Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-10-31

LIS uetiII NdS prOOGQ. Ana he neVe
dreamed be was being eNFerimentet
on. He loved this exq;IiSite crea ture
this dainty. soft, purriug beauty, a,
he loved his life. He coveted her an(
longed TO shut her close to his big
! faithful, hrEest heart.
At last came the night when Vioie
carried her passion for atmosphere
| and local coloring'' to its climax
| They had gone for their customary
evening stroll and had climbed III
a lofty butte to a broad ledge OF
rocks. At their feet yawned the
| canyon, tremendous. awful, black
save where the moonlight touched the
| opposite wall With ghostly fingers
Back of them doomed the range like
the battlemen1s Of a phantom city
While far, far below sounded the
faint rushing Of Water-the river
tumbling and foaming along over its
rocky bed.
What a weird place" cried Violet.
with a pretty shudder, land what a
ghost-hke night Why did we never
come up here before, Jack? What a
Scener
Weatherby was lying at her feet.
where he had thrown himself to rest
after their climb.
He turned his face, white in the
moonlight, toward her, and fixing his
dusky, unfathomable eyes upon her,
said:
L kept this place for this hour. l
meant to bring you here when l got
my courage to the point where l could
say all that is in my heart. Many a
time down there" pointing to the
ranch lying below, Il have looked up
here and thought of the time l would
bring you to tell you how l love you"
For one instant Violet felt a queer
little thrill The simple dignity of his
declaration almost moved the worldly,
cold-blOoded girl. Then she thought
of her local cOlOring
''What a situa tion for my novel,"
she said to herself; then aloud, gen
.tly:
$50 you really love me, Jack?"
Love you?' he echoed passionately,
as he rose and sat down beside her.
''ViOlet, look" taking her hand, my
heart lies here in this dear little
hand"
Then throwing all reserve t. the
winds, he seized her and kissed her
madly, tenpestuously.
Size struggled to free herself and
at length succeeded.
"How dare you?" she demanded,
chow dare
How dare I?'' he cried why
dearest, love you'll love you, do you
hear? And you, you love me a little,
do you not?"
i He WAS approaching her again,
when she said, contemptuously
NO, nCt a bit. l have simply been
studying you"
He stood as if turned to stone.
studying Me-" he said, in a queer
voice; ug-wny-why?" he say
;.gely demanded, rs he caught her
wrist and held it in an iron grip.
You were so different she fail
tered, a bit frightened at his sudden
ferOcity. Il wanted a new type for
my book, you know. l suppose Tom
told you | write books ="
An absolutely mu1derous look swept
over Wcatherby's face.
NO" he said, mo one told me that.
SO you write books? And you wanted
to put me in twas that it? Answer
me, answer me-"
yes" she murmured, family.
And that was all? You never loved
me-never meant to marry me?"
why no, how could l? l am to be
in the fall to man in New
York
A snarl like that Of an Infatuated
beast interrupted her. Livid with
rage he sprang toward her Once
again he crushed her, shrinking and
trembling to his breast, then dragged
her tC the very edge Of the CANYON,
gaping like tile bottomless pit to re-
ceiye them. And as her agonized
screams pierced the soft summer
night, Weatherby, still holding her
against his outraged heart, stepped
off.
They found them next day in the
bottom Of the canyon. ViOlet's lovely
face was past recognition, but on
Weatherby's fingered a smile Of such
awful triumph as would have pleased
the arch-fiend himself-Edith SEES
sions Upper in Truth.