Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-14
CHAPTER XIII.

There came a bright, warm, sweet
morning in August, when Paul Valid
ron rose early and went out amongst
the dew-laden flowers; he had been
thinking so intently about Ismay that
he could not sleep. 1t was a month
since she had left him, and he was
longing to look at her bright, beauti-
full face again.
"She could not be annoyed now" he
said to himself, "if I wrote and asked
her to come home; she has been gone
so long"
He had almost forgotten his doubts.
Ismay had written to him very often,
telling him of her great enjoyment;
but she had never given him even the
slightest hint of the struggle in her
mind, never told him one word of Lord
Carlswood's offer.
Il will write and ask her to come
back" and as he said the words the
sun seemed to shine more bright!
the flowers to look more fair.
He sat enjoying the sunshine, the
dew, and the flowers, the little maid
took his cup of coffee out to him, and
the postman, seeing him in the garden,
brought the letters to him. There was
one bearing the postmark of Lynn.
An hour afterwards, when the lit
tie maid went in search of him, she
found him lying on his face on the
ground. cold and senseless as one
dead. She tried to rouse him, and
after time he looked around him with
dazed, bewildered air.
"Have you been ill?" asked the
girl; and then she looked at him in
surprise. for as he walked to the house
he stumbled at every step.
He went to his room, and she heard
him lock the door. He was strong
man, brave to suffer and endure, but
that letter had struck him down as a
sudden and terrible blow would have
done.
The news bewildered him: at first
he could not realize it. Slowly, clearly
the terrible truth came home to him
Ismay had forsaken him for mere
vanity for wealth and luxury. She
had given him up and had left hin
forever When his mind had quite
grasped that truth a terrible cry
came from his 1ips-a CIV to HEAVIER
for vengeance. Then. unable to bea1
up, he fell with his face on the ground
When he recovered he sat for Ions
hours in that room that was neve
again to be frightened by his Wife
fair face, bearing the first pain of hi
agony in silence that was heroic. Thel
hot anger. fierce indignation rose with
in him-anger so wild, so frantic, tina
he was for the time like a mailman
Who had taken his darling from him
Who had tempted her and lured he
away? He stood with white lip
tic happiness with terrible curses. H
cursed the proud lord who had rob
bed him of his treasure.
INV 3arlingi" he sobbed and hi
great heart seemed breaking with it
burden. my darling-so beautiful, S
tender. so loving-my wife!"
Then he remembered that it was c
her own free will she had done i
She had left him that she might EMO
wealth, luxury, and splendor. Sh
had left him, had bHghted his lif,
had broken his heart. had sighted hi
love, for-money.
He had loved with a passion tina
was almost terrible in its intensity
but, as he thought of what she ha
done, that love seemed TO him
change into hate. He did not ours
her; but his lips curved with a curior
smile.
'She was light and vain" he sal
'fShe had my heart in her hands; ST
has broken it and thrown it away. ST.
was not worth my love For her sal
| would have borne starvation; 81
with a very few cool words gives n
up for money. | will not curse he
but cry to Heaven for vengeance"
He raised his right hand.
Il swear" he said, ''by my love ar
my sorrow, that I will avenge n