Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-11
LOVES VICTORY.
RY BERTHA II. CLAT,

'noT have you dared to dc sor' sne oe-
manded.
II dare do anything" he replied, ''for you
madden me. Do you hearP You madden
mer'
She paid no more heed to his words than
she did to the humming of the insects in the
grass
'sYou shall hear meT' he cried. You shall
not turn away your naughty head Look at
me-listen to me, or will"
'Or you will murder me-" she interrupted.
SIT will not be the first time you have used
that threat | shall neither look at you nor
listen to YOU"
Pauline, | swear that you are driving me
mad. love you So dearly that my life is a
torment torture to me; yet [ hate you so
that could almost trample your life out I'M
der my feet. Be merciful to me. | know
that may WOO and win this glittering wild
ow. know that / may be master of Darrell
Court-she has let me guess that much-but,
Pauline, [ would rather marry you and starve
than have all the world for my own"
She turned to him. erect and naughty, her
proud face flushing, her eyes so full of scorn
that their light seemed to blind him.
81 did not think" she said, that you
would dare to address such words to me. If
had to choose this instant between death
and marrying you, l wOnld choose death. l
know no words IN which | can express my
scorn, my contempt, my loathing for you. II
you repeat this insult it will be at your peril.
Be warned"
''You are a beautiful tiend!' he Kissed.
"You shall suffer tor your pride"
YES" She said, calmly; 'go and marry
Lady Darrell. | have vowed to be revenged
upon her; sWeeter vengeance l could not
have than to stand by quietly while she mar
ries you"
you are a beautiful hendP' he Kissed
again, his face white with rage, his lips dry
and hot.
Pauline turned away, and he stood with
deeply mutterei imprecationS on his lips.
Il love her and [ hate her." he said; Il
would take her i'll my arms and carry her
away where no one in the world could see her
beautiful face but myself. Icould spend my
whole life in wOrShiping her-yet hate her.
She has ruined mel could trampe her life
out. Go and marry Lady Darrell she said;
will obey her"
He returned to the house. No one noticed
that his face was paler than usual, that his
eyes were Swallowed and strange; no one
that his heart beat with great irregular thr0bs.
II will WOO Lady Darrell and win her,"
he said ''and then Pauline shall suffer-"
What a contrast that graceful woman, with
her fair face and caressing manner, present
ed to the girl he had just left, with her pas
sionate beauty and passionate scon; Lady
Darrell looked up at him VII eyes of sweet
est welcome.
''You have been out in the grounds" she
said, gently; the evening is very pleasant"
Die you miss me, Lady DarTell-ElimOr"
he asked, bending over her chair.
He saw a warm blush rising in her cheeks,
and in his heart he felt some little contempt
for the conquest so easily made.
did you miss me, EinOr|" he repeated.
''You must let me call you EIinOr-I think it
is the sweetest name in all the world"
1t was almost cruel to trille with her, for,
although she was conventional to the last
degree, and had but little heart, still what
heart she had was all his. 1t was SO easy to
deceive her, too; she was so ready to believe
In him and love him that her misplaced af-
lection was almost pitiabe. She raised her
blue eyes to his; there was no secret in them
for him.
81 am very glad my name pleaSes you,"
she said; II never cared much for it before"
''But you will like it now?' he asked; and
then bending over her chair, he whispered
something that sent a warm, rosy flush over
Ter face and neck.
Every one noticed the attention he paid
her; Lady Hampton saw it, and diSiked him
more than ever Lord Aynsley saw it, and
knew that all hopes of winning tie beauti-
full widow was over for him. People made
their comments upon it, some saying it would
be an excellent match, for Sir Oswald had
been much attached to Captain LangtOn,
others thinking that Lady Darrell with her
fair face and her large fortune, might have
done better. There was something, too, in
the captains manner which puzzled simple
hearted peOpIe-sOmcthing of fierce energy,
which all the sOftnesS of word and look could
not hide.
''Fhere isnot much doubt of what will be the
next news from Darrell Court" said one to
another.
No one blamed the young widow for mar
rying again, but there was general express
sion of disappointment that she had not done
better.
Those dwelling in the house foreSaw what
was about to take place. Aubrey Langton
became the widows shadow Wherever she
went he followed her; he made love to her
with the most perSayermg asSiduity, and it
seemed to be with the energy of a man who
had set himself a task and meant to go
through with it.
He also assumed certain airs of mastership
He knew that he had but to speak one word
and Darrell Court would be his. He spoke
in a tone of authority, and the servants had
already begun to look upon him as their
master.
Silent naughty and reserved, Pauline
Darrell stood aside and watched-watched
with a kind of silent triumph which filled
Miss Hastings with wOnder-watched and
spoke no word-al;owed her contempt and
dislike to be seen i'll every action, yet never
uttered one word-watched like a beautiful,
relentless spirit of fate.
Throughout the bright, long summer
months Aubrey Langton staid on at Darrell
Court and at last did what he intended to
do-proposed to Lady Darrell. He was ac-
cepted. 1t was the end of July then, but
yielding to her regard for appearances, it
was agreed that no further word should be
said of marriage until the spring of the fol-
lowing year.
CHAPTER XXXu.
Il HAVE HAD MY REvENGEr
1t was warm, beautiful morning. with