Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-06-08

girl will please .lerself with fanciful
Ideas about his being true to her; do
not contradict her II she believes it
she will part from him more easily;
but, believe me, my son Will never re-
turn to her-neyer!"
Mr.. Sewell had tried in vain to es-
cape the interview; he was neither
particularly tender Of heart nor given
to sentiment, but he shrank from see
ing the young girl who called herself
Lady Chandos; he ilrank from telling
her the truth; but my lady was mex
orable; he must do 1t, and no one else.
He did 1t, but until the day of his
death he never forgot It; he could not
bear to think Of 1t, and he never men
| toned it. Until the day OF his death
he was haunted by a beautiful, pas
slonate face, white with terrible dese
pair
He was compelled to speak in what
my lady called plain English, or she
would never have understood him.
She could not understand In the least
why the fact of Lord Chandos being
under twenty-one should make her
marriage null and void; Illegal, be-
cause so contracted without his par
ents consent. She had turned to him
with flashing eyes.
Are the laws of England all framed
for the convenience of the rich?" she
asked.
And, proud as he was OF his legal
knowledge, the lawyer had hesitated
before the fire Of her question.
She understood at last-she saw
what Mr.. Sewell called the justice
OF the case-the reasons WHY such a
law was needful, and she knew that
she was not the lawful wife Of Lance
lot, Lord Chandos. She looked into
the stern face of her companion with
eyes filled with awful despair.
"He did not know 1t, she said; "on-
ly tell me that, and ] shall be hap
pier. He did not know it?"
NO" said Mr.. Sewell; II am quite
sure that Lord Chandos was ignorant
of the fact--it never occurred to him;
II he had done so, he would have de-
ferred his marriage until he came Of
age"
II shall take some comfort in that"
she said, slowly. "If tie has erred, 1t
has been done In ignorance and inno-
cence. You say that the wrong can
be righted next June; that he can mar
ry me then without the consent Of ell
ther OF his parents?"
Certainly he can" replied the law
yer
Something OF the shock OF despair
passed from her face as he uttered
these words. She folded her arms over
Ger breast with the repressed passion
OF tragedy queen.
Then have no fear" she said;
Were the time twice as long, the cru
city twice as great, the law twice as
strong he would return to me faithful,
as he loves me. You can tell his moth
or that"
"l will" said Mr. Sewell, relieved
to see some of the horror fall from her
face.
She would not discuss her future
arrangements with him. Lady Lans-
we'll was anxious that she should take
large sum OF money and retV IN
home She looked at him with the
dignity of an outraged queen.
Before Heaven and in my own
eyes, Lord Chandos Is my husband,
she said. with calm dignity; land with
him only will | discuss my future.
You can tell his mother that also.
No other creature living shall inter-
fere with my rate or destiny"
She tried hard-and she was wom-
an OF wonderful resource-she tried
hard to keep her dignity, not to fail
or falter before him, the cool emissary
of that cruel mother, but unutterable
woe looked out Of her eyes at him, her
white face had on 1t the passion OF
despair, her voice the ring of anguish,
the small white hands on which the
wedding ring shone trembled like
leaves stirred in the summer wind;
ttle very repression OF her passionate
despair made 1t seem more terrible.
NV 'lNhls NAlilulhNN w iiNi hNA ipSAbA'h
ut last she must consent to an imme-
diate separation from Lord Chandos;
she must give up his name, leave the
shelter OF his roof, or men and wom-
en-, too. would brand her with the scar
let letter--would look on her as one
lost and dead to all sense Of honor.
You will see for yourself" added
| the lawyer, that the wisest and best
plan Is for YOU to so away at once
this very oay even-then you will
stand better chance when next June
comes. Even one more day spent un-
der this roof would be fatal to your
character aud reputation, You must
so at once"
Once more she raised her DESPAIR
ing eyes to him. Her voice tremble1
MS though Il were all tears.
Tell me, she said gently, 'nas
this been done by Lady Lanswell's de-
sire more lhan by the erals"
Yes. believe II Is 50" he said.
Leone continued;