Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-28
CHAPTER Xix.
Useless Pleadlngs.


you are saying" said Lady LaDswell;
you must be mad.
NO am perfectly sane. If I am
mad at all 1t Is with delight that the
very desire OF my heart has been given
to me. DO you forget when you
trampled my heart, my life, my love
under your feet that day? DO you for
get what have sworn?"
II have never thought of 1t since"
said the countess, trying to conciiiate
still
Then ] will remind you said
matter what my vengeance cost.
swore that you should come and plead
to me on your knees and | would laugh
at you I do so. swore that you
should plead to me, and ] would remind
you how pleaded In vain. You
wrung my heart will wiring yours,
and my only regret Is that 1t Is so hard
and cold ! cannot make you suffer
more"
"You are mad said my lady; quite
mad"
NO" said Leone, u am sane, but
mine was mad love"
you cannot know the consequence
to yourself If you persist In this CON
duct" said my lady serenely
"Did you think OF them for me when
you set aside my marriage with your
son, because you did not think me
good enough to he a conntess? she
asked. Lady Lanswell the hour of
vengeance has come and 7 embrace It.
! Your son shall lose his wife, his home,
| his position, his honors. care not
what" she cried with sudden reck-
lessness Il care not what the world
says of me; | will do that which shall
do, less because | love your son than
because | desire to punish you
Lady I.answell grew very pale as she
listened
yours Is Il terrible revenge" she
said gently, Il wish that you could In
vent some yengcanr~ that would fall
on my head and on mine alone, so as
to spare those who are dear to me.
Could you not do that? | would will
lngly suffer anything to free my son
and his fair, loving wife"
"No one spared me. nor will In my
turn spare" she said. You shall know
what 1t means to plead for life and
plead In vain"
Can | say nothing that will induce
YOU to ltstcn%" said tho countess. "Will
you deliberately persist in the conduct
that Will ruin three livcs?"
Eyes. deliberately aud willrully,"
said Leone. Il will never rctract, never
80 back. but 80 on to the bitter end"
And that end means my sons dis
grace" said lady Ianswcl
ut would be the Same rbing If It
meant his DEATH said Leone mo
one withheld the hand that struck
death to me worse than death,
You have nothing but this to say to
me" said Lady Lanswcll MS she rose
with stately grace from her seat
NO, If | knew anything which
would punish you more which would
moro surely pay my debts, which
would more fully wreak my vengeance,
| would do 1t, As for three lives, as
for thirty, would trample them under
my feet. | will live for my vengeance,
no matter what 1t costs me, and, Lady
lanswell YOU ruined my life. Good
bye, The best wish can form 10 that
| may never look on your face again
Permit me to say farewell"
She went out of the room leaving the
countess bowilderrd with surprise and
| dsmay
What she says she will do" thought
| Lady l,answCll Il may say goodbye to
every hope have ever formed for my
son"
she left her heart heavy MS lead.
with no hope of any kind to cheer 1t.
Leone went to her room, her whole
'@wc trembling with the strong pas
sion ,hat had mastered her
What has como over me-" SHE said
! 7 no longer know myself Is 1t love,
Nengeance, or jealousy chat has hold of
me- What evil spirit has taken my
heWtS Would really hurt him whom
| have loved MI my life would do
him harm? Would crush that fair
wife of his who wronged me without
knowing IT, Let me find ont for my
self II 1t be true"
SHE tried to think, but her head was
in 4 whtrl She could not control her
self she could not control her thoughts
The sight Of Lady lanswell seemed Ia
have set her heart and soul in name-
. all the terrible memory Of her wrongs
came over her, The fair life hlighted
and ruined the innocent srlhnnd and
dawnmG womanhaod all spoiled. II
was too CRUEL No, she could never Tor
give It.
And then II seemed t. her that her
brain took fire and SHE went mad
] She saw Lord Chanaos that same
evening. They met IN il crush on the