Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-25
The Shattered idol.
BY The AUTHOR OF DORA 7HoRhE."
Continued.


me now, and I'm not likely to tell
every one how Rex Werner threw away
his chances in life. As you are kind
enough to give me my liberty to save
your own name. l suppose there's no
call for thanks"
And Rex Werner passed from CIare's
life forever.
Then Lionel turned to her, aud it
might Lave touched her to have seen
how into the dark eyes there crept a
softer shade-hOw, indeed, every line
IF the face sOftened, though it was
still so stern
Il had thought. Clare" he said,
quietly and sternIy, that 1 might
safely leave the honor of my name in
your hands-that you would guard il
from the breath Of suspicion. How
have you redeemed the trust?"
The girl stood absolutely still: her
breath came quickly. Pride and pas
sion, regret and remOrse, were all
battling together. Her hour of agony
was come.
Have you no answer, Clare? Have
you no explanation to give me?"
He paused, and bent down, seeking
to read the proud passionate eyes that
avoided his. All. she was so young,
so fair, so loved!
"What-silent still? Proud, cold
stubborn, reckless-what am to think
Clare?"
''She broke out passionately then,
locking and unlocking her slender fin
gers.
''Think-think of me as you will;
care not, [ have lost all now-all
chance ali hope, all yearning! You have
made me what I am; you came and
bought me with your gold. 1 was the
price of my fathers freedom. You
knew I had no love for y III; it was
another's. With cold disdain you
trampled on the hearts of the boy and
girl you held in such contempt. Could
l see him dragged to disgrace? Heaven
knows he had brought enough on his
name! l 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 I ever forget or
forgiven
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
I gave him shelter. [ risked my
name to save him: lied to the de-
tective. 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 a common thief? Should I have
given up to justice the man I mad
: helped to track? Oh, wee is mel 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, Glare"
She turned, and the quiet words
stung 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
[ have trusted you? l did not love
YOU
Il know it!'' Lionel returned with in
say, you never loved me, and never
shall love me; where love is not there
is no trust" He broke off abruptly,
and it seemed an almost involuntary
uttering of his thoughts aloud, the
words that came so brokenly from the
proud lips, as he turned away from
her, bending his forehead down upon
the cold mantle-shelf: "Never, never
oh, Heaven, merciful HeavenI it is
bitter-so bitter to know this
She saw the action; she heard the
words wrung from him by an agony
that overmastered even his naughty
reserve.
She came near and softly touched
his hand, but he did not move-she
fancied rather that he Shivered at her
light touch. AS she paused, knitting
her brOWS in q sort of beWiIderment
he lifted his heard, and turned on her
again, laying his hands upon her
shoulders, his voice measured, from
the very intensity of control that he
laid upon himself.
'YOu told me just now, Clare" he
said, that with gold you were bought,
that you were the price of your
fathers freedom. You told me that
1 knew you loved this Rex Werner;
, that he loved you. This I never knew.
/ swear before Heaven that I was
guiltless at least of that wrong! Wrong
I have done you; for 1 know you did
not love me; but"-he paused, as
though crushing down the fierce pride
that again lifted it's head-'I had hope
an idle fancy. know now-that time
might teach you to love even Lionel
Stanhope. That is over now. Why did
you not tell me all, Glare? Without re-
ward I would have done the same for
your sake
The girl looked up, a dazed, almost
unconscious expression in the eyes she
lifted to his. They looked down re-
gretfulIy. sorrowfully, quietly on her;
there was not sternness, no rebuke in
them, and yet
You never knew" she said. as
though in a dream. Then 1 have
wronged you! But you told me-my
father-that I need not stoop to ask
mercy-he had told you all-you would
not listen. I forget-I-Lionel, it is
getting dark-hold mel Am l too guilty
| so lost"