Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-17

have deceived her! 1t was absurd!
She had an hour to wait before
-ord RIVERS came in. and, as she sat
from the window of her
room she thought of all that had hap
pened; and at the end of that time
her faith was so far shaken that she
[eit 1t would be pleasure to hear his
denial
Suddenly she saw him coming. She
FASTENED to meet him.
Come straight to my room. Ram
dolph. she cried. eagerly. Il have
something to say to you-sometbing a
thousand times more important than
life or death to me-"
Then husband and wife stood face
to face with the great question Of
their lives at issue between them.
CHAPTER XIV.
Lord RIVERS wondered at his wife's
strange haste and excited manner;
she was pale, trembling, and agitated.
When they had entered her room, she
closed the door carefully behind her,
and then stood against it. He held
out his arms as thought he wished to
embrace her. She repealed him by a
proud gesture that startled him.
You must not touch mel" she
cried. Il have something to ask you
which is more important to me than
life or death. Tell me, tell me-" she
continued, with eager, flashing eyes,
was my marriage with you perfectly
legal and in acco- dance with all the
forms necessary"
Most certainly it was" he an
swered.
Il did not doubt it. Others have
done so; | did not. That doubt and
myself would never have lived one
minute. You have answered me one
question; answer another Are you
Randolph Randolph, an artist, paint
ing for your daily bread, or are you
Lord RIVERS of RyversdaIe, a noble
and wealthy baron? Answer me-"
But he was so startled that he
| shrunk few PAGES from her; his
face, usually so bright and debonair,
grew white and lowering. his eyes
! filled with an angry light.
| why do you speak to me in this
fashion? What do you mean?" he
| asked.
THAT is no answer to my question:"
she replied. Are you an artist of
nobleman?"
Her eyes were fixed intently on him.
They seemed to hold him so that he
could not look away from her.
| ON both bn cold JoorN
breath.
you are Lord Ryvers?"
Il am Lord RIVERS, my darling; but
L am your true lover and true hus-
band in spite of that"
'Then it is true" she cried. wiring
ing her hands with a gesture of des-
pair. ''It is true-and l swore it was
one thing, you have doubtless de-
ceived me in more"
Il have not deceived you, Violet,
darling. Do not look so Mortified.
There is nothing the matter. | mere
ly suppressed the truth. [ told no
lie"
Il see no difference" she declared
IF you would do one thing, you would
do another"
BE reasonable, Violet. | have done
you no harm" he said, gently.
''You have done me harm; you have
deceived me. If l had known you
were Lord RIVERS, I would not have
married you. You have made me
false to the habit and training and
teaching of my whole life; you have
made me false to every instinct of my
own heart; You have married me by
} fraud l shall leave you; will not re-
main with YOU
She looked so beautiful in her in
dignation that he only loved her the
more.
''You have married me by fraud"
: she repeated who professed to
be the most honorable. the most loyal
of mem"
} "Will you listen to reason. Violet?"
he asked.
There is no reason in it." she re-
piled, growing more angry as she saw
him growing more panied.
''You speak as though | had injured
you, Violet" he said.
tYou have done so. You have in
jured me in way l shall never for
get. You have taken from me my
own self-esteem; you have made me
false to all my thoughts, ideas, and
instincts; you have placed me in a
false position you have exposed me to
almost unbearable insult and COM
ment. Do you know what those who
know your secret are saying?"
How should | know"
To be Continued