Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-26

dislike to speak of my own happy
{ love-"
Il have said nothing about it, con-
tinued Uric; ''but 1 was never so
shocked, so startled. so distressed in
my life. The first night l spent here
J | thought the GOODNESS was only
passing one-and even that Mortified
| me; but, when l saw that it was al
ways the same, that nothing changed
or softened 1t, | was bewildered. Do
you know, Kate, that they were once
the most devoted Of lovers, that Ru-
| dolph was mad about her, and that
she, so beautiful and graceful. was
sought after everywhere? She re-
jected some of the best offers in Eng
| land to marry Rudolph"
And now is he tired of herr"
asked.
No, that is not it. I have watched
them closely-for would do anything
TO bring about a different state of
things-and have come to the conclu-
| sion that there is secret between
them, and that it concerns Nest
''Of what nature is the secret. do
you think, Ulric?" l asked.
/ read fear and shrinking in her
face" replied my lover Evidently
she has done something which mas
made her afraid of him. What it can
be is mystery to me. She is so
! gentle, so loving, cannot imagine that
she would do anything wrong. l am
| sure It is strong reason on his part
tnat causes him to treat her in this
t fashion,
pity her the most" said. "She
loves him so dearly: her whole life
seems to be a passion of love and
pain"
And l." said Uric slowly. pity him
the most; see in his face an express
sion of torture. I know that he loved
her SO entirely that his heart must
have been broken before matters came
| to this poss."
| told him how I had found her by
| the lakeside, her face buried in the
| grass, crying to heaven for pardon
that 1t had been all for love of him
My lover was silent for some time
after that.
! 1T seems a dishonorable thing"
said. ito try to discover a secret that
is evidently kept from one; but. if
! anything could be done to bring them
| together, or even to re-establish Or
binary kindness and civility between
them, it would be a good deed"
Still, my lover, always SO quick of
speech, was silent. 3
Kate" he said, after time, ARE
you sure that Lady GILMORE used
those words-'all for him'?"
Not once, but hundred times" 7
replied. And then saw that his face
had grown pale
''All for him." he repeated. rThat
would imply that she admitted having
done something wrong, but that it was
for his sake"
THAT is what l have always
thought, Ulric-that she did some
wrong for him.
What could she have done?" he
| continued. "She loves him too en-
tlrely to have given thought to any
one else"
No, she has never etrayed him
even by thought" said And saw
the dark face grow paler.
Kate" asked my lover, solemnlv.
nave you ever tried to imagine what
Lady Culmore could possibly have
done?"
Never. She is truthful, or | might
think that she had lied in some
shameful way"
But what could she have lied
about?" asked Uric "There was no
mystery about their love or marriage:
and the lie must have been shameful
one which could part them"
"Candidly, Uric, | have seen no
fault in Lady Culmore except a too
great love for her husband. To me
her character seems perfect in every
other respect. I believe she loves him
most devotedly. I think she would do
anything in the wide world for him
can imagine that she might even
mistake wrong for right for his sake.
Nay, Uric, can go further; l believe
that she loves him SO entirely that she
would do wrong for his sake and think
it right. Love for him is the master
passion of her nature"
Uric looked terribly distressed.
Why" I cried, 'the shadow is
spreading to you. You look miserable.
What is it?"
"A horrible idea," he replied-"a
false one, I could swear, but SO un-
utterably horrible that it has made
me ILL.,"
| He looked i'll.
Tell me what it is ?" I requested
Il cannot, Kate To save nv life 7
would not put into words the idea that
| has crossed my mind
To be continued.