Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-19
Roger Vanbrugb's Wife. !
BY ADELINE SERGEANT -



with those whom she, Lady Esler, did
not approve.
This mode of treatment was partlc-
ularly annoying to Constance, as she
had her own schemes to carry out.
Rene was still lettering at the little
village inn to which he had conveyed
himself and his effects when he was
requested by Col. Vanbrugh TO leave
Aldersleigh, for Col. Vanbrugh had
been desperately offended by De Mar
sac's clandestine lovemaking; but he
had told Constance in a note, surrep
titiously conveyed to her by the gar
dener's boy, that he would soon be
obliged to go to London, and that she
must contriVe some way of meeting
him before he went if she wished to
see him again.
Constance was clever in her own way
and she had little regard for truth. 1t
was easy for her one afternoon, just
when she and Lady Esler were going
out together, to feign violent attack
of neuralgia, such as she had had
once or twice in her life before, and
to declare that she must remain at
home. Lady Esler saw that she lay
down in her dressing-room, dosed her
with quinine and told her to remain
quiet until she came home again; and
then drove off alone. But as soon as
the sound of the carriage wheels had
died away Constance was up and dress
ing herself in a plain, dark gown Of
ial n uh added
waterproof cloak and a hat and veil;
thus habited, she was sufficiently dis
guised to make it necessary for a per-
son to look at her twice before he
could be certain of her identity. Her
rooms were close to the back stairs
which led to a side door, from which
she trusted to chance that she should
not be seen issuing; but if she were
seen she had story ready. She knew
that it was not likely that her doings
would be remarked; even if the maids
saw her in the garden they would
never think of mentioning the fact to
Lady Esler, of whom they stood much
in awe. She reached the shrubbery
in safety, and there, as she had con-
jectured, she found Rene de Marsac,
who had suggested the shrubbery as
likely place for their next meeting.
Il thought you would come" he said
in tone of quiet satisfaction, as he
took her hands in his and gazed down
into her beautiful eyes.
Il had a great deal of difficulty"
said Constance, who never liked her
of n1,tS tn mn lot n6
don't know what [ have gone through
for your sab e."
And have | gone through nothing?"
he asked, in a low but imprisoned
voice rs it nothing that for you l
lost my dearest friend, imperilled my
livelihood, ruined my reputation in
Il is place? All, you do not know
what pain it has given me to be re-
nounced by Roger Vanbrugh, my old
comrade and friend
Roger Wainwright" said Constance,
in a somewhat constrained voice. do
you mean that you care for Roger Van
brugh more than you care for me?'
Ma belle-my beautiful one-no,
indeed! You are compensation enough
for any loss. If only l knew You were
my very own, that you could not
change, could not leave me-could not
give me up"
Il am yours, Rene"
mo, no you are not mine. You
would have been mine now but for that
mink of a girl, but she has ruined our
happiness"
Has she?" said Constance, softly.
This was the point to which De
Marsac had been longing to bring her.
Now he seized his opportunity.
We'll, has she? Are you willing to
be mine still? Are you not afraid?"
why should I be afraid? I love
you and you love me, Rene"
yes, but, darling, I have to leave
you and l am afraid that you will
change. No man can come near you
without admiring you and you will
listen to the prayers and gatherings
of others, forgetting that no one can
love you so madly, so passionately, as
your poor devoted slave, who some
times fears that his love for you will
madden him-wil1 drive him to the
grave OF suicide.
It was a strangely bombast1c, foolish
speech but to Constance it gave un-
alloyed delight She had read Of love
like this of which he spoke and had
romantic girls belief in a woman's
power of exciting passion and she felt
herself exalted to the seventh heaven
of delight by the consciousness Of pos
sessing this power. Mixed with her
vanity too, there was a spark of real
love for Rene de Marsac, a spark which
circumstances we're destined to fan in
to a devouring fame.
Don't talk in that way" she said,
clinging to him, with tears in her
lustrous, dark eyes. You will kill
me. If anything happened to you,
Rene, l should die. l love you, indeed
l do. Can l do nothing nothing to
make you forget what you have suf-
fered for my sake?'
Yes he said, softly. You can be
my wife"
How can Il" she cried at school
had the opportunity of getting out
alone or almost alone, but here there
is no chance. Even now l have only
about half an hour free. And here
there is no registry office and I should
be known if | went-and wedding
in church would be quite impossible"
would it?" said Rene, quietly.