Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-14

dith's deceit, Of Violet's sorrow. and
TO prove it, Harry took a diamond
ring from his pocket, with the initials
F. n. TO '. p" written inside the
gold and, and showed it to her. Ms
Dale rose, and eXcusing herself lefr
the room, but returned after a sbort
time wi.l q note addressed to FranE
Meredith
AS you said you were going to Sc
him today, I should be pleased if YOU
would deliver this for me"
Harry and his friend departed. and
Harry. taking Frank Meredith's adj.
dress. said he would go alone 10 cal
on him. Harry arrived there in the
middle Of the afternoon, and sending
up his card. was shown into the
! library where Frank soon Joined I'm.
Their greeting was formal, almost dis
taDt. but Harry lost no time in say
ing what he had come prepared to
say. He told how Violet was almost
broken hearted over his GOODNESS and
evident neglect. He said he had heard
OF and had also seen Franks atten-
tons to Miss Dale, and he wished
Frank to explain himself and here and
now without further delay, Us he
would o. calmly stand by and see A
sweet. little. innocent girl deceived In
that way any longer. Then he showed
the ring and told how, that III getting
into the carriage. it had Slipped off
Niolet's finger. and he had picked
III I'm TIa ba1 1-a,o+ - fo. +r-o $780,
One of these Frank should o know,
The other was-here Harry started to
his feet-to gain perhaps a word. a
look, a smile of gratitude, or pleasure.
when he should return it to her.
You see what I would 30 to Get
so much as a kind word from her.
Frank Meredith, you little know the
worth-the true womanly loneliness
and sweetness of that little girl. An
sWer me. What are you going to do?
All this time Frank had sat With
his head buried in his hands. He rosa
now with a pale, drawn face and
dark shadows under his eyes.
Il deserve it all. I will not a
a word. What AMI l going to dc?
Why, l am going back TO Violet as
soon as I possibly can. Meantime I
shall help my father and become a
~recluSe. III short. abandon society al
together. See Miss Dale any more?
No, indeed; that is forever at an end.
Go and tell Violet MOTTO grieve. | will
come and see her as soon as possible.
Take back the ring and place it on
her finger. Or, stay, l will do that
myself when I come. l will come
soon. Good bye, Harry. I entertain
40 Ill Will toward you"
The Young men shake hands and
Harry adds:
go, I almost forgo'. Here is a let
ter from Miss Dale"
Harry G out and closes the door
behind him. Frank clutches the letter
convulsivcly in his hand. and then
reads
"Mr. observation-disclosures had Set
myself the task of giving you the pun
iShment you so richly deserved. still,
when | saw you las and realized what
I had done, my heart smote me and
for a while l regretted it. and almost
wished it had been some ONE else
rather than I. But today when Mr..
Nane called and told me his story and
showed me the ring and spoke so ten
derby of the little Violet. | was sorry
10 longer, but glad:-not only glad that
it was I who did it. That poor trust
ing. faithful, frail little girl! O. the
pity of it. | wonder you do not die
of shame and remOrse. | only hope
your punishment is severe. [ only fear
it is not what you have made her
bear. There is but one thing you CAN
do. Go back to her and never let her
know how you have WrOnged her. You
may be sure she shall never know
from me. and we may safely rely on
Harry Vane, who I am SURE is more
worthy of her than you are. Do the
one thing that is left for you to do to
make reparation. and do it soon. Fare
we'll.
sc. D."
Frank crushed the letter in his hand
and c1enched his teeth.
$50 l deserved it. did I? l have
made others suffer like this? Miser-
able man that l am. My punishment
is greater than | can bear"
And he paced up and down the
room.
Poor little Violet. my little, pale,
white rose. Yes. yes, 1 will go back to
you, and you shall never know about
the red rose. No, l would never make
any one suffer as l am suffering now.
I will go back and make you happy.
But" Here his face turned a shade
paler, and he clenched his hands, and
bit his lips until they bled.
But of ell roses in the world the
red ones are the sweetest. O.. the
glory Of them! Fool, fool, that I am.
l thought 1 was strOng.-and tins is
what comes of playing with fire"
RUN DOWN BY A TRAIN.