Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-28
Story Of the Wedding Ring.
By BERTHA M. CLAY.

upon hOSpitable cares Lady BrentWa!
moved away.
Ismay looked into the handsome
face bending near her; and then {
short, sudden, stifed cry came from
her lips, her face grew suddenly white
as death, her eyes assumed a startled
! incredulous look.
''Mr Dale!" she said, in a low voice
| like that of ore in a dream.
| There was no answering; the face
into which she gazed was cold and
dark and proud.
She clasped her hands tightly.
Pray pardon me-" she said. "YOu
| are so much like-It is-it is Paul him
self! Paul, do you not know me?''
II have not the pleasure of knowing
Mrs. Waldron," he said.
She stood looking after him, wonder
| fear, love, dis ly, all striving for
mastery.
''It is PAUL" she said "As surely
as I breathe there is my husband, and
he does not know me-"
The whole room seemed turned
around. A nervous cry rose to her
| lips which she could with difficulty re-
press. She looked after the tall state
ly figure.
at is-it must be Paul" she muir
INJURED. That is Pauls figure and
PauPs face; yet-nO, I must be dream
ing. How could Paul be Mr.. Dale, ana
a member of Parliament? I must be
going mad"
Lord Brecon came to ask her to
dance; she declined, and he looked
with wonder at her pale agitated face.
Are you i'll, Mrs. Waldron?"
NO" she replied, 81 am well
enough; but l am puzzled Lord Bre-
con, do you know anything of the new
member, Mr., Dale?"
Nothing much" he answered. Il
know that he is wonderfully clever,
and have heard that he is a self-made
mamie has risen by his own efforts. p
What was he originality" she
asked, with trembling lips
Il cannot tell; I have never heard.
He rose from the humblest ranks,
believe. Does he interest you. Mrs
Wa1dron?'
She played with her fan for some
moments before she answered
All clever people interest me-" she
replied
L wish I were clever" said Lore
BrecOn.
rs he-Mr. Dale-married do Won
know?" she inuiqred.
Il think not I have met him sew
eral times, but have never heard Of
Mrs. Dale"
And then Lord Brecon seeing that
Mrs. WaldrOn was distract and unwili-
ing to talk, went away.
ut is Paul" she said as she watched
the stately figure. Il remember that
fashion of bending his head re-
member-ah me, how shall I bear it?
1t is most surely PAUL."
He was standing somewhat apart
looking over some photographs. She
watched him with beating heart: hel
hands trembled so that her fan fell
from them, her pulse throbbed, every
nerve seemed strained.
1t must be Paul; no other man Iiv-
ing ever had a face like his Dare |
speak to him? He did not know me:
he could not have understood my
name. l must go to him; or | shall
diet"
With all the pent-up, long-repressed
love Of her heart shining in her face.
the light cleaning in her jewels and
falling on her rich violet dress, she
| crossed the room and went up to him.
He did not move even when he SAW
her. She laid her hand on his arm. lie
looked up in polite, cold, surprise.
Paul, she whispered, bending low
until her beautiful face was near his,
Paul, do you not know me? I am Is
may-lsmay, your wife"
He smiled politely still, but colby.
Il fear you are mistaken, madam: !
have no wife"
She looked at him long and earn
estly.
Can | be mistaken" she said. Il
| IIuSI UGlleN6-----
But the words died on her lips
Lord Brentway Joined them with some
remark about the warmth of the room
She was obliged to control heself al.
though the effort was terrible Nj
Dale left them with some excuse a.
soon as he could
He does not know me-" she said.
She would not believe that his wan
of recognition was real. She was in
passion of love, of sorrow, and dis
may. When she looked round tn
room again, Mr.. Dale was gone. bu
Mrs. WaldrOn did not leave until sh
had obtained his address: she had re
solved, come what might, to call upO,
him.