Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-24
Continued.


roots of her golden hair. Il am
ashamed to repeat the words, but
was compelled to listen to them. l.
the girl you affected to worship, have
been exposed to insult; | have had to
listen when those who knew Of your
disguise wondered whether my mar
riage were legal or not. Do you think
| shall forget that disgrace or even
recover from it?"
His face grew perfectly white, and
a look such as she had never seen
upon it before spread over it. 1t was
deeper than pride. more bitter than
contempt; it was more of outraged
dignity than anger; it was the eX-
preston of man mortally wounded.
who has spoken SOP" he said.
Those who found out your dis
guise," she replied.
who are they, Violet?" asked Lord
RIVERS.
And she told him the whole story as
it had been related to her. He listen
ed attentively.
my old schoolfellow, Foster-Hay!"
he said "A stone thrown by the
hand of friend cuts doubly sharp.
Why did he not come to me? Could
he possibly imagine that there was
anything in common between such
people as the Carstones and me?"
Such people as the Carstones do
not marry under false names" she re-
torted. "Of what use is a title to a
man who is not a gentleman"
do you mean that I am not a gen
tleman, Violet?" he asked.
Not in my eyes-and you never
will be again." she replied. angrily.
you have received me and subjected
me to insult; you have placed me in
an utterly false position. | repeat
that no gentleman would behave in
such manner to the girl he loved"
Il have not consciously or willingly
exposed you to insult" he said, slowly,
The suspicious you have named
would arise only in coarse minds.
One word from me will dispense all
these foolish doubts as the wind dis
perses vapor. Violet, believe me,
they are not worth resenting. 1t is
only people like the Carstons who
would think of such a thing"
Your own friend evidently had his
ideas on the subject" said Violet,
proudly, cor he would not have gone
away"
MY friend is a We'll. it is use
less to blame him. wish that he had
spoken TO me instead of to Mr.. Car
stone. You seem very angry, Violet,
even more SO than | feared you would
be when you learned who really am"
Il am so angry" she cried, that
from this time all is over between us!
| consented to be the wife of an artist,
of man equal to myself in position,
who would have to work for his living,
and to whom | could be helpmate.
| never consented to be the wife of a
rich nobleman-nor will l. My feel
ing on the matter is so strong that |
would rather die'"
My darling, do not say such cruel
words"
L mean them" she declared. You
seem to forget that from my very
cradle | have been taught to hate and
despise the class to whicu you be-
long. See how right my aun' was,
after all. in teaching me that people
Of your position are not to be trusted!
You are an aristocrat. What have
you done? Deceived very ignorant
girl, taken advantage of inexperience
and innocence"
Violet" said Lord RIVERS, gently,
do YOU not know that all class hatred
Is wrong? 1t is utterly impossible
for all men to be equal; as long as the
world stands there must be different
grades of society"
Il acknowledge no such thing" she
replied. Il never disguised my senti-
ments from you, and you ought to
have respected them"
Violet he said, with a gentle
patience she would have admired in
any one else-'Violet, darling, listen
to me. / was your faithful lover from
the happy day in June when | first
met you, dear, until the day in Sep
TENDER when you became my wife.
Was it not 500"
Yes" she answered.
During that time, when my dar-
hing for your sweet sake gave up the
whole world, when my life was but
one dream of you, did you see any
thing wrong in me, anything to con-
DENIM"
Almost reluctantly she answered
No"
Did you find me untruthful, un-
faithful, light of purpose, light of
love, mean, ungenerous, false, wanting
in courage? Think before you an
swer.'
And again she said NO"
thank you," he replied. eve
have been married rather more than a
year. During that period have you
seen anything in me to dislike, to de-
spise, or contemn?"
No she replied, Il have not-hon-
estiy, have not
Until today had your love and
respect?'
Yes" she admitted, you had
BOTH
To-day YOU find out that l am a
nobleman, and not an artist, and you
withdraw all that you have given me
and intend to leave me- | am the
same man | was yesterday-my moral
and mental qualities have not changed
IN the least; yet, because I have more
money than you thought, you talk Of
leaving me. Is it just?"
You are not just" she replied. "It
is not because you have more money
than | thought that Il shall leave