Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-30

| Of a story he had read, in which lawyer
| like himself sat alone in the library OF q
country house, and the spirit of its dead
owner came to tell him of some wrong he
had done in life.
1T is a pleasant thought smiled Fe-
lix to himself; and thaa he was startled
for a moment. A faint odar4 of violets
foated near him. and. looking up, he saw
Lady Chevenix.
| There was something more than beauty
| in her face; he knew il the moment be
raised his eyes and saw her. There was
| love-love such as lad not shone there
since she had hidden him farewell The
| freight cleaned on her jeweled hands,
on her marvellous face. her golden hair.
| She stood before him in all the pride and
msgnifcence of her wealth and her love-
liness, vision such as rarely greets the
| eyes of men. And as he looked at her
with somewhat Of wonder and inquiry on
his face, she sank slowly on to her knees
and bent her head before him.
Lady Chevenix," he cried, you must
.i0tt 40 a That. / cannot allow itr'
She laid her hand on his arm-the hand
on which shone her wedding ring.
Listen to me, Felix" she said-and
the sweet voice stirred unwontedly his
heart and soul. Il have waited impa-
tiently for this hour. You are going
away tomorrow; and l must speak to
you tonight. Felix, will you listen?"
How can | help but iisten? he re-
piled. What do you wish TO say to me,
Lady Chevenix?'
With charming gesture Of impotence
she laid a finger on his lips
You must not call me Lady Cheye-
nix, she said. Il am Violet to YOU.
Say Violet and then | will tell you
what | came for"
Perhaps, if he had had time to prepare
himself, to think matters over. to take
some precautions, he would have known
better how to listen and what to say. AS
it was, she seemed suddenly to have TAX
en- possession of him, OF his whole nature.
'You make me say what you will, Vio-
let" he said.
She clasped her hands, and laid them
upon his arm.
Il want to tell you a story, Felix" she
said. Years ago there was 6 girl
young, foolish and. the world said, fair.
She was vain, too, of her beauty, and ex-
pected to achieve great things with it.
She loved with all her heart someone
who was more than worthy of her love,
and she promised to be his wife. But
sorrow and misfortune came to him,
while wealthy wooer sought heroine
who offered her wealth and title, houses
and lands-and she-well, | am ashamed
of her, Felix. She was vain, and much
weaker than a woman; she was young,
too and not overwise. She had nobility
enough. however. to see what was right.
though not to do it. She was tempted
by her love of luxury aIsl comfort-she
was badly advised, wrongly influenced;
and she. weaker than a woman, gave up
her lover-the one man in the world
whom she loved-and married the
wealthy suitor. How she suffered no one
knows. no one can tell Her marriage
turned out to be most disastrous one.
Then, after long years of humiliating
servitude, she was alone again and Free
What do you think she did, Felix?"
Il cannot say" he replied in low
voice.
II will tell you After those long years
she found that she still loved the dear
companion of her youth She said to her
self that he had never married-perhaps
he still cared for her-and one night,
when he was sitting alone, she went to
SIDE as kneel by yours-and prayed to
him-as | pray to you-'Oh, my lost love,
my dear love, forgive me, and take me to
your heart again." And the lovely head
dropped until it lay upon his arm.
He made no answer just then. His
whole soul was stirred within him-his
whole heart touched. After a few min
utes she raised her face to his. and he
saw tears upon it.
Violet" ne said, 81 do not know what
to say to you. You have taken me so
completely by surprise. L am lost-be-
wildered. / cannot collect myself"
81 thought you would say Yes to me
at once" she returned, sadly. 'Oh, Fee
lix, have you not forgiven ne? Tell me
that first. Have you forgiven me?"
He looked at her thoughtfully, watch
ing the freight cleaning on her golden
hair and on her rich jewels.
Yes; l have forgiven you, Violet
forgave you long ago"
''Quite, or was it only a half forgive
ness, Felix?"
(To be continued,l