Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-04
ny Of the Wedding Ring.
By BERTHA M. CLAY.

!
seemed to those who watched Ismay
so anxiously that she was conscious at
times, but even then she lay with
closed eyes, needless of everything and
every one aroud her.
A fortnight had elapsed and one
evening she looked at the nurse who
stood by her bedside.
viii you tell lord Carlswood
want him?" she said; and the old loro
FASTENED to obey the call.
Are you quite alone?" she asked.
Il want to speak to you"
He kissed the worn face, and held
fondly in his own the thin, white
hands.
MY darling, what can l do for your"
he asked.
She raised her large mournful eyes
to his face
Grandfather" she said, "I have not
long to live"
He would have interrupted her. but
she held mp her hand for silence.
II have never been what people call
religious she said; "but I am going
to die. I shall have to face the great
Judge. What shall I answer about my
duty as a wife?"
The old lord looked distressed and
dismayed; he tried to soothe her.
"You will get better, Ismay; do not
despair"
But some time or other l must die
What am I to say? You tempted me-
what shall I say?"
The words smote him like sharp
edged sword Were this death and
fear of judgment the result of what he
had done, the consequence of his sin?
The mOurnful eyes, the faltering voice,
the frightened face filed him with dis
may.
do you wish it all undone, Ismay?"
he asked
yes" she whispered, family. Il
would give my life to undo it; but it is
too late-Paul says So"
She was too weak for tears, but the
anguish of her face frightened him.
Il went to ask him to take me back;
! would willingly have been poor with
him. But he is rich now. He would
not take me back; and it is killing me.
I am afraid to die--my life has been 50
empty, my sin so great"
Then she fell back faint and eX-
hausted. He rose in alarm to call for
help but she caught his hand. Tell
me before you go-you tempted me-
you are old and wise-tell me what
answer shall I give in extenuation OF
my sin?'
May Heaven pardon met said the
old man, Il do not know"
He could not bear it; he gave one
more look at the closed eyes and the
white face, and hastily quilted the
room. Those words haunted and
frightened him-''You tempted me.
What shall 1 say?"
For the first time he thought of this
affair under it's religious aspect, he
thought of the sin. Hitherto it had
seemed to him a proper thing to do, to
mark his disapprobation of unequal
marriages, to keep up the prestige of
his family honor and name: now,
since Ismay's words had frightened
him he saw things in quite another
light.
Those whom Heaven had Joined to-
gether he had put asunder. He had
tempted a young girl to be false to her
VOWS, to break her troth, to desert her
husband, he had robbed an innocent
man of his wife and child, he had
caused unutterable sorrow and done
immeasurable wrong. What excuse
could he offer? The reasons that had
once seemed all sufficient to him now
appeared weak and worthless. He too
was afraid. and wished the deed UNI
done
L might have adopted the child, and
have left husband and wife together"
he thought Il have done wrong. For
CarlswoOd to acknowledge that.
means that he must frankly own it
and atone for it. l. who prided myself
on my long descent, on my unblem-
ished honor, on my stainless name
| must go to this man and ask his for,
giveneSs"
He went again to Ismay, and from
her learned where Paul was.
His wonder was great at finding Ill
the new member, the gifted orator, the
man of the people," Paul Waldron,
his grandchilds husband. He dared
not wait to express his surprise.
She was in great danger, and he be-
| lieved that her husbands presence
would save her. Her life seemed ebb-
| ing fast. Heaven help him if he should
| be too latei
Once more Paul was disturbed at his
| books, this time it was the unexpected
announcement of Lord Carlswood .
! He had heard nothing of his wife's i'll
ness. He had resolved upon leaving
England after that interview-he
could not look upon her face again.
/ He rose from his seat when he heard
| the name, and stood ready to receive
his visitor At last they stood face to
! face, the injurer and the injured the
proud peer and the proud commoner
Paul saw a stately figure bent before
him, grand old face quivering with
emotion. and pale with dread
In his courtly high-bred fashion,
Lord Carlswood held out his hand
II have done you a grieyous wrong.
sir" he said, and l am here to ask
your pardon" Lord Carlswood was
gazing into face as proud as his own
Il have no pardon to give, Lord
! Carlsweod,' was the naughty reply.
1T is too late to ask it,
You must not refuse me-" said he
| old nobleman