Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-11
not all the Lady Stanhopes in the
world shall save him."
CHAPTER IN.

over the gray cliffs and somber-wood- |
ed slopes OF Stanhope. There was a |
brooding melancholy in the, very air
of this late Summer evening which
would have settled heavily on spirit
more bright than that of the lady
of the Castle, who, alone in that state
ly and vast building, was oppressed by
a vague, indeinable weight that made
it almost impossible for her to keep
still, that prompted the restless walk
up and down the floor, the wish, i'm
possible of attainment. coming per-
haps for the first time to her. for Lilo
nels presence.
In the loneliness and silence Of that
Summer night her life during the past
year passed before her-frOm the day
the first blow had fallen upon her to
the passing moment. She found her
self questioning whether she was an
utterly unlOved wife, vaguely doubling
whether Lionel has known the whole
truth when he made her his wife
bought her with a price" she had
said, bitterly.
Such thoughts had come to her
vaguely of late. In the blaze of the
world in which she lived she had had
no leisure to give heed to them.
And vet she had discovered long
since that the ideal her girl-heart had
loved was shadow-the dear, bright
boy Rex had vanished: her love was
dead: her heart was an empty niche.
A .1,oy
How old am To- she thought, drear
lily, and paused before a long mirror
that reflected back such rare, such
wondrous beauty, that yet stirred no
vanity within her, no pleased memory
Of a husbands pride in her. "Nine-
teen! l feel sometimes so old and
weary! Oh. why was I made SO fair?
And yet, if l had not been so, Wilfred' S
life would have been spoiled. At least
he is happy-it is the one pearl in my
bitter cup
She leaned her forehead down upon
her hands, clasping them together on
a marble pedestal: and unbidden came
again that whisper, faint, far down
in the storm-tossed heart:
could I make that confession
Could I crush my pride? Is he really
so cold, so hard? Is he happy?"
She lifted her head and pushed back
the waving masses Of glittering hair
from her forehead, then paused sud
denly. listening intently. Was it her
fancy that she had heard stealthy
foot on the terrace without? Before
she had time to put her thoughts into
action and step to the window so see
if any one was there, a figure darken-
ed the aperture, a man sprung in
quickly, wrenching the curtain over
the easement, and flung off the hat
that had partly concealed his features.
REX! Oh, Heaven. Rex"
With that wild sharp cry the girl
almost staggered back, putting out her
hands, and SO stood, drawing her
breath quickly and with difficulty,
| every drop of blood driven from her
cheeks and lips. He did not move
or speak, but his very form seemed
to shrink and drOop before the gaze
| Of those blue eyes so wildly bright.
eyes fell. drops were standing ON his
brow. He was hard pressed.
"Stand back!' she said. do not
| dare to touch me.''
Don't be afraid of me, Clare he
muttered, hoarsely. Il haven't a
thought to harm you. Have some
mercy, Clare"
She could not but be touched to see
the wreck before her-to hear such
humble words from him.
Mercy for what?" she said, clasping
her hands before her-some wild. Sus-
picion of possible crime, of flight from
shame and judgement, taking posses
sion Of her
Il an closely pursued, Clare" he
told her rapidly, looking up for a
moment, but dropping his again before
her clear gaZe-'pursued by detectives.
He has tracked me down like a sleuth
hound"
''Who is tracking your the girl said,
bending forward, and pressing her
hand to her heart. the blood creeping
like icy streams through her veins.
Benson, the detective"
'What for?' came almost in a whiS-
per, her eyes seeking his with a wild
questioning.
There WAS a dead pause for one
minute, anC then, as with an impulse
too strong to combat. he fell down at
her feet, catching blindly at her robes,
hiding his face from her.
Glare, Glare, have pity! Hear me-.
think of me with mercy. Mine was
the hand that stole from you. I, Rex
Werner, have sunk down to be a mid
night thief-an ASA sSin,''
In an agony of bitterness that ap-
palled him the girl wrung her locked
hands above her head. turning from
him and bowling her face down upon
the mantel-shelf. with words that she
scarcely knew she uttered.
''Lost-shattered wrecked. This is
more than death, Oh, Heaven, help
me, l cannot bear this. My hand has
betrayed-my voice cOnvicted"'
He was silent awed by grief SO
bitter so deSpairing. and vet. even in
that moment. thrill of fierce Joy
shot through him at the thought that
his fall had occaSioned her crrs'. sor-
row, and reading that sorrow Alright
He rose TO his feet and drew near to
her
You care then" he said, softly: you
have memory enough to care that l