Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-04-18

and went in, there was no one to re
seen. His heart warmed within him
as he saw traces of her graceful
presence, the flowers and gloves she
had worn, the fan she had used, the
book she had been reading. He rang
the bell. Her maid answered it. He
asked where her mistress was, and
she replied that her ladyship had gone
out at noon and had not returned.
At first he felt no fear, not knowing
what had passed during his absence
Still 1t was strange that she should 90
out for so long, but then Violet liked
walking.
He went to his dressing-room. His
perplexities were soon ended. On
his toilet-table, so placed that 1t must
at once catch his eye, was letter
directed to himself in his wifes hand
writing.
why did she write to me-" be
thought. How strange, when | shall
see her at dinner Perhaps her note
it to tell where she has gone"
He felt no uneasiness as he opened
it, but it was evidently no note, hut 4
closed written letter. What could
that mean? Then the e came to him
the conviction that ,1ere was some
terrible sorrow in store for him. He
read eagerly, despairingly Great
drops OF moisture gathered on his
forehead. AS he read, a terrible pal
ln,. int nrrfh la
shadow deepened in his eyes. The
letter seemed to be half hidden
beneath a blood-red mist and the
words at first told no plain story %
him.
Then he began to realize what it
was. Violet had gone and gone for
ever She had hidden him her la 1T
farewell; she would never see him
again
You told me-" she wrote, that |
was to try a new life, and, If | did not
like it, you would see what was to BE-
done Always remember If you had
told me what life had to share with
you, | should have declined it. not
only dislike, but | loathe and detest
it. | find it perfectly unbearable, and
| have renounced it, Neither my edu-
cation, my training, my character,
nor temperament fit me for it. IAN
not at home in the midst OF the
splendor and luxury Of Ryversdale,
less at home than a wild forest-bird
would be in gilded cage My dislike
to the life, the scorn and insults or
those near to you, the unkindnes3
with which / have been treated, the
perfect unhappiness of my life. the
sense that have of having been de-
ceived--I would have borne all for
your sake; but that has happened
which | cannot and will not bear.
Your mother has written to an emf
ncnt firm of lawyers In London, IN
structing them to find out whether
there is any flaw or informality IN
to part us that she has taken counseps
opinion as to whether the fact OF your
being married under age is not sufi-
cient to annul our marriage. BY mis-
take the letter written by the firm in
reply to hers fell into my hands.
took it to her. She made no disguise
at all of the part she had played in
the matter. She told me that she
would give half her fortune to see
the marriage annulled. They were
hard and pitiless words to hear; but
felt they were true; my place 1t not
l.. 10
which | cannot bear; and the crown
ing sorrow it this-that you knew
your mother intended writing ana
acquiesced in it.
That fact parts us. Never willing
ly will | look upon your face again,
never wiz ! bear your name. never
will | live under your roof. | will
never see your mother, never speak
to her, never enter the same house
with hnr. She is dead to me in this
life, as | am dead to her. She has
sought to annul our marriage: l annul
ii myself; | leave YOU forever. II
when | am gone, you find the law cal
help you legally to free yourself ard
legally to marry another, my prayer
is that you may speedily do SO.
DO not make an attempt at search
ing for me; | shall never return. If
there were any power to compel me.
would rather die than yield to that
power. Remember that death in any
shape would be preferable to return
ing. Your love, your kindness to me
shall always remember; but the whole
proceeding from beginning to end has
been most fatal mistake. You de-
oeived me, you took me into life
for which | am unfit, and the end has
come. as the end comes inevitably u
everything not founded in truth and
honor. | bid you an everlasting fare
well, Randolph, and hope that YOU
will be so far able to rectify your
as to prevent your life from
being spoiled sign myself your lost
Violet.
That was all There was no ioving
word to soften the blow, no regret, 20
sorrow at leaving him, no word of the