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

no kinder words to give TO you than
can give to any other friend know
| in this room This you will do well
70 remember, Mr. Werner"
He half turned aside with a bitter
exclamation.
Glare. Glare. how you have changed,
left You a girl, bright, gentle. Not
! two years have passed since then,
and behold Clare Stanhope is wom-
an. proud. cold, stately, compelling,
not winning, homage. / thought there
might have been a softer memory
/ for your old playmate" he said, with
a change Of voice and look, an al
most passionate regret, that tried her
woman's pride TO listen to, outwardly
shower some of your golden sunshine
on me- Heaven knows stand in
need Of 1t, for have fallen low
| enough since you took away all motive
Iife yon might have
made anything of me. Clare"
She only knew the cost of the rigid
calmness she maintained, in spite Of
the fierce agony raking her like an
actual physical torture.
mo man should cling to woman's
hand to save him from downfall. !
say this, not to tell you that | have
not wronged you'll have. l have
changed; in six months a thousand
things happen to change one. / could
say"-she lifted her eyes now, meet
ing, without droOp of the dark lashes,
the gaze of his-"That you are changed
for used to think in the old days
that Rex Werner was too noble to
speak words to which 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 bent his head
and turned aside, laying one hand, as
though he scarcely knew what die did,
on hers.
Forgive me- Glare, forgive mev'
he muttered brokenly. Il know you
are gone from my reach forever;
spoke out of my useless bitter pain.
! And yet-and yet, Clare'-he bent,
and his hand closed round hers tightly
you do not love this man who, in
his great dlsdain, 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 superb pride in look
mi xphf ~
awed sense of admiration.
For words, she said born Of use.
less. bitter pain, | could forgive you:
but / 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 gesture of entreaty.
: Il deserve your rebuke.' he said,
with a sorrowful humility that touched
her with 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 cut to n mes sure of nobility. there
lay Il power to touch and move to
pity and sorrow and gentle thoughts.
''Only believe, Clare, believe | was
mad-torturcd as you cannot under.
stand-not knowing my life-when |
spoke just now. | cannot forget you
1 cannot" He paused to master
himself, and continued hurriedly, 81
cannot bear to think that you are
not happy | will not anger you again,
You said we have been friends; Is
that passed too. ClareY'
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 am
quite rested now, and Major Carlyle
will want me for the Lancers."
But little later, when the dance
was over her dark eyes sought with
an almost eager gaze for her husband;
and seeing him alone for a wonder,
she crossed and touched him lightly,
and he turned at once.
Il should like to go home" she said,
quietly IF you do not mind"
'Your wishes are mine, Clare" Lio
mel answered with a half smile: and,
drawing her hand on his arm, he led
her from the saloon by quicker exit
than the grand staircase.
Rex. who had watched her leave,
smiled half cynieally.
She never SAIL" he muttered be-
tween his teeth. that she loved Lionel
Stanhope, nor that she was happy. l
can see beneath the surface"
And Clare stood before her pier
glass. which reflected back a richly
ROBBED form, and white deathly face,