Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-09-06


gentle, tender mother-loye and sym
1athy to bestow upon her young /
,harge; and SO, in spite of Mr.. Kings
ey's almost idolatrous affection for his
only child, there was an eager longing
for the affection which only mother |
can bestow.
When she was fifteen years of age
her father married his second wife, |
and Grazia was sent to boarding
school, while for three years they trav-
eled abroad.
Upon their return the elegant SUBJ
urban residence was built, and then
there followed year and half of gay
society life.
But these eighteen months were the
most unhappy portion of Grazia's life,
for Mrs. Kingsley was jealous Of her
step-daughter's beauty, her fathers
fondness for her, and because of the
great wealth she would inherit from
him.
She made no secret of her dislike for
the girl, and constantly misrepresent-
ed Grazia by making it appear that she
was very unamiable and unmanage-
able, and source of continual irrita-
ton and anxiety to her
This was the state of affairs in the
Kingsley mansion at the time of the
opening of our story, and we must not
forget to mention that Mrs. Kingsley
wholly disaprpoved of Lloyd Lang
hams attention to her step-daughter,
and strove by every means in her
power to influence her husband against
him.
A week previous to the date of the
conversation recorded between the
young husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs.
Kingsley left home for a short visit to
Washington.
Three days later a telegram had
come to Lloyd Langham, telling him
of his fathers death, and demanding
his presence in his far western home,
in order that the question of property
might be settled.
Then there came to Grazia the great
est temptation of her life.
Her lover insisted upon an immedi-
ate and secret marriage; and when she
objected, saying that she could not
take such step without the sanction
of her father, he overruled all her
scruples by claiming that Mrs. Kings
ley was so opposed to their union that |
she would do everything in her power
to separate them permanently, unless
they forestalled her by taking the mat
ter in their own hands, while they had |
the oppoT tunity, and settle their rela- |
tons for all time.
Grazia knew that she was not doing |
right-her better judgment told her
that no such hasty and unsanctioned |
union could prosper; but she believed |
that she loved her betrothed so wholly, |
she was so unreconciled and unhappy |
over their coming separation, that she
finally yielded the point. Stealing |
forth early one afternoon, the young
couple drove twenty miles away to a
little village where there was but a |
single church, and were quietly mar
ried by young man who had recently |
assumed his first pastorate
And now, late the same evening, the |
hour of parting had come, and the |
young wife, trembling and afraid in
view Of what she had done, was almost |
broken-hearted at the prospect of her
husbands departure.
She was exquisitely fair, and not |
having been able to be married in |
bridal robes, she had, on her return,
herself in spotless white for
this last interview with her dear one.
She wore no ornaments save a great
white rose, nesting among it's dark
green leaves, pinned to her corsage,
and when she came down to him in all
her fresh, exquisite beausy-when she
sprang into his arms lifting her fair
face to his, and returned his fond
caress, Lloyd Langham told himself,
with thrill of pride, that she was the
most beautiful woman in the world
that when ne returned from his west
ern trip he should proudly claim her
before the world, and place her in a
position where she would shine like
some fair star in the realm of stars.
That is more like it, my own love-"
he murmured, with his lips against her
fair round cheek, when, in obedience
to his command, she had tried to smile
and chase the clouds of anxiety from
her face.
"Ah, il could but spirit you away
With me-" he added, gazing wistfully
into her beautiful, uplifted eyes. That
would never do, however, could not
50 injure your prospects and create a
scandal during my absence. A scan
lal, Grazia, is the most horrible thing
N ilfe-nothing of the kind must ever
touch you or me. But must go,
hearts dearest; my train leaves In lit
lie over an hour, and have much to
10 between this and that. Put your
arms around my neck and tell me. once
more, that you love me-
Grazia's white arms crept about his
throat. her fair hands clasping each
other almost convulsively in the effort
to crush back the sobs that were al
most bursting from her lips.
Love you, Lloyd? l love you bet
Ter than all the wnrid-hetter even |