Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-03-10

hands and wrung the blood out of it
drop by drop, l could not have suffered
mere than l have done! Why have l
been silent so long?-no matter why
but now, now Clara,-this life of ours
must end!"
She shuddel I'd away from him.
End it them" she muttered in a
choked voice You can do as you
like,-you can divorce me-"
Yes" said Lord Winsleish mus
iugly, 81 can divorce you! There
will be no defense possible,-as you
know. If witnesses are needed they
are to be had in the persons of our
own donyestics. The correspondent
in the case will not refute the charge
against hlm,-and l, the plaintiff.
must win my Just cause Do you
realize it all. Clara? YOU the we'll
known leader of a large social circle
you, the proud beauty and envied lady
Of rank and fashion, you will be made
a subject for the coarse jests of law
yers, the very Judge on the bench
will probably play off his stale Jokes
at your eXpense,-your dearest friends
will tear your name to shreds, the
newspapers will reek Of your doings,-
ard honest housemaids reading of
your fall from your high estate will
thank God that their souls and bodies
are more chaSte than yours! And at
l&st,-not east,-think when old age
creeps on and your beauty withers.-
think OF your son grown to manhood,
the sole heir to my name,-think of
him as having but one thing to blush
for-the memory Of his dishonored
mother!"
'Cruel-cruel!" she cried, endeavor-
lrg to check her sobs, and withdrawing
her hands from her face. "Why do
you say such things to me? Why did
you marry me?"
He caught her hands and held them
in fast grip.
! Why? Because l loved you, Clara
loved you with all the tenderness of
a strong mans heart! When first saw
you, you seemed to me the very incar-
nation of maiden purity and lowell
ness! The days of our courtship-the
first few months of our marriage
whatA hey were to you, l know not
to me they were supreme happiness.
When our boy was born, my alteration
my reverence for you increased-you
were so sacred in my eyes that could
have knelt and asked a benediction
from these little hands"-here he gen
thy loosened them from his clasp
Then came the change-what changed
you, l cannot imagine-it has always
seemed to me unnatural, monstrous
Incredible! There was no falling
away in my affection, that can swear
My curse upon the man who turned
your heart from mine! So rightful
and deep a curse is It that l feel IL
must some day strike home"
He paused and sec ned to reflect
Who is there NOR, vile, more trait
orous than he?" he went on. HAS he
not tried to influence Erringtons wife
against her husband? For what base
purpose? But Clara,--he is powerless
against her purity and innocence
what, in the name of God, gave him
power over you?"
She dropped her head, and the hot
blood rushed to her face.
you've said enough" she muir
INJURED sullenly. If you have decided
on divorce, pray carry out your in
tention with the least possible delay
l cannot talk any more II am
tired!"
Clara" said her husband solemnly
with or liuht In,
would rather kill you than divorce
you'll"
There was something so terribly
earnest in his tone that her heart beat
fast with fear.
Kill me?-kill me? she gasped
with white lips.
"Yes!" he repeated, kill you,-as
Frenchman or an Italian would
and take the consequences. Yes
though an Englishman, | would rather
do this than drag your frail poor
womanhood through the mire of pub
lie scandal! | have, perhaps, strange
nature, but such as | am, | am. There
are too many Of our high-born fami-
lies already, Haunting their immor-
ality and low RIGHTEOUSNESS in the
face Of the mocking, grinning popu-
laee,-I for one could never make up
my mind to fling the honor of my
sons mother to them, as though it
were a bone for dogs to fight over.
No-I have another proposition to
make to YOU"
He stopped short. She stared ct him
wcnderingly. He resumed in method
ical, unmoved, business-like tones.
4 propose, Clara, simply,-to leave
you! I'll take the boy and absent my
self from this country, so as TO give
you perfect freedom and save you all
trouble There'll be no possibility OF
scandal. for will keep you cognizant
of my movements,-and should you
require my presence at any time for
the sake OF appearances shield
you from calumny,-you may rely on
my returning 70 you at once.-without
celay. Ernest will gain many advan-
tsges by travel,-his education is quite
a .,,H3n Giant rnntiva fnr nv dar>a rtupa