Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-04-18

! for YOU. Ii would be a sort of dis.
grace. wouldn't 1t, to you? Now I'm
going. You will forgive me- Clare?"
He spoke the words again unsteadily,
and bent little down to her You
| didn't quite mean all you said last
night. Clarey' he said, turning aside,
still holding her hand. quite humbly
and pleadingly.
! She could have cried out -sobbed in
fearless agony--for the bitter misery
of her heart, yet she was proud and
self-contro,.cd; and though the words,
the tone, seemed like fresh stab, she
only said, quietly:
| Il meant it. Rex; but 1t lies In your
power to make me unsay those words
You can make them unmerited in the
future
! lie looked at her with an eager CLEAN
| in his eyes; but II faded almost direct
ly, and he half laughed. half sighed.
TOO late, Glare! It's overlate to he
gin turning over those new leaves that
you talk of-and with no reward but
virtues own. There swore would
not make you suffer any more-at least
if l could help it-so goodbye. You
do forgive me, Clare?"
Il do forgive you"
Steadily, without one infection in
her voice, she said the words. the
strain on every nerve so great-the
tension so stretched almost beyond her
power to bear--that she seemed to
herself to speak as in dream. She
knew that her hands lay in his and
that he bent and kissed them passion
ately. Well, he was going forever
what did 1t matter? He had been her
less Rex, sunk so low, but the boy,
the bright, frank boy
\ 4 step in the corridor called her
back with an overwhelming shock to
| present life. The door handle was
turned, a shadow fell athwarth the
wall, and a hand that sent a thrill like
/ lightning through every quivering
nerve was laid on her shoulder, and
swung her back.
4 Then she saw him--cold naughty
| Lionel Stanhope-whom she had de-
eeived, bending over a PROSTATE form.
/ She saw him set his foot on Rex
! Nerner's breast as though he would
crush him.
bastard" he said, In low tone.
with such concentration of passion as
for moment held her absolutely still
with fear, what plea for mercy do
you dare offer that | should not sweep
you from the earth?"
What a frantic passion of entreaty.
the girl sprung forward.
Lionel, Lionel, have mercy. In pity,
| hear me-
| He turned TO her; but there was no
softening now even To her
If You are wise, Clare" he said,
Won will be silent Stand back"
She shrunk back, as If his words
had stung her. Into her eyes came a
| look Of stony, bewildered horror, and
| then a flash of passionate anger. But
she did not brave him, naughty as She
was. Something in his face warned
her to quell her spirit.
Il ask no mercy at your hands, :"
Rex Werner said; but mine is alone
the fault--the-"
"Silenee!" cried Lionel, sternly. do
| need one word of yours to tell me
that my wife is stainless in thought
as in deed?"
He drew back as he spoke, folding
his arms tightly across his breast
Heaven knew what il cost him to
crush down the tempest of passion
that for a moment had set even his
naughty will at defiance. But the iron
will conquered even that pride. Rex
sprung to his feet, the red blood rush
ing TO his brow, a blaze of wrath
fashing in his eyes But the sh
died out. n new impulse had stir. ID
him.
Il have nothing to plead" Werner
sald then, in a low voice; II don't
know why you should believe me, but
! may rs well say 1t, came here to-
night only to give back which is your
own. You know what am ! sup
poser was hunted to death, aud
turned TO Glare for d refuge. We were
children together-boy and girl lovers
and you stepped In and parted us with
your cursed gold. You can do as you
like with me, now the games up; but
tell you. Lionel Stanhope, that. thief
and gambler, as | am-convicted as
shall bel love that girl better than
you do, with all your pride and all
your giftsl'
Almost involuntarly Glare again
made quick step forward, laying her
burning hand on her husbands arm;
for the flash that leaped into the
stern eyes made her heart stand still
and then bound with heavy throbs.
But he put her back
.'Have no fear, child" he said, with
quiet, bitter contempt. "These hands
are too white to be stained with such
blood as that To you he turned
again to Rex IL have few words 10
say. Your liberty / give you to do
with as sou can or may, upon these
conditions you leave England at
once, and never, not for 50 much as
I - III a.. 81. IA