Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-04-25

heat when he saw the smile.

1
Heaven she could" was her comment
Randolph, cannot imagine why you
married that girl; I am sure sht
never loved YOU"
Il loved her enough to make up TO
any DEFICIENCIES on her part" he re
| piled. "Is that letter true?"
ut is true, inasmuch as l wrote tt
the lawyers and by some absurd mis-
take the answer was carried to her
You knew that l should write: I told
you So"
yes, but not in that fashion.
thought you intended to make certain
that my marriage was without a flaw
Do you believe that l am SO little
worth the name of man as to thinb
lightly of a woman's honor? Ny wife
is all the world to me; my love, my
care, my interests begin and end with
her. You have made the most fatal
mistake in your life, mother If you
lad welcomed her here, if you had
zen kind, gentle, and affectionate,
you would have won my eternal graft
tude; as it is, you have my eternal re-
prOach. You might have helped me to
be the happiest man in the world, and
you have gone out Of your way TO
make me the most miserable. Do
you think anything on earth could
make me love Violet less-could
separate me from herr"
''She has not shown much desire to
ain with che hoe hnnr nlJia1Y
enough to avail herself of an excuse to
leave you"
THAT is your fault" he replied.
'Reproaches are all in vain, but some
are due to you. I do not wish to re-
mind you that perhaps no mother has
you have. | have been a good son to
you; l have complied with every wish
of yours. My lands and revenues
have been yours; you have done as
you would. My house has been yours,
and your presence was always most
welcome. Whenever you have ex-
pressed wish to me. | have fastened
to carry it out. And this is my re-
ward-you have driven my wife from
me-"
Il repeat that she seemed very
willing to co." said her ladyship.
"She has taken the first pretext offer
ed to her. No man ought to marry
out of his own sphere; it is a mistake
that must be rectified sooner or later.
l grieve that your life is laid waste
by that proud, willful, plebeian girl"
He looked at her steadily.
"You have said your say, mother;
hear mine. You have driven my wife
away from me. l will go too, and
will not look on your face again until
[ have found her"
The proud face paled little, and an
odd, Wistful look came into the fine
eyes.
81 will not believe" said her lady
ship, haughtily, that the love Of any
woman can part my son from me"
"You have made me desperate; you
have driven me mad. You have
robbed my life of all that was best
and brightest in it; you have taken
from me my chief treasure, you can do
what you will with the rest. | will
never return to Ryversdale, I will
never look upon your face again, until
| have found my wife; and, if I never
find her, this is our eternal farewell -
she rose with a troubled face She
could not part so with her son whom
she loved better that her life.
Randolph she said, hurriedly,
you must think better of this; you
must not leave me in this fashion"
Il could not stay; | could never
look on you again, mother, knowing
what you have done to my wife. I
shall leave now, at once, and you may
do as you will with Ryversdale. l
could not stay where l have been &C.
customed to see her; it would wear
my heart away. Make what eXcu Sc
you will, say what you will, the whole
truth, if you like-it will be best, far
best-neither home, sisters, nor
mother will l see again until have
found my wife. Tell them so from
me-
The proud figure trembled, the
pIouIt LACE QulNSISu.
Randolph" she cried, imperiously
Il forbid you to go, You owe NE the
respect and obedience due from a son
to his mother, and by it l command
you to stay here"
you have failed in your duties.
mother; you must forgive me if, in my
turn, l fail in mine.'
She drew one step nearer to him.
Randolph she said, almost i'm.
ploring1y for one so proud-"Ran
dolph, if you are leaving me, kiss me
before you go"
He looked at the proud face soften
ing for him.
Il cannot" he replied, abruptly, &c
cannot. 1 feel as though you had muir
dered my wife,
And after that she said no more. HI
| left the room, and it seemed to he
that the best part of her life went will
! him. Not that she hated Violet less
! but that she loved her son more. The,
| had been so loving, so devoted to eacl
other. She had always thought Their,
! was no such son, he that there was n,
such mother; and now this girl witt
the beautiful face and proud willfu
eyes had come between them.
He will not co. she said to herself
He, who has never been cool to me il
his life, will not leave me so.
She sat still for many hours; he
pride was too great to allow her to g
IN search of him, to plead or remor
straJe with him-besides which, sh
had an idea that it would be quite use
less. She sat still, her heart, prou