Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-12-07

stopping abruptly, he would say, with
strange pathetic earnestness-
Il could not bring dishonor on such
name,"
Day by day lsmay loved her new
life more and more. 1t was so pleas
ant to wander in those splendid
grounds, under the shade of ancestral
trees; 1t was so pleasant to live in
those magnificent rooms. with their
thick soft carpets, their superb furni-
ture, their rare pictures and profusion
of fiowers-to have servants to attend
to her every wish--to have carriages
horses, jewels, dresses, every luxury
that her imagination could devise. 1t
was pleasant always to have a purse
full Of money--to know that she need
never trouble about ways and means
to have respect, homage, fattery, rev.
erence shown to her. it was pleasant to
be surrounded by beautiful things-to
meet none but polished and refined
people.
She thought with a shudder of the
little cottage, the one little maid, the
homely life. She contrasted her hus-
band, in his plain working dress. with
the polished gentlemen she saw around
her.
She was weak of soul, weak of pur-
pose, weak of heart. weak of will. The
past, with its poverty and privations,
became hateful to her. She loved the
present; she dreaded the thought of re-
turning to her humble home of giving
up her jewels, of growing accustomed
again to an obscure life. How she
would miss the grandeur the luxury.
the magnificence of Bralyn
Yet she loved Paul--loyed him as
dearly, and deeply as her light nature
would allow her to love There were
nights when her pillow was wet with
tears-when she sobbed as though her
heart would break-when she thought
all the world well lost to him. But
with the morning sunshine those bet
ter thoughts would flee. She never for
got her husband-when she saw any
thing especially beautiful she would
long for him. She would take her lit
tie child out into the grounds, so that,
unheard by others, she might talk to
him of his father There was hardly
an hour in which her heart did not
turn to Paul; but she was vain weak
fond of luxury, easily persuaded: and
the love of self, the love of wealth and
magnifcence, was stronger than her
love of him
81 am in my right place now" she
would say to herself; 81 never felt at
home in Paul's little cottage"
Then, when Lord Carlswood thought
the love of present surroundings had
taken deep root, he spoke to her. He
was calm, firm and decided he told
her that nothing would ever induce
him to recognize her husband, and he
repeated his offer
II shall not seek to influence you"
he said Il simply lay both paths in
life before you; you shall choose as you
will, If you make up your mind to
return and take your boy with YOU so
be it, | will not reproach you, but I
shall never look upon your face again;
nor-pardon me for speaking so plain
ly-shall | ever leave to you or Lionel
one shilling of my money. DO not
think shall ever change. If, on the
contrary, you decide to remain with
me, | will make you heress of all my
fortune, and my estate shall go to
your son, You shall have every ad-
vantage that | can offer you. | shall
find some lady accustomed to the
usages of good society and the ways of
months instruction, and then next sea-
son you shall go to London. You
shall be mistress of Bralyn House, one
of the most magnificent mansions in
the metropolis. You shall be a queen,
a leader of fashion. You shall live one
of the most brilliant lives woman ever
led, You shall have wealth in album
dance, and your son-your beautiful
boy-shall succeed to a large fortune"
Her face flushed as she listened and
grew deadly pale.
And what is the condition of all
this?' she asked.
THAT you give up your husband
who-but | need not tell you what he
is-that you consent to live apart from
him. and never to see him again"
1T is cruelty hard" she murmured
Not so hard as you think" he re-
Joined. Rank always has its penalties
How many queens have married for
the good of their kingdom, and have
given up the man they really loved?
How many noble ladies, at the call of
duty have married men whom they
dtsliked9 You are not required TO suf-
fer so; you have but to leave a man
whose tastes, habits. and manners
cannot fail 10 be disagreeable to you"
II love my husband she opposed
Certainly Well you must think It
over Ismay. and let me know the re-
suit"
She tried entreaties expostulations,
and prayers-it was all In vain. The
resolve he had formed ne would not
hrapls