Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-09

| unlOViDg wife. Now the house was as
still as death.
A step came at last. 1t was Lance,
lot's-the father knew it well. He
| turned to the door, striving to meet his
son with the look of icy calm and en-
durance which he generally wore in
his sons presence; a look which masked
| the fires of Indignation and of love
with which he was inwardly consumed
But he could not quite control him
self; his mouth tWitched and his voice
was hoarse with anxiety as he asked
after his wife's state.
She is much worse
us she-very i'll, them"
Very i'll, am afraid
LancelOt did not meet his fathers
eyes. There was a guilty look about
him, Roger thought.
Boy, what has happened? What is
the natter" he cried.
LancelOt looked up and his father
saw that there was not only unhappi-
ness, but a great new softness in his
eyes.
hoIC ID III, Jul Sic ulu uOt S6uu LOT
you for that" he said.
'Then-why?"
She will tell you herself" Then
Lancelot came a step nearer.
Father" he said, rather huskily
L have often misjudged you'll want
to know whether in spite of all that
has gone before it is possible for us
to be-better friends than we have
been?"
The colonel stretched out his hand.
Lance" he said, almost beseechingly,
Il never meant such a shadow to fall
between u.s."
Il know said Lance Il understand
now" And the father and son clasped
hands
Then Lancelot led the way to his
mothers room. Roger Vanbrugh's
mind was in a strange maze of con-
fiicting emotions, he hardly knew what
to expect after the words that Lancelot
had addressed to rim. Did the boy
know all or only half the truth?
He saw, at any rate, what he did
not expect. His wifes face was white,
sunken, death-like, as it had never been
before. She must be i'll indeed he
thought, to look like that With one
cry. with one long stride, he was be-
side her. forgetting everything but his
Old love for her and that she had sent
for him again.
'Eenetiar' She opened her eyes at,
Z no Of &c a ,f1,1
light came into them. The color flush
ed her cheeks: for the first time in her
life, she willingly raised her face and
hands to him and let him clasp her
in his arms.
But the embrace was only for a
"Ah, wait" she said. wait. Lay
me down. I want to speak to you. 1t
was good of you to come"
"Good!' he echoed, in complete self
How could he feel any
thing but humiliation when he remem-
bered that he had hesitated to come;
had needed Frances Alymer's emphatic
protest before he had yielded to her
summons?
yes, good" she said. Because I
have treated you shamefully, Roger. |
I believed all 1 heard and now I want
you to forgive me-"
with all my heart" he answered,
in low. deep tone.
''You have a great deal to forgive"
she said, almost sharply. But it was
not quite my fault, Rcger-you had a
false friend at your side, Rene de
Marsac-I think I must tell you all
now; he hated me because-ah, well,
you can perhaps guess, and it hurts
me to tell"
"He loved you?"
I'm his way Then afterward he
hated and he swore to be revenged.
He made me believe that you brought
the police down on Leon and he per-
suaded me, Roger, never to tell you
that Leon was my brother"
He was a false friend"
yes, very false And I was too
proud to own it when I knew what you
had thought and that made me try
you know what [ did-but I am sorry
now. 1t was he who separated us
then-he separated you and Lancelot
afterward. Yes. he did it, not Lance
will tell you ALL
How did you find this out, Venetia? %
You remember he man Despard
Lancelot will tell you by and by. I
am sure Despard has spoken the truth
1T last"
And having learned the truth, Ven
eta, can you believe that I, at least,
never meant to hurt you? Never be-
trayed you and never betrayed your
friends?"
Il ought not to have doubted it, she
said. And then, more softly still:
Forgive me, Roger, can you forgiven"
He bent forward and kissed her pale
lips. IF you had loved me, dear, it
would not have happened" he muir
INJURED.
She laid her head on his arm and
looked up into his face.
1T is late to begin" she said, slowly,
but think, Roger, that if you will
let me | could love you now"
My love, my only lover
Am l your only love? Is there no
other woman whom you care for?"
None as l care for you, Venetia
You were the idol of my youth, the
light of my eyes; nc other woman
could ever be to me as you have
been"
All" she breathed, as if satisfied.
She Law hack HOLDING bic how'd o-5