Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-09

not TO hear II. | was left on my father:
hands, and for year knew at least 9
measure OF peace. But little as he ever
saw OF me, much as he neglected me-
suppose | was a hindrance in his life, OF
perhaps too keen a reminder Of my mother
Cne day-It was my birthday: I was six
teen-he told me he was going to give me
a husband. I scarcely remonstrated-I wa
too ignorant. for enc tfing-and In a vague
way. no eager to grasp at possible happi
reSs for another. 7 was married 10 Mr.
FA-non a north later
Fer voice DID away. lost in the sea O.
@eco'lections which The four years of hel
married life had let loose upon her.
Don sneak Of him. Lydia" cried DicE
Mcneil: ~ canno- hear It,"
hut she neither beard nor heeded hel
ioVei words As in dream with large
ewes fixed upon the blazing fire and lirf
that scarcely stirred she rar~ bled on
ON the horror Of that 'h'7e7''.~ ~''arr:a %
The Molorh that devoured children was
more mercEfu' thar the Sarvr who, in h',
NAV ~'''se kills all that is bast and pureS
in s;rlnood For two years nv life was 9
torture" she kissed Dicks hand twenty
tires. as THOUGH in m:tiga tion of her words
en-. one day. courage came to me. and
the dim recoIlActior If connection of my
mother who might helo me- It WIS TO him
Sir Geoffrey Thorp. I went How kind he
was! It was mis- hand that opened to me 4
little wav the door OF freedom and which
gained for me- the separation which gave
ne time TO regain some Of my broken self
reSDect"
Her voice changed from its low. sad key
and she went on brightly, each word ring.
ing gayer through the warm. violet scente-
'mosphere
Then one day Sir Godfrey and his dear
wife came &c ne with the KEYS Of my lib.
ertv in their hands Ny wretched husba nd
had given me the final proof Of his sin Dc
you know, Dick. that shameful wrong which
Is the deathknell to the love and happiness
OF most women, was veritable JOY bell tC
me. Oh. dearest. hope I am not very bad
so to rejoice in another's sin. but 1t was
just at that time first met you
She blushed decliciously over her con-
fession.
THE rest YOU know. The divorce was
easy e-ough-he never even attempted tc
defend himself. I wonder why Sir Geoffrey
always mistrusted that lack of defense"
But was not your-Mr Vernon out Of
England when the case came on?" querie6
Dick, forced against his will to take inter
est In the business he hated most in the
world
Il think SC" said Lydia. ''At any rate
he neither appeared nor was he repres ented
But | have seen him twice since then anC
ago. The Thorps passed him in Piccadilly.'
Dick Meynell moved uneasily in his chair
The presence in the same city with him
self OF the man who had made life so hard
for the woman he hoped within a few hours
to call his wife, CALLED and disquieted him
unaccountably.
His movement reused Lydia from hel
curled up attitude at his feet. She looked
up at the clock.
Glow Iata lat 7 wander WI az tc lxaer
ing Sir Godfrey. He said he would come
here the minute the decree absolute was
pronounced-that 1t was only matter OF
a moment or two. Surely the courts must
have risen by now
Lydia, my darling you know how it pains
me to discuss the question of your past mar
riege with you, for it always seems an insult
to even mention man such as Vernon il
your presence; but-have you ever spoken
with him since the case?"
"Oh, yes" said Lydia, frankly, and rising
to her feet as she spoke.
you've seen him-alone?" cried Meynell
his voice strained and harsh with an anx-
iety he strove to hide.
-dear-twice. Our talk was abso-
lutely on business matters. and we were
naturally alone Dick-why, Dick, what is
the matter? What have done?"
Her face had blanched as white as the soft
fur about her throat, and her voice rang out
with piteous fear, as with a groan Dick
Meynel rose from his chair and caught her
in his arms.
my sweetheart, my poor wronged love-
fear that you have ruined both our lives"
Even as he spoke the door shut sharply
to behind them, and a heavy, slow tread ad
vdnced into the room.
very pretty upon my word-a sweet pic
ture, indeedr' rasped voice from the other
side of the table
Without a cry Lydia Vernon, still in the
arms Of the man she loved. turned to inc
her husband smiling at her.
He was small man, neatly groomed, vel
dressed and not Unlocking at the first
glance. but whole world of malice CLEANED
in his close-set eyes as he stared at the pain
"Umphr" and he shrugged his shoulders
and grinned little wider. "You are nice
woman to set up as an injured wife, aren't
you? Such pretty tale as you tol l all the
world about me- Heavens! you painted
me as black as the incarnate, and all the
while you'd a lover dangling at your skirte. .
The red blood flashed across Lyda's white
face and a protest leaped to her innocent
lips But her husband waved his hand al
her and laughed little more than ever.
"Ohi you needn't be afraid, my dear
I'm going to set you an example Of mag
nanimity. I'm not going to drag your
precious name through the divorce court
No such luck for you-my dear. d'you
hear?'
What do you mean by talking to me OF
the divorce COURT" she cried. you are
not my husband. You have no further
right over me or my actions. l obtained &
decree nisi against you six months ago"
(Which was not made absolute to-day,
retorted Vernon. "ThoSe two private in
terviews on business upset your little ar
engagements, my dear"
"Then l am still" she gasped.
"My wife? Why, certainly-and by
heavens you shall remain so as long as
both of us are above ground" cried Yer
non, triumphantly.
Then he turned on Meynell whose wide
eyes could see nothing but the wreck OF
his shattered dreams.
"And now, Mr. Lover, I'll thank you to
leave my wife's apartment at once and not
show yourself here again. And perhaps,
as you go, you'd better thank your stars
that I've let you off without horsewhip-
ping"
For a moment Meynell only saw red,
and the cry kill him! Kill him." thun-
dered in his ears. But light touch, a
low voice, overrode the storm Of passion.
GO. my love. Farewell forever. l shall
not be with him for long"
He turned as he reached the door and
took one last look at her. There were no
tears in her eyes, or CONFUSION OF grief
upon her face, only she was gray with the
grayness Of approaching death. and in the
bright light she looked very worn and sad.
AS ne closed the door a brighter flame
fared and died on the hearth. Lydia had
thrown the slip of paper whereon was
planned her honeymoon tour into the heart
of the glowing coals.-Pick-Me-Up.
MORNING JACKETS.
Every woman knows the comfort OF a
morning Jacket, and whether it is made of