Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-05-30
Continued.


face of the other flushed with emotion
holding between them the portrait
of the man beloved by one and hus-
band of the otth32r
Tell me-" repeated Miss Mari,
what you think Of it,"
1T is very handsome"
oh" interrupted the heiress,
that is the least of it! am not
speaking or thinking merely of its
beauty although to me it is the most
perfect face in the wide world. What
do you think of the expression in
those eyes?"
They look as though they loved
some one very much Violet said, al
most involuntarily.
"Ah Would to Heaven that some
one were myself" cried the heiress.
Then her head dropped and a crimson
flame burned her face. 81 did not
think what l was saying" she went
on, piteously. Forget you heard
that, Miss Beaton. Yet why should l
be ashamed of it? It eases my heart,
and | may trust you. This is the
portrait of the one that makes the
whole light of earth to me, the one
that changes earth into heaven. And
yet"
She broke off abruptly, Violet
looked at her; her whole face CULVER
ed with pain.
81 never part with it" resumed Miss
Mari. Il have given my love, my
heart, my peace Of mind, my life it.
self, and all have in return is this
portrait nothing more. Was there
ever, do you think, a fate like mine"
Men say | am beautiful. l have al
most every gift this world could
give me, and yet | cannot win the one
thing for which | would give them all
the love of that fair-faced man. [
would give my wealth, my beauty, my
life, if but once and for one minute
he would take me in his arms and say
that he loved me. | have Wearied
Heaven with prayers. l think it no
shame to ask for the gift of a good
mans love, and l have prayed for it;
but l have never won it. The world
is empty to me" she continued "be
cause this man does not love me. 1t
is strange what capricious, wilful,
miserable mortals we are. l have
everything one would think to make
me happy; yet the poorest peasant
woman married to the husband she
loves is happier than l. | fixed my
heart on one thing, and 1 have not at
tanned it. 1 have prayed one prayer;
it has been denied me. All heaven
and earth are dark, void and dreary
to me, because the desire of my heart
has not been accorded to me-
And Violet, as she listened to these
passionate words, could only repeat
over and over again to herself:
"The man whom she loves is my
husband, and l have left him.
Now" said Miss Mari, with a
quick look at her companion, you
would think it undignified, perhaps. to
love any man after this fashion,"
NO." answered Violet, gently; I
cannot judge"
Il am not all to blame," continued
the heiress. 81 admit that | loved
him the first moment | saw him; but,
if l had felt sure he did not and
never would care for me, should
have tried to trample my love under
foot, and have avoided him. But l
was deceived"
With a sudden pang Violet looked
up at her. Who had deceived her?
Had Randolph, who had sworn to her
over and over again that he loved her
and her only-had he tried to win the
loving, passionate heart of this beau
tiful women before her? She did not
know that life held such terrible
pain as this.
"You were deceived?" she ques-
teioned, slowly.
Yes, but not by him-never by
him. Miss Mari replied, hastily.
There is not the faintest shadow OF
guile in his face. Look at it. There
is none in his eyes. Look at them.
There is none in his heart. Heaven
bless him! He would not know how
to deceive any one"
And Violet, as she listened, almost
gasped for breath She had accused
this same man of deceit beyond
words, because he had concealed from
her the rank and title which he knew
she hated She had left him; and
here was this other woman, who
loved him SO well, bearing testimony
to his stainless honor and truth
Who was right, who was wrong
Violet was puzzled and bewildered ;
her faith in herself was shaken.
Who deceived your" she asked
I,,r
lover" And Miss Mari little dreamed
that the girls whole soul was III
suspense as she awaited the answer
1T was not he,' answered the
heiress, with loving glance at tht
photograph; 1T was his mother.
could not say with truth that she
told me in so many words that he
loved me and wanted me to be his
wife; but she gave me that i'm
preston, she led me to believe tina
the great hope of his life was to viii
me-and all the time he did not care
for me; do not even think he wa
much interested in me-"
why did she mislead your" asket
Violet.
Il cannot tell. She is very prout
and very worldlywise She wanted
wife for her son, and she thought sh
could choose for him; and, to my SUI
prise. she selected me. Still it wa
not honest to deceive me, for it ia
blighted my life
ooh, 1 hope mott" cried Violet, il
voluntarily.
Eyes, it has" said Miss Mar
sadly. Il have no real interest j