Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-28

am troubled in this way?'
"A lady wishes to see you, sir" an
nounced the servant. tShe would not
give her name, but said her business
was very important"
Show her in here" he said ct is
about some subscription, or charity,
suppose"
He looked once more at his book, tC
note the page, and when he raised bis
eyes again he saw Ismay standing neal
him-Ismay, his beautiful wife. once
! fell upon her lovely face, on her sweep
ing dress, on the mass of golden brown
| hair, on the white hands SO tightly
clasped. She looked at him eagerly.
Paul" she cried. You are Paul;
| neither your changed name nor your
changed position can deceive me. You
are Paul-my husband"
She went up to him with an eager
step-she knelt at his feet and raised
her face to his.
Speak one word to me- she said.
Il am Ismay: and, oh, Paul, am come
to pray you to pardon me-tO implore
you to take me back-to tell you how
grieved am, how sorry for my sin
The words died on her lips in a
passion of tears. The stern pride and
cOldness of his face frightened her.
He drew away from the touch Of the
white jewelled hands.
81 have no wife" he said. The
woman I loved with my whole soul,
who promised me her truth, and faith,
deserted me. I have no wife"
Her voice was broken with sobs as
she answered him.
Il know it was wrong-cruelly,
wickedly wrong-but l was tempted,
and I fell. Oh, Paul, be merciful to
me! | was so young, SO vain, so weak.
Forgive me, and take me back
She might have seen how terrible
was the struggle-great drops stood
upon his forehead, his whole frame
trembled.
"You ask ne to take you back.
Why? Tell me why"
Because I love you-because it
seems to me that my soul has been
long asleep. 1t has awakened and
knows no rest. My heart cries for you
i love you. Take me back, Paul"
You were happy enough for many
years without me- he said.
No, | was not happy was intoxi-
Gated with vanity | was engrossed
in pleasure was given up heart and
soul to the world. | never stopped to
Think never dared to do sol have
lived as in a dream. l have awakened
from that dream, and | am here,
kneeling at your feet, praying you to
pardon me"
DO you remember that you robbed
me of my son." he asked-'that you
took him from me, and never thought
of my claim to his love as we'll as youl
own?"
She bowed her head, while the tears
rained from her eyes.
81 am guilty" she said-'oh, so
guilty, Paul. l pray you forgive me
and take me back"
You feel that you will not be happy
again unless | do SO, Ismay?"
Never" she replied.
Then listen to me. The hour Of my
vengeance has come at last. What
suffered when you left me, only
Heaven knows. The agony of death
cannot equal the agony of outraged
love and despair. l will not tell you
of all my pain lest you should pity me,
and | will have none Of your pity; but
in my anguish l swore that I would
take vengeance. Now the time has
come when | can keep my Vow-when
I can send you from my feet-when l
can refuse your prayer, and tell you
that never, never more shall you be
wife of minei
She bowed her head with deep, bit
ter sob, and then she raised her arms
and tried to clasp them round his neck.
But he drew back and caught hel
hands; he would have no caress from
her He held her hands 50 tightly
that he left great red marks upon
them.
'Woman--weak, vain, light Of pur-
pose, light of love-what 40 you know
of the depth of a mans heart? What
do you know of the force Of his pas
sion, the strength of his love? Weak
frail, easily led, ready to sell your
dearest and best to the first bidder,
you think you can play with a mans
heart as children play with a ball!
You think that you may lay a mans
life in ruin-blight it, drive him mad
with despair-and then win him back
with a smile and a caress!"
Cnnfi,n11nd