Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-13

Lathrop, as she called herself, should
not want; had seen her after the trial
She was still in the rooms at c.
street, and when he was announced
had received him with a sort of sub
dued manner that awoke all tina
latent pity he had had in his heart To-
her, when she had sobbed so paSsi N
ateiy the evening he first saw her.
You ought to hate me- she said
half sullenly, half bitterly. I'm a bi
sorry now l was so rough on voul
wife. It's been no good to NE either
Perhaps it may have been,' Saij
/ Gerald.
And she looked up sharply
Why" she said.
Because, at any rate, now we may
be able to help You. Forgive me, OF
course, | can know nothing of your
] life. or how you have lived: but if YOU
wish to make a fresh beginning. nly
wife is the last to turn away from
anyone in need of help
The woman looked at him curiously.
; there gathered a sort. of wonder in her
large eyes, her breath came quickly.
What she said, leaning forward a
little: you would let your wife so
much as think of me? And she-she
must hate mer'
He nalf smiled.
She is only anxious to befriald
you he said, in the same gentle way:
you have done her and me the bitter
est wrong. But for your guilt in this
one may find excuse; it is diff e-ent
from a mans wrong. Don't you TN
ders1and:'
She turned away abruptly
GU are very odd people, she said
in dry, choked sort of voice, and re-
manned silent some while--a silence
Gerald did not break, only waited for
her TO speak.
Il wasn't always so bad" she broke
out at last, with a passionate gesture
L was brought up decently, but there
it is-his blood is in me, and l wasn't
one to settle down. | am beautiful,
I love luxury and fine things, and l
could get them all. Inherited tastes"
she said, with a savage bitterness,
they're too strong for me. What's the
good Of trying to go against them?"
DO you want to go against them?'
asked Egerton, with a directness that
seemed to startle her.
She flushed and her eye wavered
Il don't know" she said, e. She
broke off abruptly, and gave a short
laugh that had the sound of tears in
it. Il do think you want to convert
me-" she said, with quaver in her
voice.
You can call it what you like Ger
aid returned, quite coolly; CONVEX
sion is not in my line; but it is horri-
bic pain to see a woman made for bet
ter things sink lower and lower, as
you must do. You told me you couldn't
be good because no one had ey er
cared for you, or tried to help you. If
my wife and l give you the means to
live, help you to do anything you
think you could manage in new coun-
try-among new associations, then at
least there will be some incentive to
leave the other life behind YOU
She sat leaning her head on her hand,
biting her lips.
What curious process was going IN
in that warped and darkened soul of
hers, that yet was not utterly per-
versed, despise the wrong she had done
to an innocent woman.
You can't give me broughams and
diamonds and excitement and pleas
ire" she said at last, with a flavor Of
reckless bitterness.
mo, we can't give you those. GER
tainly," answered Gerald, quietly, ''lf
you will stake you life on them. Only,
it seems to me, there might be some
thing better to live for than such
things. l fancy you think SO, 100, If
you would let some wishes, and hopes,
perhaps, in your mind have way"
And again the woman looked at him
with those eyes so like Hyaclntn's
own, so like now they were softer
through the mist Of tears in them.
Then she dropped her head down on
her arm, and broke into sobs.
TO BE COntiynod