Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-06-13

cannot say; but mine is noble
| love. love him better than myself:
| place his happiness higher than my
own. He loves her; all his life is
centered in her; he does not love me.
So that he may have the highest hap
plness and the highest bliss he can
ever know, wish that they may meet
again and be happy together
You are a noble woman" cried
Violet, involuntarily 1T is thousand
pities that Lord RIVERS did not love
you"
1T may be all for the best; he will
learn what Indifference is like, which
he would never have done had he
married me-"
Il am not sure whether that is any
advantage" said Violet.
81 have thought" continued Miss
Mari, that would try to find this
wife of his, and if 1 succeeded in doing
so, use all the eloquence | could COM
mand to persuade her to go to him
and beg his pardon
Violet looked up with flashing eyes.
ITO do what?" she cried
ITO beg his pardon" repeated Miss
Mari, with innocent Inconsistencies.
$50 far as l have followed the
story" said Violet, sit seems to me
rather that it is he who should beg
her pardon"
There l cannot agree with YOU"
said the heiress. Il think she had
cause for anger and annoyance but
nothing could justify her in leaving
him; she ought to beg his pardon for
that. l fear I shall never be SC
fortunate as to find her; but if ever /
do, l shall try to persuade her to go
to him and acknowledge the wrong
she has done. My dear Miss Beaton,
why are you looking at me with flash,
ing eyes?"
Il am thinking" Violet replied,
what this unfortunate young wife
would say if she heard you
If she were sensible, she would say
l was right. l can understand her
passion and her anger, but l cannot
understand how she could talk of such
nonsense as annulling her own mar
riage''
THE nonsense of those who want
to annul it for her is far greater" said
Violet
And Miss Mari made no reply.
Violet could not forget what her
friend had said, that the young wife
should go to her husband and beg his
pardon. She, who had always been
queen and mistress, who had left him
with a sense of injury, who had felt
herself wounded and hurt, to beg his
pardon! The idea was decidedly
novel to her..
One evening the two ladies were
seated in the drawing-room. Mrs.
Ingram had gone to her own room, for
the night was chill. Outside driz-
cling rain fell, and a cold wind blew;
inside all was warmth and comfort.
They were startled at times by the
eerie sound of the ivy-branches tap
ping against the window panes.
This room is the picture of comfort
On a winter night said Miss Mari
II wonder why it is that we all love
scarlet and crimson in winter?"
Because they represent warmth
answered Violet.
After a minutes pause. Miss Mari
sighed deeply.
Il should think one London house
must be very dull she said. II
cannot help picturing Lord RIVERS
shut up by himself"
You are always thinking of LORD
RIVERS remarked Violet, not Know
ing whether she was amused. sorry,
or pleased.
THAT is quite true; it is a habit of
which l shall never now cure myself.
wish alc-os that | could. l cannot
help grieving. | picture the bright
light heart and high spirits, the noble,
artistic fancies all dropping and dying
/ have heard great deal of pathos
about deserted wives; there seems to
me to be much more pathos in the
idea Of a deserted husband. If
could but pierce the distance and see
him! If the same rain be falling in
London, and the same chill wind blow
ing, he will be sitting there all alone,
listening to the dreary sounds. his
face hidden in his hands. tears
probably very near his eyes, and he
will be thinking of days that will
never come back to him"
"Hush?" said Violet you make
me feel sorry for him"
She had never thought Of him as
lonely, or desolate, or sad at heart, but
always as an aristocrat living in
luxury She had not realized yet that
the greatest hunger of all is hunger Of
the heart. Still from that hour the
tender pity born of love lived in her
heart for him.
To Be Continued