Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-07-18

/ uoC10So " hSSp nSI secret any longer.
Lord RIVERS must know of the death
of his wife end the birth of his son."
lady Ryvers." cried the heiress.
Lady RIVERS! Do you mean that
she is the wife of Randolph, Lord
+ Ryvers?"
81 do. Ard the friends of Lord
RIVERS have driven her to her DEATH
But Miss Mari could not believe
what she had heard.
Pardon me-" she said, you are
wrong. Violet Beaton has been living
with a relative of mine. That is how
l know her; that is why she has sent
for me-"
| Il assure you, Miss Mari, that the
young lady dying up stairs is Violet
! Beaton, who married Lord RIVERS. ]
have known her ami her history for
some time. 1t was with me she took
refuge when she left Ryversdale"
"And who," cried the heiress, sink
/ ing pale and trembling upon the sofa,
did you say you are?"
81 am Mrs. Carstone of Ingleshaw,"
REPEATED the millionaire's wife.
A sudden CLEAN of recollection
came to Mis- Mari; she had heard the
name often enough.
"Your husband is the millionaire
who bought Ingleshaw?" she said.
And, in spite of the sorrow hanging
over them, Mrs. Carstone's face was q
picture of complacency as she an
swered yes"
But the heiress could hardly COM
prehend the other intelligence, that
Violet Beaton was Lady RIVERS, the
unhappy wife who had left her hus-
band.
81 have known and loved her, con-
tinued Mrs. Carstone, "ever since we
met abroad. She came to me in her
distress and despair when she left
her husband; or rather I met her by
accident, and took her home with me.
She would not remain. she, would
work for herself; and friend Of mine
found her an engagement with a Mrs.
Ingram of Queens Elm
'"That is my grandmother. I met
her there; spent some weeks there
with her." Suddenly Miss Mari re-
membered all that she had confided in
| her, how she had told her the story
of her great love for Randolph, and
how she intended to win him for
herself, if she could. She stood dis
| mayed, bewildered, tortured by the
| recollection. How little she had
dreamed that she was speaking to
Randolph's wife! She clasped her
hands with bitter cry. eff she Dies
cit is 1 who have killed her! But
did not know-oh, Heaven, I did not
know"
Il should say that Lady RIVERS has
killed her." remarked Mrs. Carstone.
''It is too horrible!" said the heiress
| And you say there is little child
born today?"
'Yes-a lovely little boy"
Heir of Ryversdale," said Miss
Mari. "You must send for Lord
RIVERS at once''
'It is useless" replied Mrs. Car
stone; his wife has sent for him
twice, and he has refused to come
| ST will not believe it!'' cried the
heiress. eff ever man worshiped a
woman, Lord RIVERS worshiped his
wife From the time she left home
he shut himself up. and no one has
seen him since He would have Civ en-
the whole world to find her; but she
told him she would never return. He
would have flown to her if he had
thought she would even speak to him.
''I was with her when she wrote and
posted the letters"
"Then there has been foul play" 19
clared Miss Mari, "for | know that
Lord RIVERS has never received one
word from his wife since she left him
And you say she is dying?" Tears
filled her eyes, LET me see her,
she said; there is no time to be lost
| She grew pale as she entered tbs
room and saw the beautiful colorlesE
face of Violet and the tiny head of the
nesting babe. She was SO true {
woman that at the sight tears filled
her eyes. With gentle step she wen1
up to the young wife and kne1t dowI
by the bedside.
violet" she said, gently, edo yor
know me? I am Gwendoline MARI"
There was a faint stir of the white
eyelids 1t seemed that by a des
perate effort she was trying to bring
herself back to life.
"She wants to speak to me-" sait
the heiress piteously. Can you d:
nothing for herr"
The doctor came forward with /:
spoonful of strong cordial. Then thu
white eyelids opened.
'You sent for me, Violet What car
do for your"
II want to give you this" she sait
might see her little child. "You ar
one of the noblest women in the
world. Will you take him for me?'
Then with one white weak hand she
drew the dark, beautiful face down, tt
her own. "You know my story" she
whispered, family; you know who
am. 1t seems to me almost that
have come back from the dead to see
you. You know now that I am Ran
dolph's WIFE"
Yes; l know. Will you forgive me
all the pain have caused you? If
had known that you were Randolph's
wife, I should never have spoken Of
him"
81 know; but you love him still?"
Il shall love him forever" was the
low reply.
'And you will marry him after l am
dead? Every one will forget me, and
! VOL will he haDDv together 7 give