Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-04

the fierce agony raking her like an
! actual physical torture.
NO mai should cling to a woman's
hand to save him from downfall ]
say this, not to tell you that L have
not wronged you'll have. [ have
changed; in six months a thousand
! things happen to change one. 1 could
say'-she lifted her eyes now, meet
ing, without a droop of the dark lashes.
the gaze of his-"That you are changed
for 1 used to think in the old days
that Rex Werner was too noble to
speak words to which a wife may not
listen"
He staggered back a step. his gaze
faltering, quailing under her steadfast
look. He put his hand to his brow.
and his lips moved. but no words
issued from them; he ben his head
and turned aside. laying n hand, as
though he scarcely knew what he did,
on hers.
Forgive me. Glare, forgive mer'
he muttered, b~rokenly. Il know you
are zone from my reach forever: |
| spoke out of my useless, bitter pain.
And yet-and vet, Clare'-he bent,
and his hand closed round hers tightly
-"you do not love this man who, III
his great disdain, trampled two hearts
under his feet-you dare not tell me
you are Happy"
She flung away his hand and rose
to her feet, with a superb pride in look
and mien which drew from him an
awed ems of admiration.
For words" she said. born of use
less, bitter pain. l could forgive you;
but I have need indeed to remember
that we have been friends when you
forget that I am Lionel Stanhope's
wife"
She half moved away, but he stepped
before her with a gesture of entreaty.
Il deserve your rebuke,' he said,
with a sorrOwful humility that touched
her with a pang of sharp pain; in this
hayward. wild spirit, moved with inn
pulses so diverse, now falling to the
lowest depths. now rising and reach
ing out to a measure Of nobility, there
lay a power to touch and to
pity and sorrow and gentle thoughts.
"Only believe. Glare, believe | was
mad-tortured as you cannot under
stand-not knowing my life-when ]
. spoke just now | cannot forget you
I cannot He paused to master
himself, and continued hurriedly, Il
not happy. [ will not anger you again
You said we have been friends; is
that passed too, Clare?"
She stood looking out before her,
calm and proud. and pale still-then
she said, with a quietness that GOV.
cred an internal conflict:
"NO-that has not passed" Then
she put her hand on his arm, and
with a change of manner that was
almost startling. added, as she moved
toward the short passage that divided
the conservatory from the saloon
''Take me back to the ballroom; l an
quite rested now, and Major Carlyle
will want me for the Lancers."
But a little later, when the dance
was over, her dark eyes sought with
an almost eager gaze for her husband
dllt ScSlllS III dlo1Ic " " "olldCl'
she crossed and touched him lightly
and he turned at once.
II should like to go home" she said
quietly, "if you do not mind"
Your wishes are minn. Clare" Lilo
mel answered, with a half smile; and
drawing her hand on his arm, he led
her from the saloon by a quicker exit
than the grand staircase.
; Rex, who had watched her leave
smiled half c~ynically.
"She w said" he muttered be
tween his teeth, that h loved Lionel
Stanhope, nor that she was happy. ]
can see beneath the surface"
And Glare stood before her pier
glass, which reflected back a richly
robed form, and a white deathly face
/ and great dark eyes, looking with 8
dreadful pain at herself.
My golden sunshine, my golden sun
shine" she said, with slow, intense
g bitterness, clasping her hands behind
her head: 81 have none-oh. | have
:. none"