The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-11-21
interview with the girl. who was told

She resented it passionately, and the
result was that few days later
Robert Gordon formally proposed to
Markham for the hand of his daugh-
ter. In reply to the indignant re-
fusal of the father Gordon coolly in-
formed him that he already had the
consent of the girl and proposed to
marry her in any event-with the
parental consent IL possible, without
it If necessary. Clare when consult
ed cast her lot with Gordon. All
revelations concerning Gordon's ca
reer and record were without avail.
Then the mother in desperation
went to Gordon's apartments at the
Royal and made pathetic appeal to
him.
"There can be no happiness in such
match" she said. "When she awak-
ems to the realities she will be heart
broken-as you well know. There is
no happiness in such marriage
either for her or for you. / do not
know what you are after. ] will not
insult you by intimating that you
seek her money. If you do 1t shall be
yours without marriage. In any
event I conjure you by mothers
love; by the memory of the old times
when we were friends-more than
friends, do not destroy my daugh-
ter's life"
Rising from his chair where he had
sat nonchalant and unconcerned dur
ing the interview, Gordon advanced
directly in front Of the excited wom-
an who stood with clasped hands
and flushed face pouring out her
heart, and said in a voice hoarse
with emotion:
"It has been my dream for 10
years to see you in front of me
pleading for something dear to your
heart. I never dared to hope the
dream would come true-certainly
not in the manner it has. Let me tell
you, will give you your hearts de-
sire just as you gave me mine 10
years ago. You chose deliberate
ly to ruin my life. You were merci-
less-even scornful. What l am, am
as result of your heartlessness.
What I am not Is the result of your
faithlessness. All the reasons that
make me in your estimation an unfit
husband for your daughter are the
result of your ambition and your ad.
vice. I was not man of bad in
stincts in the old days. I was not
void of ambition. All this you delib-
erately killed. You sapped all the
good out of my nature and threw
me aside, mere husk. Now you ap-
peal to the moral nature you de.
stroyed. / never dreamed of so per-
feet a revenge until 1 saw the girl
your very second self, and then l saw
the way to make you suffer even as
have suffered. And you must suffer
: to the end. / will not spare you. &c
, and tell the girl what / have said
please. She will not believe 1t and
, will deny it. 1t is your turn to walk
the floor now. I have done 1t TO,
> 10 years. Oh, will lead your
!. proud and sensitive girl pretty
, dance, l promise you."
. He caught her as she tainted, and
Z after applying restoratives showed
: her to her carriage.
4 The wedding was swell affair ant
3 the newly-wedded pair went abroad
2 for q honeymoon tour.
It was ten months later at Venice
e when the crisis came. They hat
: fingered there for Ave weeks enjoying
Q the soft languor OF the Italian skies
J, The months had hsen revelation tt
4 Gordon. Never had he supposed eartl
' held such JOY as he had found in th'
: golden weeks that had slipped b,
3 since his marriage. As he penetrated
9 further and further into the natur,
= of the woman who had married hin
despite warning and evil report, h,
v sounded depths of tenderness tina
4 he never expected had existed. Fal
D from carrying out his threat and in
( tsntion to break her heart, he be
{ came inspired day by day with tn,
,, deepest reverence for her. This sof
= evening in Venice the climax came
= He crossed over to where his wifi
sat and said:
[ "Clare, l have q confession t,
: make. l cannot go on in this wa.
e with lie in my heart. l did no
b marry you with a clean soul and from
y q pure love. All they have said abou
' me is true. Your mother knew IN
t better than any living person, an,
e she told you the truth. Since ! hav
known you as wife / have come t.
p learn somewhat of your real worth
Il and a great loathing Of myself ha
Z taken possession of me until lif
e seems only tolerable on the condition
n that l cease to act lie and that yo,
. know me as l am. Forgive me?
q was cruelty hurt by woman one
= and charged it to all womankind.
e will make any amends you say.
: will leave you If you will it-any
r thing, anything, no matter how har
d so l stand at least honest in you
I. sight"
d With a broken sob he sank on on
e knee and buried his face in his hands
h In an instant she was beside hiT
y with both arms about his neck
N 81 knew you better than you kneN
l. yourself" she whispered.
q
n Eiudinr Hia Rating