Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-06

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
aim.
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 opportunity, 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 unreconciIed 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 q 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,
arrayed 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 beauty-when she
sprang into his arms, lifting her fair
face to his, and returned his fond
caress, Lloyd Langham told himself,
with a 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, if I could but spirit you away
with me-" he added, gazing Wistfully
into her beautiful, uplifted eyes. THAT
would never do, however, could not
SO injure your prospects and create
scandal during my absence. A scan
DIAL, Grazia, is the most horrible thing
in ilfe-nothing Of the kind must ever
touch you or me. But I must go,
hearts dearest; my train leaves III lit
tie over an hour, and I have much to
DO 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 convuIsively in the effort
to crush back the sObs that were al
most bursting from her lips.
Love you, Lloyd? I love you bet
ter than all the wOrId-better even
than my life" she murmured, with an
lntenseness that almost awed him
q believe you, my own he said,
huskily. And you will be true to me
you will never let anything come be-
tween us?"
you know that I could not be any
thing else than true, DEAR the fair
wife whispered.
Il believe you. And you will keep
our secret until I come back to you
Promise me, love, that you will not tell
any one until then"
To he Continued