Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-07-08

Ills
but all have is at your feet"
She quickly looked up, and a light of
gratitude came into her eyes.
How good you are" she said.
Ronald looked at her in bewilderment:
the words were not what he had ex-
pected.
''You do not understand" he said. 81
want you to be my wife,
Il do understand" she answered gen
tly, land | honor you for asking me,
after what has happened; but l Will not
take advantage of your generosity
1T is not generosity" cried Ronald
lit is sheer selfshness!'
But Violet showed no signs of yielding.
Il will not leave you unless you tell
me one thing" said Ronald. eff your
heart is free, claim it; but if not.
will never trouble you again. Violet,
tell me, do you love any one?"
She looked at him with face that
grew pale under his gaze.
Yes" she said, 81 do
THAT is enough said Ronald hoarse-
ly, and dropping her hand he turned and
Wen:.
1T is strange how ungrateful young
people are.' remarked Lady Maria, Il
few days later, to the friends gathered
around her teatable.~ Il had arranged a
most suitable iuatch for my nephew,
really done everything in my power to
promote It; and yet he actually came
terrible language-said that L had
spoiled his life. and all kinds of dreadful
things; and DOW he has gone off abroad,
nobody knows where. am sure / only
hope that | shall iieyer see him again"
Lady Maria's wish seemed likely to be
fulfilled, for five long years came and
went, bringing no news of Ronald; and
though five years could not take the
bloom from her cheek, nor the gold from
her hair, they could and did add very
materially to the in6rmities of her
frame. But when at last he did reap
pear, she was willing to overlook the
past III spite of her resentment for Ron
aid had found his way into a profitable
foreign partnership, and instead of fame
he brought back money.
''One of the best things / ever did for
you was getting you out of that entangle-
ment.' she exclaimed feryently when
they met, for Lady Maria came Of mil
itary stock, and she knew that one of the
most successful maneuTerS is to carry
the war into your enemy's quarters.
Ronald shot a glance at her from
ing, and she continued gayly:
Mr. Harvey went bankrupt a year or
two after you went away, and they are
in quite poor circumstances now. That
upstart girl waits upon the dodgers, l
believe"
You don't say so.' remarked Ronald.
"Where are they livingW
''In Worthing," said Lady Maria. de-
ceived by his GOODNESS. Lady Henning-
ton was there last month, and she told
me that she saw Mrs. Harvey on the
Parade, and that the woman actually
had the audacity to speak to her. Can
you believe itI'
Il don't know" said Ronald; ''but I
am going to Worthing this afternoon, and
'Oh, my dear boy" cried Lady Maria.
in genuine distress. Pray, pray don't
do anything so foolish. You have no
idea how designing poor people are"
but here she ceased. for the sound of the
loudly closing door informed her that she
was alone.
but why did you send me away?"
said Ronald. q few hours later as he and
Violet stood together under the stars,
and heard the waves beating upon the
beach
Because I thought, after what we
overheard, you felt yourself bound to say
what you did out of consideration for
me-"
so your pride came in the way, my
little one! Don't you know that pride
can't preach to you now, because [ want
to ask you another question. If you
really have loved me all along, why did
you tell such a dreadful lie?"
"a lie!'' exclaimed Violet.
''Yes. a lie: a regular big black one
When | asked you II you had loved any
one. you said yes! Now, then, confess
at once. because I'm not going to let
you off,
He held her away from him so that
he could look into her face and waited
inexorably for her answer.
Il saw that you would not listen to
any other objection she said. :and l
thought that you were sacrificing your
self. and So"
Eyes, l know all that" he Interrupted:
'but you had no business to say what
you did! Unless. of course, there really
was someone? Come. now, tell me-"
A flush came over her face. and as she
raised her eyes he could see her tears
shining in the starlight; he grasped her
hand more firmly in his now, and looked
down at her from the height of his six
feet.
She tried to speak, but her quivering
voice would not be controlled and with
a great wave OF love surging up in his
heart. he drew her close to him.
"Who was it?" he whispered,
She turned to hide her face upon his
shoulder and breathed her answer into
his ear bent down to catch it.
''You dear. blind boy; it was your'-
Household Words