Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-04-18

called Violet" there was no re-
Spouse. When he opened the door
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. File
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 it was strange that she should go
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 it must
at once catch his eye, was a letter
directed to himself in his wife's hand
writing
why did she write to me?" he
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 there came to him
the conviction that there was some
terrible sorrow in store for him. He
read eagerly, despairingly. Great
drops of moisture gathered on his
forehead. AS he read, terrible pal
lor came into his face, a terrible
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 last
farewell; she would never see him
again.
you told me- she wrote, that |
was to try 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 1t. l nor
only dislike, but loathe and detes.
it. | find it perfectly unbearable, and
| have renounced it. Neither my edu-
cation, my training, my character,
nor temperament fit me for it. an
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 OF
those near to you, the unkindnes5
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 emit
nent firm of lawyers in London, in
there is any flaw or informality IN
our marriage. So great is her desire
to part us that she has taken counsePs
opinion as to whether the fact of your
being married under age is not sufTi-
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 it not
here. That was the browning insult
which | cannot bear; and the crown
ing sorrow it this-that you knew
your mother intended writing and
acquiesced in it.
THAT fact parts us. Never willing
ly will look upon your face again.
never VII. bear your name, never
will live under your roof. l 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: | annul
it myself; | leave you forever. IL
when | am gone, you find the law can
help you legally to free yourself and
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
snail always remember; but the whole
proceeding from beginning to end has
been most fatal mistake. You de-
ceived me, you took me into life
for which | am unfit, and the end has
come, as the end comes inevitably %
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
mistake as to prevent your life from
being spoiled. sign myself your lost
Violet"
That was all. There was no loving
word to soften the blow, no regret. 20
sorrow at leaving him, no word of the
love that had once been between
them-nothing but offended pride
wounded dignity. outraged prejudices
no love.