Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-16
A MID LOVE
BERTHA M. CLAY.
Continued.

The morning dawned. She had
eagerly watched for IL through the
long hours of the night, 1t wakes hei
with the song OF the birds and the
shine Of the sun; 1t wakes her with
mingled sense Of pain and happiness. Of
pleasure and regret She was TO spend
a whole day with him, but the back
ground TO that happiness was that he
was leaving q wife at home who had
all claims to his time and attention.
"one happy day before die" she
said to herself.
But will 1t be happy? The sun VIII
shine brightly, yet there will be a
background; yet 1t shall be happy be-
cause 1t will be with him.
It was yet early in the morning when
she drove to the appointed place at
the river side. The sun shone IN the
skies, the birds sung In the trees, the
beautiful river flashed and gloWed IN
the light, the waters seemed to dance
and the green leaves to thrill.
All, were she but back by the mill
stream, II she were but Leone Noel
once again, with her life all unspoiled
before her; II she were anything on
earth except woman possessed by
mad love. II she could but exchange
these burning ashes OF burning love
for the light, bright heart OF her girl
hood when the world had been full OF
beauty which spoke to her In an un-
known tongue.
God had been so good to her; he had
given TO her the beauty OF queen,
genius that was immortal, wit, every
thing life holds most fair, ana they
were all lost to her because or her mad
love. All, well, never mind. the sun
WIS shining, the river dancing far
away In tho sun, and she was to spend
the day with him. She had dressed
herself to perfection In close-lttlnS
dress of darlt-grey velvet, relieved by
ribbons Of rose pink; she wore Il nat
with darl-gray plume, under the
shade OF which her beautiful face
looked doubly bowitching; the little
ha1 DIS, which by their royal gestures
swayed miltiiudes, were cased In dark
gray. Lord Chandos looked at her IN
undsgused admiration.
"rhe day seems TO have been made
on purpose for u.s. he said. rs no
helped her In the boat.
Leone laughed, but there was just
the least lingo OF bitterness in that
laugh.
~ day made for us would have gray
sltIeA cold rains, and bleak, bitter
winds" she said.
And tho pretty pleasure boat iloatcd
away on tho broad, beautiful stream.
1t was a day on which to dream OF
heaven, there was hardly n ripple on
The beautiful Thames; the air was
balmy, sweet filled with tho scent OF
hay from tho meadows of flowers
from the banks; 1t was as though they
had noatcd away into Paradise.
Lord Chandoa bent forward to see
that the rugs were properly disposed
he opened her sunshade, but she would
not use IT..
Let me see the beautiful river, the
banks and the yews while ! may, she
said. "The sun will not hurt me,
There was no sound save that of the
oars cleav!ng the bright waters
Leone watched the river with loving
eyes, since sho had left River View
and SHE had loved IT with something
like passion 1t seemed like part OF
that married life which had ended 80
abruptly They passed by thicket,
where the birds were singing after
mad fashion OF their own.
stop and listen" she said, holding
up her hand.
He stopped and tho boat lloated
gently with the noiseless tide,
Il wonder" said Leone, III in that
green bird kingdom there are tragedies
such as take place In ours?'
Lord Chandos laughed
"You are full of fauciful ideas,
Leone" he said, yes, | imagine the
birds hive their tragedies because they
have their loves"
Il suppose there are pretty birds and
plain birds loving birds and hard
hearted ones: some who live n happy
life, filled with sunlight and song
some who die while the leaves are
green, shot through the heart. In the
Kingdom of birds and the kingdom
Of men It is Just the same
(Which fate is yours, Leone" asked
Lord Chandos,
"Mine?" SHE said, looking away over
the dancing waters, mine? was
shot while the sun shone, and the best
part OF me died of the wound in my
heart"
CHAPTER l..