Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-06-20

/ RandOIpn, Sne cried lot nav
loved you all the time with grea
love, but l did not know it"
| Surely under that November moo
there was no one so desolate, NJ
young face so sad, no young heart 81
heavy. She wept as she had neve
wept before.
That night seemed to bring crisis
in her life. She stood face to face
with a strong passion and terrible
despair. Sac could never go back tx
her husband-that was certain. Sh'
had left him of her own accord, ant
she could never return.
The black curtain of despair seemed
to fall over her. All at once the
great love and great mistake of hel
life appeared to her in clear cclors
She had put herself out Of his life;
she had separated herself from him
and she must abide by the con
| sequences.
"Of what could l have been think
ing?" she asked herself. She had
as it were, seen his face in the glass
held by the fair hands of another wo
man, and it's beauty dazzled her.
She knew that of she went to him
he would forgive her-he had never
refused a wish of hers in his life; but
| her pride could not bend or lend itself
to that. She would abide by what she
| had done Even if she could have
! brooked asking him to take her back
| G. 10 crny
| Lady RIVERS again. She had solemn.
| ly vowed never to re-enter RyYersdale
until the dowager herself asked her to
| do So
! The newborn love for her husband
! struggled in her heart with pride,
and pride gained the victory. She
| would not give in. whatever she had
| to bear; she would suffer in silence
die if needs must be, but never 60
back, never yield so sweet a triumph
to Lady RIVERS as to be seen, hum
bled and coptrite, asking for her
husbands love again. She had never
thought to weep as she wept now
never thought to feel that longing for
him which she felt now. She said to
herself over and over again that she
must be mean and dishonorable Her
husband had done all he could to win
her love, and yet it had never seemed
really to wake in her heart until
jealousy aroused it. What love, de-
votion, and untiring affection had
failed to do jealousy had done. 81 am
not a very noble woman" she con-
! fessed.
The clouds that had passed over the
face of the moon seemed to her type
| of the clouds that passed over her
own soul. She wished that she had
more love or more pride, that she
could humble herself to go to her hus-
band, or that she could forget him.
The memory OF all his goodness to
her swept over her heart like a
whirlwind. How little she had thought
of it at the time-how little she had
valued it! Oh, for one touch of that
kind hand now, for one kiss from
those loving lips!
CHAPTER RI.
The reign of King Frost had begun
silvery fringes hung from the trees
and hedges. The robin-red- brea st
| outside the windows were waiting 20
be fed, and Miss Mari stood watching
them. She had read her letters, and
there was look of determination on
her face, when Violet, looking very
pale and Ill, came into the room The
heiress uttered a little cry of dismay
when she saw her.
Miss Beaton, you are really ill
am sure!" she exclaimed t'You
should see a doctor. You have not
been we'll for some time"
And in her heart Violet knew it was
true.
Il have been making up my mind to
| a vigorous course of action" con-
| tinued Miss Marr-"most vigorous.
Are you we'll enough to hsten?"
"Yes," said Violet; but her heart
contracted with a sudden sense of
coming evil.
Il have had a long letter from the
| dowager Lady RIVERS this morning"
said Miss Mari, "and she begs me to
so to see her. She has gone to her
own estate, Athelstone-she was an
Alton by birth, and very proud she is
of the name-and Monica is with her.
She wants me to spend Christmas
with them. l think shall CO. have
an object in going" she continued
Il shall make a most desperate
effort
I'm what direction?" asked Violet.
She tried to smile as she spoke, but
her lips were white and trembling.
81 shall try to reconcile mother and
son." replied the heiress. 81 am quite
sure that they are both rAhappy; they
must be; they have never been at
variance in their life before The
dowager seems perfectly wretched
she says that life has lost all its
charm for her. that she misses her son
more than words can tell, and she
begs me to come, so that together we
may contrive to bring about a different
state of things"
No comment came from Violet. A
different state of things" must mean
something that would affect her.
L wish.' said Miss Mari. thought
fully, that I could find that foolish
young wife of his, and bring about &
general reconciliation. That is i'm
possible" she added, with sigh; ''bu
think I shall be able to do some
thing"
viii Lord RIVERS be there?" asked
Violet