Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-26
Continued.

worthy! II, great heavens, am 80
hypocrtical, so false, as to appear
better than l really am-is my whole
life life of deceit"
He looked up eagerly.
If" he said half hesitatingly, eff
[ thought you really meant that-if l
could believe that there was some
thing in your life which perhaps-for.
give me for saying so, it seems i'm
possible, so insulting-but, if there was
something you were ashamed of and
did not wish to be known"
"WelI?' she Intercepted gently, as
he hesitated still
Il would implore you not to let that
stand between us. Oh my darling,
love you so dearly that nothing can
make any difference! | would believe
nothing against you unless you con-
fessed it neutrality-suspicious.. And,
even If / were forced to believe it, it
could make no difference. Do you
think anything could change or weak
en- my love" She smiled sadly; the
tears were nearly falling from her
eyes. Once again the temptation
came over her to resist no more, to
allow herself so to be loved. Then she
turned away from him and broke the
spell.
"It is useless. There is a reason why
shall never marry; but I like you
very much, and am so sorry to give
you pain"
He looked at her in mute distress.
Good bye" she said.
"Good bye" he answered sadly.
When she had gone a little way, she
turned, and saw that he was sitting on
fallen tree, his head buried in his
hands. Some impulse of compassion
prompted her to return. She knew so
we'll what it was to suffer, and to suf-
fer alone.
Don't fret", she said wistfully,
laying her hand gently upon his shout
der. Nothing is worth such sorrow"
Now he raised his face, red with
embarrassment, all the fire gone from
his blue eyes.
"You must despise me for giving
way so, but I thought you had gone;
and-and 1t is forever"
awhile; then we can be friends
again"
A vehement, if incoherent denial, In
spite Of which she insisted
Eyes, of course you will forget! You
will meet some one a thousand times
nicer some day and come and tell me
all about her; and I will listen so
patiently to all your raptures, and
be so glad to see you happy again.
You will try. won't you. to forget me
soon?"
When he raised his head again. she
was gOne-Out of sight already
Slowly he arose and wendell. his way
toward home.
The colonel was seated at his writ
ingtable pen in hand. When Charlie
came in the colonel looked up inquir-
ingly, but could frame no question
nor was it necessary. A single glance
told him the boys errand had been
an unsuccessful one, detection and re-
lection were written so plainly on his
face.
For a moment George Severn eX-
perienced a jealous pleasure that il
had been so, a deep relief that 1t
would rot be required of him to wei
come to a daughters place the woman
whom he would fain have won as
wife. Then he felt ashamed and re-
pentant. When Charlie with heavy
sigh, threw himself on a settee, he
was conscious only of a sympathetic
sorrow.
MY poor boy-l am so grieved! Is
there no hOpe?"
None. | was a fool to fancy ]
could ever have chance. She loves
some one else. To her l am only q
boy. She won't believe how 1 love
her: she-she-"
The sentence ended in a St1fied sob.
"She said there was some secret
some reason why she would never
marry" he observed ruefully, after
a short pause.
Don't you think, Charlie, that it is
for the best perhaps?" he suggested,
IN a strangely gentle voice. You
must not think me unfeeling in say
ing so, but if there were any secret
trouble that involved perhaps dis
grace"
THE more reason why l should bear
1t with herr broke in the young fell
low holly. You don't mean to say.
dad, that you'd give her up for such
cause as that?"
"I-l|-in some establishment
This is no question of what | should
do at all. The two cases will admit
Of no comparison. We're I in such a
case, it would be very different. The
best years of my life are spent, and
l have a right to do what l choose
with the remainder; but you are only
beginning your career-it hehooves
you to be careful not to wreck it at
the outset"
Then you think it is something
something shameful? Oh. father, if
you knew her as we'll as I do, you
would not wrong her so! You don't
know how innocent and true she is.
Every word she speaks seems to make
one long to be better than one is; and
her smile"
1t was Colonel Severn's turn to in.
terrupt.
Those are love rhapsodies," he
said, with rather forced smile. THE
same, IL it be any comfort to you, l
will confess I share your opinion. I
believe her to be all that is sweet and