Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-20
Continued.

continued.
Randolph" she cried, angrily, "do
you know that you treat me very much
like a child?"
"You are child, woman, and queen
Ill in one" ne said.
yet in l~>ne Of these capacities can
L pay little visit when l wish,' she
replied
"Ah, my darling" he cried, do not
add to my perplexities! Violet, am
in trouble" The handsome face
dropped over hers, and he laid his arms
caressingly around her shoulders. II
am in trouble, Violet"
Her fair face paled a little.
"Ah!" she said. you have been
spending too much money. I have
been afraid of it."
He did not undeceive her. Better
that she should think it a money trou-
BILE than know the reality just yet
above all, until he had decided what
course to pursue. She must not run
the risk of meeting English people
"Of course" she said, gravely, chat
alters everything. Oh, Randolph, dar-
ling, | am so grieved! And 1 know
I am sure that you have run all this
risk for my sake. It is for me you
have gone to all this expense. But,
my dear, my dear, you need not, you
must not. Believe me, should be as
happy with you in two little rooms as
in this grand hotel-nay, happier; for,
my darling Randolph, this does not
suit you, you have not been half so
happy lately. have never heard you
sing 'June's palace paved with gold
since we have been here You have
done all to please me, know. How
thoughtless and cruel have been not
to have foreseen this!"
Then he folded her more tightly in
his arms, and kissed, with passionate,
vehement love, the beautiful face It
was worth it all-all the pain, the diff
tirely for himself. Thank heaven, he
was loved for himself-not for his
money, not for his rank, not for his
title!
She wondered little at the passion
ate kisses that he rained on her face.
why, Randolph" she said, you are
more of lover than ever!"
and you, my darling, more worthy
of being loved" he replied.
II will go back to Mrs. Carstone, and
tell her that l cannot go with her."
she said; and her face was more ra-
diant than if she had just heard that
a large fortune had been left to her.
Then, Randolph, we will talk about
ways and means. Let me work, dear,
do should be SO happy This life
does not suit me or please ne; [ want
more to do. l will not be long. Now,
give me one smile before l go; and
and-if | have been tiresome, do for
give me- Randolph, darling.
When he was alone, he wondered If
she had given him the greatest love
of which she was capable. How ra-
diant her face was when he kissed her!
Was it possible that in that pure, no
BILE soul there were depths he had not
reached? He thought of her words in
Paris-'Love can be made perfect only
through suffering" There had been no
shadow over her love; no suffering
had come near her. He had no
thought of the future, of the intolera-
Ole anguish that was to be his. He
began to wonder if Violet had met Os-
car Carstone first, whether she would
have loved him. He wished that she
had more opportunities, that she had
seen other men, that she had seen
more of the world. She seemed to
have many ideas in common with Os-
car Carstone, far more than she had
with him. Then he laughed aloud at
himself.
II am jealous he said, Jealous of
the simple, beautiful Violet who has
bloomed for my eyes alone"
He smiled to think that she should
imagine he was troubled over money
matters How simple and innocent she
was, All, Heaven! thank Heaven, he
had won that pearl above all price
a woman who loved him for himself,
and himself alone,