Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-08

Gdlh Ike UOu. ana am 10 60" she
struggled for quietness, but the tide
within had risen beyond her control.
"I on take in your hands a human life.
and say it shall be thus and tnuS-it
shall do certain things. and leave Others
undOne-as though you were force TO
compel it When its force is in itself and
it must obey itself and God: and [ can't
go-not yet; it's like snaf ching the
bread away from a starving mouth; yOu
must love him yourself, though yol
never loved little children"
He did not reply. and in the uncar-
tain light she could not see which way
his features were neutrality-suspicious. to
mercy. she thought. with the anger
overborna in her by those throbbing pull
seS - motherhood that from her child's
birth had set this man beyond and apart
from her IS something lost, by which
had come something better; as she
GtrOve to read his face. and an impulse
of rec lrrent love moved her to cry
You'd never have loved N Inc. but
you'll let me love y0ttrS; it Ii harm neith-
er you nor her, and I'll never try to
speak to her. and [ could bear it all.
the Daby's drowning, and Jauet's going
away. if only you'll let me Stay;" the
Wrung spirit of the woman, the falling
heart futtered and sunk in her breast,
like a dying bird, as she uttered her
plea, might have novel him, as per-
chance 1t moved the nightingale above,
who had ceased his song, shamed out
of it by the throObing passion OF that
human voice below.
But there is not on earth so cold
hearth as that on which ahaStily kind
led fire has tiared up, and died OIt SUI
denly; it IS only the steady growth, the
warmth Of years. that fingers long after
the fire Itself has ceased; as there is on
earth nothing SO cruel as man 10
whom love is offered that he does not
desire.
III is impossible" said Mr. Eyre, in
that tona none had hitherto dared re-
Si5t. y our mere presence here is an
outrage up0n--" lie stopped abruptly,
and the omission Of Madcap'S name, as
one not to be spoken in her presence,
StunE Hester keenly,
She kissed me, and YOU can't stain
such lips as hers: and When she knew,
she wanted to come to me. i must 80
to her-to HESTER she said; he told me
sO-that she called me- that, and yet her
names too good to be said before NE
the Shame'S in the lips OF those That
Speak-yOu can, t shame her,
w hat you propose is madness" said
Mr. Eyre calmly; your presence here
must be a perpetual ANNOYANCE to all
concerned; you will be the object of
doubt and suspicion 10 the viIIage-a
perpetual disgrace 10 Lord L0vel, whose
relations with yOu would be miSGOn-
srru3l. You have cone lived an eN-
traVagant fancy for one Of my children
to crafty it, you would sacrifice the
happiness of her whom you profess to
honor; in short, by remaining, you lose
ali. and gain nothing.
AS he spoke, har heart grew cold
her long faithful reticence. her proud
reserve from maddling with his happi-
ness, her lonely lie. in which she had
SO stanchily kept her VOW to Frank; All
these We're unrecogniZad by him. did
not even demand one word Of kindness
or OF thanks, and to offer 0ne's sin lie
Jewel, and see it Shrined high in honor,
Is other than to see il cast down con-
temptuOusly beneath the sWine'S feet.
Its nothing to you" she said, with
that fierce mOtner-rlng IN her voice
which Madcap would have understood
= nothing to give up what you've been
hungering, thirSting after for SIX years;
nothing to drag child's arms from
round your neck, and go out into the
night to be haunted by them. If she
didn't love him SO, Ia take him away
and make him love me. I'd be happy;
and Pm to give it all up because yOU
want to be happy-and SO you may be.
But must have few crumbs; she'd
not grudge them to me if She knew"
Had Mr.. Eyre in that moment aban
doned his lifelong rule OF force, to
Stoop to .ftneSSe-cOuld he have spoken
one WORK Of kindness. or in any way
treated her on that ground of common
humanity which brings soul near to
Soul-he might have extracted from
Hester any terms he pleased; but the
power OF utterlng such word, bring
ing about such an understanding was
impossible to hun. That fierce faith
fulnesS 10 Madcap more Womanly than
manlike) which made all other women
superhuIJies in the worlds creation,
and the existence OF this one direct
menace and insult to her he idOIiZed,
hardened his heart to stone, as he re-
pied, There are other children in the
world, adopt one; | viii see that all ar
rangementS for your c0mtOrJa are made.
"COmfOrtl" she CRED, paSSlOnateIy;
''WouId comfort satisfy you If you had
not naG?-COuld you take some other
body in your arms and love it as il 1t
We're ner? Can any OVher child be TO
me what this one is, brother 10 my little
baby, made III your image? But [ don
WaIJ hlm Tor that. SI8 would not offer
me CON orC-She knew better; sue sad
that he SHOULD J0Uc M, and [ cal harm
her 10y SCayn AMI II Say"
TO starve, sad Mr.. Eyre, for from
this MON .n5 | cas-; the allowance |
male TO YOU; remain, and your tate be
upon your own mead.
You mean to Adj me-" she said,
coming close to han in The half light.
Their eyes flashing Ike crossed swords
q Ay tgl4t xiii nn,v--I va