Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-06-11
Continued.

most have laughed if she had not fell
SO unutterably sad.
THAT is what you must not ash
me-" she said.
And that is why you refuse to marry
me?"
Yes"
you mean. dear, that it was youl
father who met some unknown person
in the plantation and took the JeWel
case away. | quite understand and
there is. no use in blinking facts. Come,
now. what then? | am not going to
marry your father; I am going to
marry you"
THAT is just what you must not do.
If you marry me you cannot dissociate
yourself entirely from my father. And
you see what may happen-what has
happened. OF course | must tell you
that he was greatly deceived; he thought
he was receiving something that an
other person had right to giTe.'
who was the other person."
81 cannot tell you, Lancelot."
MY dearest, 1 am perfectly certain
that it was Constance Esler. She
hated you, she wanted to ruin you; she
thinks she has done it now. But she
shall find out her mistake"
THAT does not matter, LancelOt.
Legally my father is responsible. And
there are many things beside-you
know about them as we'll as l do. And
! will not marry you
Madeline, darlingr"
Think of your father-that man of
stainless honOr-the cavalier, as Lacy
Frances used to call him-how would
he like you to marry Oscar Despards
daughter? Oh, it is terrible to me to
have to say it; but | have eyes and
ears. | will not be blinded and | will
not let you do what you might live
t. repent"
MY dearest, | do not mind what
your father is"
But | mind for you. l do not want
your family to be disgraced through
me. ] will not have it. ! would rather
never see your face again.
Madeline, don't you love me?"
Yes, oh, yes; LancelOt | do. But
think of that old hackneyed line; that
true for ali time"
could not love thee, dear, so much
Loved | not honor more"
1t is scruple," said Lancelot, pas
sionately; and not worth considering
| tell you | do not care; besides, you
would know that Oscar Despard was
your father? Something could be done
for him, to raise him above the neces-
sity of peddling shifts and schemes.
Don't lose heart, dear | will provide
fo1 him somehow and we will forget
the past
DO you think | could allow that?"
IF you loved me as much as I love
you, you would allow me anything"
Madeline shook her head. II cannot
do it." she said, in a tone of agony
which convinced him of her sincerity
far more than the words she uttered,
cit would break my heart"
And Will il not break mine if you
give me up"
No, you are a man-you will get
over it."
Lancelot was silent for moment,
then he suddenly put his arm round
her, drew her to him and kissed her
on the lips
Now" he said, softly, now can you
give me up?"
No other man shall ever kiss me-"
she muttered, "but all the same, Lance.
] must not be your wife"
Madeline, it is unnatural. you can
not do it. See, kiss you again. kiss
you third time Now, say that you
will not marry me. if YOU dare"
She drew herself away from him,
parting, trembling. but still resolved.
Il will not marry YOU" she said;
land YOU will be glad afterward that
/ have refused"
Glad, Madeline?"
Yes. glad-relieved - thankful.
Goodbye. Lancelot."
i cannot and will not say goodbye
You have no cause to treat me in this
way. | never thought you would doubt
me or be untrue to our love, Madeline
Yet that is what YOU are doing now"
Il think | am true to it in its highest
end best form" said Madeline, family.
"The truest love would not do an in
jury to the beloved. That is all can
go upon, LanceIot. I will not injure
you. Please leave me and take these
ornaments with you. If you can spare
us-spare my father-in telling how
you recovered them. I shall be glad"
Madeline, you cannot mean it, dar-
ling"
But this time she held him back
Never again. Lancelot. Say good
bye and go"
Once more, then. my darling-if
only once"
And their lips met again. but Made
lines were cold as ice.
I shall never leave off hoping-nevel
be untrue to you, Madeline"
You must give me up. Lance. For
get me"
Never. I shall come back. I onl,
leave you on compulsion."
And with these words upon his lips
he took his leave of her. The strair
had been almost more than Madeline
could bear. Jenny found her faint ant
prostrate and had to help her. as bes
she could, back to her room. AnC
there for two or three days she la,
utterly broken down and scarcel7
caring whether she lived or died,
Meanwhile Lancelo+ took tho or,o