her
refusal to marry Aubrey, of her unceS threat
thu he would marry and diSinherit, her, OF
hCt scornful diSbelef-there was no incident
forgotten; and then she came to the evening
when ST. Oswald had opened the box to take
out the diamond ring, and had spoken before
them all OF the roll of bank-nOteS placed
there.
That night, Nane,' she said, there was
strange unrest upon me- | could not sleep.
nave had the same sensation when the air