Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-18

tectives were watching the grounds
She dared not risk discovery. and
knew not what to do. She was con
demned to that fell demon" inaction
when effort seemed the one thing
! needed. Lionel had been sent for by
Inspector Benson. and she could not
tell when he might come down: be
would ask TO know the truth. and
she must lie to him.
Disgrace, dishonor, on that headr'
she said, paSSiOnately. claSping her
hands together. Were l to tell Lionel
with his proud disdain of all failure.
what would he do? Would he be
merciful, as l have been? Why should
he? Would he spare the man who
She broke off abruptly, pressing her
hand to her brow. How it burned
tonight, She went restlessly to the
window and looked out. The wind
came rushing by, and lifted her loose
tresses, hanging like a golden mantle
over her shoulders.
We'll" she said, there are women
who live to be old and gray, living the
life l live; but, all, me. can live so?
Love or hate-it must be one of those
twain. l have loved, and despise this
wretched heart that could cling to an
ideal that never existed. What was
that?"
Only a knock at the door. yet she
had started as though a shot had
struck her, and trembled now as she
70 10
Springing back with a low cry; fa.
once more Rex stood before her. He
quietly shut to the door. and advanc-
ed into the room.
You are safe-thank Heaven for
that!' the girl gasped, looking at him
with wildly bright eyes. But why
are you here? How is it? Tell me.
There is danger in every step you
take, in every moment you are here:
Lionel may come at any hour and
discover yOu!' She clasped her hands
above her head, with an almost des-
pairing gesture. Think Of me, Rex:
spare me this last agony, GO-go, while
there is time!''
Was he touched? Surely he must
be moved by her anguish? 1t did in
deed move him, beyond the power of
Self-cOntrOl, to hear that broken voice
beSeeching where she had hitherto
commanded, and could vet command.
He made step to her side, clasping
her hand in his closely
Glare" he said-and his voice was
low and unsteady-"don't shrink from
me this last time. I'll not stay beyond
a moment Listen to me- l have
braved everything but death by those
cruel waters-and that l couldn't brave
and beSideS-Well, | think your
words stung me last night: and there
were a hundred more reasons why |
have come to give you back some of
what l took from you-the heir-looms
you overland as he spoke he laid
on the table, thick, broad belt.
They're all fastened in the wadding
of that belt"
Mechanically her eyes followed the
direction of his hand, and then came
back to his face.
You'll wonder why l was fool
enough to keep them all this time.
Well, you wore them at your wedding
and l had fancy not to part with
them"
He brushed his hand across his eyes
and paused for a second-then added,
the old reckIessness in his voice-'I've
got tired of it all, and swore 70 give
back the wretched jewels. 1t wasn't
fair to make you suffer for my sins;
you've had enough of that And-and
I'm going away now, Glare, only
I'm cleaned out. I mean to risk Ben
son: l can shoot him if he gets in the
way"
With a strange mixture of feelings.
with half-number, daZed sort Of per-
pleXity in her eyes. the girl looked an
xiously at him. Rex Werner remOrse-
full, reckless, revealing just one golden
CLEAN of a purer feeling. The thought
crossed her sharply; had she ever loved
him? Could he have fallen so low?
1t was but a passing thought, not
fndOrsed by reason or her knowledge
of him; still this was Rex Werner, and
he had been once so much to her.
that pressed on her, and which she
seemed this night to have so little
power to control, and laid her purse
quietly in his hand.
He flushed to the brow. but received
it in silence.
eff l can get away" he said, with
half laugh, 80 much the better: if
not, it's better to be taken than drown
ed like a rat in hole. But it's hard
TO leave you so, Clare"
''Hush-hushn she cried. ooh! what
is come to me that I can not think of
your danger! I am aware of it, but
it has no import for me. They are
watching-they will"
Il tell you, Glare, I'm sick of my
whole life, lodging from place to
place, afraid of everybody-dOn't you
understand? I'm reckless, and should
not care if I were taken were it not
for you. It would be a sort of dis
grace, wouldn't it, to you? Now I'm
going. You will forgive me, CIare?"
He spoke the words again unsteadily,
and bent a little down to her. You
didn't quite mean all you said last
night, Clare?' he said, turning aside
still holding her hand, quite humbIy
and pleadingly.
She could have cried out-sobbed in
fearless agony-for the bitter misery
Of her heart, yet she was proud and
CO