Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-29
- You must go alone, Laurie I cannot

You could, my darling if you would
be only a little drawer than other wo-
men are. a little more courageous
Ethel, let me make you my wife quite
secretly, and then go away with me-
/ cannot she replied Papa would
never forgive me-"
Yes, he would. Hundreds of mar
rlages take place in the same way. He
would forgive you directly"
But it @-ould rot be right. 7 could
not do il, do not ask me, Laurie"
1t would be quite right, my darling
Where did you tell me your fathe:
was?"
He is at Vienna, she said. gently
But, Laurie, I can never consent.
The deadly despair that came over
MN at the thought OF losing her fright
ened him.
Ethel, listen to reason. Marry me
and will take you TO Austria: We will
go to your father and ask him TO for.
give us"
He had not the least intention Of do
ing what be said, but he knew the idea
would please her.
Such a step as that would have one
effect, he said; your father would
never marry Miss Digby."
Her whole heart changed as he said
the words.
He would never Marry Miss Digby,
On, Laurie, are you sure OF that?"
quite sure he replied. Your
father would ask himself of what use
IL would be to marry woman who had
not Deen able to keep his daughter un-
der control He could not believe in
ner prudence or discretion after that
lie would rot be angry with you, but
ne would be so angry with her that he
would IN all probability refuse to see
or speak to her again
DO you think SOP cried Ethel.
Il am sure Of it. Then there is
another thing, Ethel. Your father
chief object in marrying is to secure =
fflend and adviser for you. If you were
married, there would be no need for
such a friend"
Her face grew brighter still,
There would not, indeed she said.
am quite certain, Ethel he con-
tinued, that if you consent to nv wish
your father will never marry at all"
If | thought so. I would saw Yes at
once, Laurie
HIS heart beat with triumph, yet he
felt almost ashamed Of the manner in
which that triumph was won,
1t would really be a grand lest,
Ethel, to go to Vienna as nv wife and
let your father see of what little use
Miss Digby is, after all. He would see
then that she is not capable of taking
care Of you, but that you were and are
quite capable Of taking care of YOUR
SELF. How surprised he would be to
find that Miss Digby had failedt"
You tempt me, Laurie" she said.
gently. You do not think, then, that
my father would be very angry."
He would not be angry at all,
darlIng-who could be angry with
you? But he would see how very much
ne had oyerrated Miss Digby."
1t would be great triumph" she
remarked; but would it be right"
Right to keep your fathers love for
yourself; right to expose the incapac-
lty OF the woman he has selected to be
your adviser; right to make the man
Whom you have honored with vour love
happy? How can you ask me. Ethel2
Most certainly it would be right, Won
told me- he continued. that Miss
Dlgby had warned you against me.
imagine the triumph Of going with me
into her presence, and of saying to her,
Here is the man against whom Won
nave warned me; he is my husband
noW!' Imagine her anger. her morti-
flcation. They would be unreasonable
Ethel"
The idea took possession of Ethel
10 obtain such glorious revenge unon
her rival she would have committed
any act of dishonor or sin.
She hardly heard the ha1f-whisperaa
pleading, passionate words, so COM
pletely had this idea taken possession
OF her. She could not have devised
sweeter triumph, more bitter revenge
as regarded the woman whohad stenn45
between her and all the bright pleasures
OF her life. She had been chosen for
her prudence, her discretion, her wo-
manly wisdom, her eapabflity of guild
ance. If she could convince her father
that Helen Digby had none of these
qualities, he would surely abandon all
idea of marrying her. He would own
that he had been mistaken-the Cor
dons were proud even in their humil-
it7-and there would be an end of II,