Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-04-25
Continued.


1.oncb 10 give me my liberty to save
.enr own name, | suppose there's no
cali for thanks.
And Rex Werner passed from Clare's
life forever,
Then Lionel turned to her, aud 1t
might ave touched her to have seen
~ into the dark eyes there crept a
..f,ar shade-how, indeed, every line
= rho face softened. though 1t was
still so stern.
Il had thought Glare" he said,
.,nietly and sternly, that might
safaly leave the honor of my name in
vonr hands-that you would guard IL
srom the breath Of suspicion. How
nave Won redeemed the trust?"
The girl stood absolutely still; her
hreath came quickly. Pride and pas
sion. regret and remorse, were all
battling together Her hour of agony
was come.
auaye YOU no answer, Glare? Have
vou no explanation TO give me-"
HI paused, and bent down, seeking
il read the proud, passionate eyes that
avoided his. All, she was so young,
so fair so loved,
eWhat-silent still? Proud. cold,
stubborn, reckless-what am to think,
Clare"
"she broke ont passionately then,
locking and unlocking her slender fin
gers.
..Thnk-think of me as you will;
care not have lost all now-all
chance all hope, all yearning! You have
made me what | am; you came and
bought me with your gold. | was the
price of my fathers freedom. You
knew | had no love for you; it was
another's. With cold disdain you
trampled on the hearts of the boy and
girl YOU held in such contempt. Could
see him dragged to disgrace? Heaven
knows he had brought enough on his
name, | had once loved him'-she
stopped, pressing her hands to her
head and her next words dropped
slowly and with cruel distinctness
from her lips-"you I never loved
never shall love! Can | ever forget or
forgiye?'
HE came" she went on, and In
silent stern agony the man who loved
her listened not understanding the
meaning of all she had said of the
past hunted down at the last, to me
Il gave him shelter. / risked my
name to save him; lied to the de-
tectiye. What else could / do? Should
have given to all the world the story
Of how a Werner had disgraced his
name and his honor, and stolen jewels
Ike q common thief? Should l have
given up to justice the man l had
helped to track? Oh, woe is me- 1t
was my hand that pointed him out
IN the crowd on that night. Should |
have betrayed the man who trusted
me-"
You could have trusted me, Clare"
She turned. and the quiet words
stnng her. She paused in her restless
walk, and flung back her hair
He loved me-and you are my hus-
band, she said then slowly. Should
! nave trusted you? l did not love
you'
7 know It," Lionel returned with In
tense bitterness. "Well, well-as you
SAY. you never loved me, and never
Shall love me; where love is not there
Is no trust" He broke off abruptly,
and 1t seemed an almost involuntary
uttering of his thoughts aloud, the
words that came so brokenly from the
proud lips, as he turned away from
aer bending his forehead down upon
The cold mantle-shelf: "Never, never
Oh Heaven, merciful Heaven! it is
pltter-so bitter TO know this
She saw the action; she heard the
words wrnng from him by an agony
mat oyermastered even his naughty
reserve.
enc came near and softly touched
" hand, but he did not move-she
.dheied rather that he shivered at her
asht touch. As she paused, knitting
uef hrows in sort Of bewilderment,
Y. ai'ca hls heard, and turned on her
asaln, laying his hands upon her
saoalders his voice measured. from
sae very intensity of control that he
hid upon himself.
1ou told me just now, Clare he
WY thal with gold you were bought,
.uas You We're the price Of your
inner $ freedom. You told me that
Nnew you loved this Rex Werner;
H. IN loved YOU. This / never knew.
sa'ar before Heaven that was
ts2''SS at least of that wrong! Wrong
nave done YOU: for l know you did
I l2Fe me- but'-he paused. as
,s crushing down the fierce pride
il. a.alH lifted its head-"I had hope
- lae fancy, | know now-that time
80. each You to love even Lionel
s#l'pe That Is over now. why did
@ 4.' trll me all, Clare2 without re-
49, "onid have done the same for
taer sake
~. g -.ri looked up, dazed. almost
5s. 'aAs expression in the eyes she
,...., hls They looked down re-
a 'arroWfully, quietly on her:
$50 &. not sternness. no rebuke In
.s ad vet
#saa lahaf knew she said. as
MI fl "a ra4,,,, 44yr,.