The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-02-12
CHAPTER xxi


The Earl Of Mountdean and Lord Ar
leigh were walking up steep hill one
day together. when the former feeling
tired, they both sat down among the
heather TO rest. There was a warm sun
shining, a plea wind blowing, and
the purple heather seemed literally to
dance around them. They remained for
some time in silence; it was the earl who
broke it by saying:
"How beautiful the heather Is. And
here indeed on this hilltop is solitudel We
might fancy ourselves quite alone in the
world. By the way, you have never told
me, Arleigb, what it is that makes you SO
fond of solitude
Il have had great trouble" he re
piled, briefly.
The earl looked at him thoughtfully.
Il should like to know what your trou-
BILE is" he said. gently.
Il can tell only one-half Of it," was the
renly. Il fell in love with one Of the
sweetest, fairest, purest girls. How l
loved her is only known to myself. l sup
nose every man thinks his own love the
greatest and the best. My whole heart
went out to this girl-with my whole soul
7 loved her! She was below me in the one
matter of worldly wealth and position
above me in all other. When | first asked
her TO marry me she refused. She told
me that the difference in our rank was
too great. She was most noble, most self
sacrificing; she loved me, l know, most
dearly, but she refused me- | was for
some time unable 10 overcome her oppo-
stion: at last l succeeded. l tell you no
details either of her name or where she
lived. nor any other circumstances con-
nected with her-I tell you only this. that.
once having Won her consent TO our mar
rage. | seemed to have exchanged earth
for ElySium. Then we were married. not
publicly and with great pomp, but as my
darling wished privately and quietly. On
the same day-my wedding day. took
her home | cannot tell how great was
my happiness-no one could realize il. Be
lieye me, Lord Mouutdean. that she her
self is as pure as q saint and that | know
no other woman at once so meek and so
lofty, so noble and so humble. Looking
at her. one feels how true and sweet a
woman's soul can he. Iet-oh. that |
should live to say it.-on my wedding day
| discovered something-it was no fault
of hers. | swear-that parted US. Loving
her blindly. madly. with my whole heart
and soul. | was still compelled to leave
her. She is my wife in name only. and
can never be more to me, Vet. you under
stand. without any fault of hers
What strange story said the earl.
thoughtfully. But this barrier. this OBJ
stacle-can it ever be removed 2
No" answered Lord ArleiCh. never
Il assure you of my deepest sympathy"
said the earl. 1T is a strange history.
Yes. and a sad fate" sighed Lord Ar
leigh. You cannot understand my story
entirely. Wanting a full explanation. you
might fairly ask me why l married with
this drawback. l did not know Of it. but
my wife believed l did. We We're both
most cruelty deceived. 1t does not mat
ter now. She is condemned to a loveless,
joyleSs life; so am |. With wife beau
tiful. loving, young. l must lead a most
solitary eNisJence-l must see my name
die out for want OF heirs-I must see my
race almost extinct. my life passed in re
pining and misery. my heart broken. my
days without sunshine | repeat that i
IS a sad fate
1t is indeed agreed the earl-"aud
such strange one. Are you quite SURE