Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-11-17


my stupid questions. only
She covered her face with her
lands, and someone bent over her and
took them gently away, kissing
them paSSionately at the same time,
Alice started. grew crimson, then
white as death.
Beside her on the ground knelt the
very man of whom she Spoke-the
earl-her love-her husband.
Did ever ask for YOU, my dar~
ing" Roy said teuderly. u flush on
mis- handsome face, love-light in his
eyes. lie still grasped her slender
hands in his. You have not known,
YOU have not seen me near YOU night
and day have never left you,
Alice my wife. l have prayed that
you might recover, If only to see you
knew me- and that you forgaye me.
Before YOU utter another word, say
that, Alice--you forgive mel"
She drew back a little.
Il have nothing to forgive YOU"
she said family, You were right.
farm -girl-and l separated you from
from her."
Listen, sweet, beg-listen. Re-
member the night before you were
torn away. Did not my eyes speak
plainly them Could you not guess
what my heart felt? All, Alice, you
did know, Then, my darling, l knew
nothing of your birth. 1t was you
loved, rs | love now. Were you forty
times a farm girl, ! must love you the
same. You are my very life! Say
you love me-"
Alice's heart thrilled, her hands,
held in his. trembled her voice was
faint
Love you!" she murmured. Il
have loved you from the moment |
saw you-it was that love that nearly
broke my heart"
My darling!' said the earl passion
ately, drawing her head to his shout
der, and pressing his lips to hers.
My own-my very own wife!"
Six months passed,
Darrell castle is alive with people,
it is the homecoming of the earl and
his beautiful young countess.
Sir Humphrey Durant and tho dowa-
ger Lady Darrell stand together In
the wide entrance to welcome their
children.
| Behind stretch a line of servants
| Davis with her face crimson in her ex-
element at once again seeing her be.
loved mistress.
Roy had taken with them no one
| who could remind his wife of what she
endured. New scenes. new faces
wear away all traces from her young
mind, so Davis had been lett behind.
A group OF guests We're assembled
among whom were Frank meredith
and Godfrey Arimstead whose friend
ship now the earl held as part of hi
possessions.
A glimpse OF outsiders was seen
The tenants in the grounds set up I
cheer; 1t was caught up by the ser
wants, and with shouts and acclama
tons of happiness, Alice, Countess o
Darrell, returned to her home.
When all was over, the guests gone
and the castle silent, Alice put he
head on Roy's shoulder. and kissed hi
hand, while he said tenderly:
"All has gone off well. my darling
; yet without all this could you love me
as | love you, with no poinp, no grand
eur, no riches simply for myself?"
: Il could whispered Alice. II do
: Our life, Roy, shall, please God. b.
ever happy-not by riches, titles, O
grandeur, but through simple never
dying love!"
And while peace and love came I,
the girl who had suffered, the one VIII
had plotted against her honor he
soul lived in darkness for evermore.
For when the manged body o
Paul was found on the ground be
meath the balcony. from which le ha
fallen, and Valerie who had recovere
: from her swoon, beheld all that re
manned OF her erring brother, the full
7 realization OF all 1t meant TO herds
! 81 dIt anu lHIH~-Ndo lDO mutu lOI no
overweight and scheming brain.
The frail cord that held reason /
It's throne snapped, and with n pierc
. ing shrek Valerie again lapsed Int
insensibility.
But this time, when her eyes opene
again to the light, they bore the loo
Of hopeless insanity.
Visitors to the celebrated estab
/ lishment Of Dr. -- for the mentall
| afflicted, stand and gaze in piteou
admiration at the regally beautifully
woman who never speaks but witt
dead white face searches the Rrour'
for the fallen form of her brother. an,
turns with tgress force to spring o.
I he person who interrupts
, Sometimes she is visited by
handsome man and a fair Lowell
girl, but she knows them not, and tho
wend their way sorrowfully from he
, till they lose recollections OF he
wretchcd life In their own happiness.