Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-08-17
CHAPTER NXNI.
A Man of Wax.


II is not pleasant to tell how The
foundations Of u noble building arc
saprcd; to tell how tho grand strong
trunk of a noble tree is hacked and
rrp!ng of the water wears away a
stone; how the association with hascr
mind takes away the bloom from the
pure ones; how tho constant friction
With the world takes the dainty limo
ccnCo OF youth away. Ii ia ncvcr
pleasant to tell Of untruth, or Infldel-
ity, or sin. II Is not pleasant to write
here little by little. inch 10y inch, how
Lord Chando& was persuaded, In
iluenced. and overcome.
The sorry OF mans pertily is always
contemplate, Yet the strongest
of men, Samson. fell through
the establishments of woman. Lord
Chandos was neither rs strong as Sam
son nor as wise az solomon, aud that
n clever woman should get tho upper
hand OF him was not To be wondered
at.
He was brave, gallant, generous
gentleman, gay and genial he could
not endure foellng unhappy. nor could
he bear tho thought Of any other per-
sons unhappincss, he had no tragedy
about him; he was kind OF heart and
simple OF mind; he was clever and
gifted. but he was like wax In the
hands OF clever woman like Lady
Lanswell.
He was sIngularly unsuspiclous, be-
lieved In most things and most per-
sons; he never miajudgcd or gave any
one credit for bad qualities. Ilo had
no more intention OF deserving Leone
when he lett England than ho had Of
selling the crown OF Turkey His
honest, honorable intention was to re-
turn 10 her and marry her on the FIRST
hour that such marriage could be
legal. He would have laughed TO scorn
any one who would have limited nj
such a thing. His love then was his
life. and he had nothing beside II.
Gradually, slowly but surely, other
interests occupied him. A great writer
says Love Is me life Of woman
but only an episode In the life OF n
man" That was the difference II
was Leone's life; TO him II had been
an eplsode--and now that episode was
somewhat passed. other interests
opened To him. He meant to be faith
ful TO her and 10 marry her; nothing
should ever shake that determination:
but he ceased TO think II need be 40
hurriodly done; he need not certainly
forego the pleasure OF the tour and
hurry home for his birthday; that was
auixotlc nonsense; any time that year
would do. After his marriage he
should lose his mother and Lady
Marion; he would enjoy their company
as long as he could; Leone was right.
she had luxurious home, the assur-
ance OF his love and fidelity. the Ger
tainty OF being his wife few weeks
or months would make but little diff
Terence 10 her. He did not think he
had done any great harm In going 10
Spain. One might call II broken
promise Dut then most promises are
made with a proylso that they shall bc
kept II possible; and this was not pos
sible; he would have been very fool
tsh-~so he said 10 himself--if he had
made matters worse by refusing to no
With his mother to Spain. II would
have Increased her irritation and an.
noya"9e al 10 no purpose.
He had tried 10 convince himself tha.
i was right; and he ende ~ believing
it.
He felt rather anxious az TO what
Leone would say and the tone oi her
letter rather surprised him. She had
thought, long before she answered him,
reDroaches were Of no ayail--they
never are with men; II he had not
cared TO keep his promise no sharnly