Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-07

all the world we'll lost to him. But
with the morning sunshine those bet
ter thoughts would fee She never for
get 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
magniflcence, was stronger than her
love OF him.
/ am in my right place now" she
would say to herself; 81 never felt at
home in Pauls 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.
I shall not seek to influence Won"
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. 7 will not reproach you. but T
shall never look upon your face again:
nor-pardon me for speaking so plain
ly-shall l 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 heiress of all nv
fortune, and my estate shall go to
your son. You shall have every adj
vantage that l can offer you. I shall
find some lady accustomed to the
usages OF good society and the ways of
the world to give you two or three
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 large fortune"
Her face flushed as she listened, and |
grew deadly pale.
And what is the condition of all |
tnis?" she asked.
That you give up your husband. |
Who-but 1 need not tell you what he
ls-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 it's penalties.
How many queens have married for
he good of their kingdom, and have
given up the man they really loved?
How many noble ladies, at the call of
1uty, have married men whom thew
hsl1ked? You are not required to suf-
-er SO; you have but to leave man
whose tastes, habits, and manners
cannot fail to be disagreeable to YOU"
Il love my husband" she opposed.
Certainly Well, you must think it
over, dsmay, and let me know the re-
suit
She tried entreaties, expostulations,
thi ~ hJ Ol IL was oil Ill vain. Inc
'esolve he had formed he would not
break.
At first she said to herself she would
De true to Paul. She would go home.
and never mind the poverty, the priva-
ions, or anything else. Paul was
worth any sacrifice; Paul loved ner so
dearly that nothing should induce her
20 stay away from him. Then she pic
red to herself with what infinite de-
light he would receive her-how he :
would love her. bless her for her truth,
hank her for the sacrifice Her heart
grew warm with love for him, her eyes
grew dim with tears.
But she was vain and weak; love and
vanity struggled hard for mastership,
and vanity won the day She forgot
the wooing amongst the green lanes
Of Ashburnham; she&orgot the early
love of her girlhood, the bright, beauti-
full, f1eeting romance; she forgot her
wifely duty, her plighted troth, her
husbands love; she was careless of his
needless Of his despair, when
she told Lord Carlswood that she had
thought the matter we'll over and had |
decided to stay.
To be continued.