Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-09-21

my writing -desk,-there is something
| in it 1 have forgotten
| The maid soon returned, bearing
with her the desk given by Lord
| Lynne to his wife
AT least, my lady" she said, as her
mistress waved her hand in token OF
| dismissal, ''let me remove your orna-
ments, and unfasten your hair"
Listlessly and silently Lady Lynne
sat down in the easy chair, drawn up
to the toilette-table, gazing stead
tasty at the face reflected in the mir
ror.
One by one the skillful hand
| maiden removed the jewels from the
| thick tresses of raven hair; then she
| unfastened it, and let it fall in all it's
rich luXuriance over her mistress
shoulders
''No one ever had such hair as my
lady" she murmured to herself, brush
ing it the while, and as proud of it's
glossy magnifcance as though it were
her own.
Very beautiful did Inez look then,
with that wealth of hair flowing like
veil over her white shoulders. Stead
Easily and silently she gazed at the
wondrous loneliness of the face in the
mirror, the dark lustrous eyes with
their jetty fringe, the rich red lips, the
queenly brow, the exquisite cheeks.
There were few such faces in the
world.
'All in yain," she said, call in vain"
did my lady speak?" asked
Stephanie
mo-" replied Lady Lynne, YEARLY.
Bring me the little phial,-so that if
I am in pain I need not call any one"
Stephanie obeyed, and then went out,
wondering why her mistress looked
so long and calmly in the mirror.
Then Inez remembered the note
that had been pressed into her hand
1t was in the pocket of her Dress she
rose, and found it. Her hand did
not tremble as she opened it, her lips
never quivered as she read it, al
though the few lines it contained were
her death-warrant.
Il shall call tomorrow at three"
wrote Count Rinaldo; Il shall ask for
a private interview with your sister,
and make her an offer of marriage. If
she accepts me, which she will do if
you use your influence, all is we'll; if
she refuses me, l shall ask for Lord
Lynne. [ shall tell him all that took
place at SerrantO, and claim you and
your fortune as mine by prior right
Nothing will move me from this pur-
pose. Instead Of wasting your time
in useless appeals to me, spend it in
persuading your sister to accept me-"
Il am hunted down." cried the
girl, as the note fell from
her nerveless grasp, Il am hunted
down! Ruin lies Oh all sides of me. |
Tomorrow Philip will ask Agatha what
she meant by not understanding his |
allusiOn to the white hyacinth to- |
he will know that I lied and |
schemed, and betrayed my sister, to |
win his love; tomorrow he will know
that | have deceived him-he will |
know all the wretched story of my
folly and creduIity, my sin and shame |
will know that | am no wife for an
man. Oh, Heaven, can l
bear it,"
She did not weep now as she had
done months ago, when she wept for |
the love given to another. The time
for tears was over with Inez Lynne. |
A pallor like that of death settled on
her beautiful young face.
ct must be fate" she cried, as with
quick step she paced up and down the
room; lit must be fate If one shame |
did not hang over me another would, |
and l can face neither. Oh, why have !
[ wasted my youth, my beauty, my
genius? Why have l sinned?"
This was the cry of the ruined soul |
in her hour of remOrse. why have !
Sinned? tomorrow men and women |
will shun me. My sister, whom l |
have learned to love so dearly, will |
pass by me. [ betrayed her, and took |
her love from her"
No idle sophistries came in this |
hour to ease her conscience, or take |
away the sting of her sorrow. She no
IOAiSSl SACuSCu utIS6ll VI Saw tuluSS
through a false medium. In the still
ness and dead of night she stood face
to face with her sins; she saw her
self clearly, as she had never done !
before, with no veil of illusion hiding
the reality from her.
And I might have been happy!" she
cried passionately. ct is too late now !
I am lost. My beauty, my genius,
my talent, have brought me to this;
and I might have been happy and be-
loved"
To be Continued.