Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-01-31
Continued.

n1aTTnsd you. hNthdOIbV A'N'i -
nothing to me; have never cared bu
for one woman in my life. Now lister
to ple, Violet. | began life, as ] have
told you, with this determination
not 10 lose my one chance of hanpi
ness but to wait until found some
one 10 love me for myself. / found
there was very little notion of love IN
nv own circle. My eldest sister, a
calm, serene woman with a beautlihl
face, was going 10 marry the Earl of
Lester; and, during all the time
heard my mother discuss that marri-
age. I never once heard the worn
love She talked of settlements, of
diamonds, of dress. of anything and
everything but love | determined
then that. whatever else might be
missing at my marriage. love at least
should be there. | can safely say
Violet. that my heart was never touch
ed even ever 50 family by any of the
beautiful or graceful girls | met In
society. liked Gwendoline Mari.
5he was a great friend of my sisters
and my mother liked her. As for
we. my heart and soul were sleeping
when | met you had always been
very much attached to my fayorite art
painting | must tell you also that.
having been so many years under my
mothers influence and training,
perhaps stood a little more in awe OF
her than most young men do of their
mothers. told her the one great de-
sire OF my heart. which was, before
entered on my lifelong duties as heir
to a large fortune and estate, to spend
one year in a sketching tour, to go
where ! liked without any ceremony,
90 stay wherever picturesque scenery
attracted me. TO have. in fact q com
plete and perfect holiday, My mother
did not like the idea az all; she de-
clared that she had a foreboding that
il would result In no good; but my
sister, the Countess of Lester, per
suaded her TO accede to my request.
Was IL fate that brought me to ST,
Byno's, to find that my wife was wait
ing for me there? ! had no thought of
deceiving you, as you choose to term
IL, Violet. True | thought to myself
that would WOO you and win you as
moor man. Then you told me about
your strange training, how your aunt
had iuculcated in you hatred of the
2rstocracy. | used to wonder when
1 heard those beautiful lips uttering
such words, 1t was then | sinued
against you, If sin ii can be called.
Would 10 Heaven there We're no
worse When | asked you one day IL
you would marry an aristocrat, you
answered. No. you would rather die.
Thon what was | to do? | could not
endure the thought. | knew your
ideas were all nonsense. the result of
foolish and mistaken training SO |
made mp my mind that there would be
no great harm In my keeping the
secret of my position from you. |
thought, as you grew older and wiser,
as you saw more of the world, you
would change your views for others
more Just. In that | sinned against
you; In no other way Since we have
been married have frequently longed
to tell you the truth; but you have
been bitter in your prejudices, See
even how you have liked these Car.
stones and glorifed them because
they are 'self,maden Now do you
vhinE, after all. that have acted so
badly"
~My opinion of what you have
done" she said. remains unchanged"
Then You are q cold-hearted. cruel
woman, Violet he cried. How can
you be so fair and so cold2 humble
myself | acknowledge that | ought
10 have told you the truth. ! did
wrong, yet ii seemed to me right at
she time That wrong ask You 10
forgive me"
He hooked so handsome. SO implor-
Sne, tnat most women would have
0een Elal To forgive him then and
shcvo 4 world of love shone in his
fare Iis eyes were filed with a ten
rieg usnt Perhaps he pleaded too
nucn; perhaps II he had seemed q
little less anxious. his proud beautiful
wife would have yielded As it was.
IN proportion as he grew more dos
peraJe she Haraaned her heart against
aim
'Niol.i" said Lord Ryyors "you
make mo un answer : win NOT me-.
tieyc ,bat amy woman can he SO cruel
AS ,o refuse .o forgive d slu--ij yoa
call U subcommittee entirely
COR love uf her"
y have told You that forgive &c: