Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-27

upon ms mana ana again there was ST.
lence.
Why dld you not come or write or
send me word?" ne asked, with heavy
eyes.
Il? Not /. l saw then that your
jest had been no jest, but a terrible
truth: that had been standing in the
way of fortune coming to YOU that
had been swept out of the way you had
rushed to secure the prize; that your
love had been but tieetlpg passion,
easily transferred.
You are mistaken, Margaret" said
the laird, Il neither forgot nor ceased
TO love you, | made no pretense of
love TO the woman | married. The
proposal did not come from me, but
from my uncle, who, as you know, was
very masterful and seeing me unwill-
ing he committed me by proposing for
ME. | told my proposed wife that
had no heart to offer her, but that |
was prepared to do my duty as far as
in me lay. If she felt she could marry
me with this understanding we'll and
good it was all had to offer. sup
pose she must have been somehow in
fatrated, for She accepted me on these
terms and my uncle hurried on the
marriage"
so you did not love her, AleXander?"
said Mrs. Marin, looking at him
eagerly
Il have explained enough 10 show
you why acted as did, believing YOU
to be dead In fact, was SO miserable
and distracted over your loss that
let myself drift. | sought ambition as
a solace for your loss. Great heavens,
why did you not write again and again
and so prevented this"
How could | dream of your immo-
| had heard? Anyway, | very soon de-
cided. You thought me dead evidently.
| decided to remain dead to you.
went back to Brittany, to the kind poo
pie whom | had left and there Your
son was born When he was a little
lad, | came over here to Scotland, to
this quiet village, which YOU were
never likely to enter and the people
took for granted that | was a widow.
Widowed, indeed, and my boy father
less
1T is terrible, Terrible"
Shall ever forget that day when
saw you stop in front of the house,
with the child in your arms? DO YOU
know | was behind the door shaking,
as if from palsy? l tried to get away
that very day, but ii was impossible.
Ii was not rich, as you may imagine
and had leased the house for another
three years. resolved to stay in
doors-to keep out of your way. Then
your wife came one day and forgot
myself. She did not come back and
never will. You were away a good
deal of the time began to think why
should ! drift out into the world be
cause of you? Besides shall CON
TESS lt?--i had grown reconciled TO be-
ing near you | liked to hear of YOU
occasionally; | have been wicked
enough to be glad your wife has no
children"
But about the boy, Margaret" said
the laird, rousing himself. i see you
have both taken my name
why not?" said Mrs. Marin, Jelly.
"Oh, | am not At all displeased. I]ut
the boy must be educated. lie cannot
be allowed to run wild. If | have done
rashly you have had your revenge ;his
day. ! don't know yet how | did not
cry out when | saw you in court TO-
day"
About educating the boy" said Mrs
Marin, ignoring his last words. AS
man and wife at our own tireside We
might have consulted over the matter
Seeing you have wife at Birka', hat
leaves you an outsider His education
has not been neglected, He has been
at boys s"hcri for some wears. You
cannot say a word in the matter"
You are hard, bitterly hard, Mar
garet"
Certain experiences have made me
so Ny lover used to say ! was alto
gether too soft-heartcd
What terrible mistake it has all
BEEN
Il wonder" said Mrs. Marin, in a
musing tone, as she looked al him
pityingIy, Il wonder if YOU really loved
me as you profcssed to do?'
The laird did not answer at once.
He rose and began pacing the floor in
manifest agitation, Mrs. Nairn started
up and restrained him.
Hush, oh, hush" She whispered.
The tramp of your feet will waken
him.
With a sudden impulse he turned,
threw his arms about her and held her
by sheer strength.
Margaret. Margaret. Nay, but you
shall hear me. | was rash, weak, des-
perate, weakly ambitious If you will,
but | have paid greatly for it. am
most miserable man. Look in my
face and see whether / speak the
truth. / have not known one happy
day since | wrote you that jesting let
ter. | will tell you the whole truth.
The prospect of what might have been
had we never net did tempt me for
h,,t Il