Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-04-23

ously ILL., 1t seemed now that the old lady
would die, and that Constance Would he
left alone
I. Constance she said, quietly, one day,
my child, think that shall de-
~ gfandmap' cried the girl, sdon't
say SO! l should be left here alone.'
Alone, repeated the old lady. feebly.
yes was thinking of that, my Con
stance. But why should you be alone
"nen there is a good and honorable man
VINO IS willing to make you his wife,"
Grandma, don't speak of it,
constance, promise me that if the
Duke d,Azzeglio asks you again to be-
come MS wife you will not refuse him.
DO you know what you are asking?"
Perfectly, my child
linen may heaven forgive your
Inc next day the duke called at Avon
dale Castle. When Lady Constance came
down she looked so pale and death-like
that the duke asked in some alarm if she
had been ILL.,
Lady Constance" said he, growing
very earnest as he spoke, 'you know in
what esteem l hold you. My one wish
IN lie IS to secure your happiness; may
L do SO! Will you be my wife?''
Pray leave me-" she cried, piteously.
But l cannot leave you," replied the
duke, who was becoming terribly in earn
est; constance, | love you be my wife"
My lord, II do not love you.'
Become my Duchess
She looked at him in dazed amazement.
You ask me now, your graceY'
Il ask you now," he replied, passion
ately pressing her hand; ''do not refuse
what | ask, for adore you. Constance.
speak, say you will become my wife"
'Since you wish it, then, I will" she
replied
Scarcely had she uttered the words
when the duke took her hand, and would
have clasped her in his arms, but Con-
stance uttered wild cry and shrunk
away. He frowned and would have spok-
en- sharply, but the girl staggered, then
with a low cry she fell fainting on the
floor.
Just two months later, in a field hos
pital near recent battlefield, wounded
officer, none other indeed than Frank
Howarth, lay lowering between life and
death. Just two days after he had post
ed that letter to Constance he had been
shot down in an engagement with the en-
envy.
''Let NE see my letters was his first
convalescent cry, 'for heavens sake don't
keep them from me; you don't know all
they mean to me"
Seeing that TO cross him would do more
harm than to obey him, the nurse placed
a packet Of letters and papers on Franks
bed. Eagerly and quickly Frank seized
the letters, and scanned the envelopes
one by one; when he came to the end of
the packet tears stole from beneath the
closed lids of his eyes and rolled slowly
down his cheek. Presently he grew more
composed, and proceeded with a heavy
heart to open his letters. Here fresh
shock awaited him. The first letter which
he opened was from his fathers solicitor.
1t informed him that his father and elder
brother were dead; they had both been
killed in an accident to the Scotch ex-
press, and that as his brother had left no
male issue, he himself was the Earl of
Harrington.
For many weeks he lay lowering be-
tween life and death, but again careful
nursing wooed him slowly back to life.
Again he examined his letters, but there
were none from constance. After read
inc them all through he opened his papers,
and almost the first thing that caught his
eye was the following:
FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE.
Son Tuesday morning, JAM 8, at st.
Luke's Church, was celebrated the mar
rage of His Grace the Duke d'Azzeglio
and Lady Constance Howarth, only child
of Arthur, the late Earl of Harrington"