Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-01-04
A MID LOVE
BERTHA M. CLAY.
BERTHA M. CLAY.

hands. VIII you listen to me?'
The dark, beautiful head Of the giftet
, singer was bent for a few moment
! over the golden head OF her rival
Then Leone raised her eyes to Marion
face
you are trembling" she said; "yol
| shall speak to me as you will, but you
, shall speak 20 me here"
, Some warm, loving irresistible i'm
pulse came to her. She could not hat'
or hurt this fair, gentle lady whom the
countess had put in her place, ant
whom her husband did not love A
sweet and generous compassion filled
her heart
"You shall speak to me here" she
repeated, clasping her arms round the
trembling figure and laying the golden
head on her breast. She kissed the
fair, sad face with passion of love
There" she said Lady Marion, IL
had wronged you even In the least
should not dare do that. Now tell me
what you have come to say Do not
tremble SC" and the tender arms
frightened their clasp. "Do not be
afraid to speak to me"
II am not afraid, for Heaven sent
me-" said Lady Marion Il know that
you will tell me the truth. | am as
certain of that as am OF my own life.
have been very unhappy over you,
Madame Vanlra, for my husband seems
to have cared more for you than for
me-"
Has your husband ever told you
anything about me?" asked Leone,
gently.
| And the answer was:
mo, nothing, except that, like every
one else, he admired you very much"
Nothing more?" asked Leone.
mo. nothing more"
"Then," said Leone to herself, the
secret that he has kept will keep,
and this fair, tender woman shall
never know that I once believed my
self his wife"
Lady Marion wondered why she bent
down and kissed her with all the fer
vor OF sclf-sacrflcc.
II have been very unhappy" con
tinuod Lady Marion. Il loved and ad-
mired you. never had the faintest
suspicion In my mind against you,
until some one came to tell me that
you and my husband had spent a day
on the river together | know 1t was
true, hut he would not explain IT, '7
Let me explain It," said Leone
sadly, 81 trust you as you trust me. |
have had n great sorrow In my life;
greater oh, Heaven, than ever fell
to the lot Of woman. And one day
when ! saw your husband, the bitter
ness Of 1t was lying heavily on me.
said something to him that led him to
understand how duh ana unhappy
felt, Lady Chandos, ne took me on
the river that he might give me one
happy day nothing more. DO you
gmdgc II to me, dear? An, If | could
give YOU tho happiness Of those few
leoting hours ! would"
And again her warm, loving lips
touched the white brow,
II understand" said Lady Marion,
"Why did my husband not speak as
! Nt'l IhNN h'll', lihtS It Nil' lpl N''l
madame You will tell me the truth,
i know"
And the fair face looked wlsttully
in her own.
Leone was silcnt'fur II few minutes.
She could not look in those clear eyes
and speak falsely,
Yes" she answered slowly; ~
think Lord thandos cares very much
/ for me"
Lady Marion looked very much re-
! lievcd, There could surely he no harm
In their friendship II she could speak
of It 30 openly,
And you madame-oh, tell me
truly do you love him. Tell me
truly; II seems that all my life hangs
on your word"
Again the beautiful face dropped ST.
lently before the fair ono.
1T would be so easy for mo to tell
| Won falsehood," said Leone while
n great crimson flush burned her face,
/ but | will not Yes, Il love him,
! Pity me, YOU who love him SO we'll
i yourself; he belongs to you, while
ah, pity me because love him"
And Larry Marion whose heart was
touched by the pitiful words, looked
up and kissed her,
II cannot hate You since Won love
HIM" she said ''lle is miuo, but my
heart aches for you. Now let me tell
YOU what have come to say. You are
sond and noble ms | felt YOU We're
have come to ask 4 grace from YOU,
and II Is easier now that | know YOU
love him lIuw strange il seems, !
should have thought that hcarinG you
say Nuu That loved my husband would
have filled my heart with hot anger
hut II does not In some strange way
| love you for t.
II you love him, madame. his in.
tcrcsts must be dear to YOU
"rhey arc dear to me- she whis
rercd "ilow strange repeated Lady
Marion, that while the world is full
Of men you aud should love tho same
mann y