Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-03-25
CHApTER x-lContinued.)


"You must not dare to touch me- she
cried; 1.-THE gulf between US is deeper
than the grave. You make no mistake
about me-" She stood before him. proud
as a young queen. Make no mistake.
/ am not going to float down the stream
with TIE lost and the unhappy. l was
good. innocent girl when met youth
my own heart | am good and innocent
now. You have duped and deceived me;
the shame of that falls on you. and not
on me. Before the pure, bright heavens
] hold up my head proudly as | have
ever done. and the shame recoils from me
to you. / have willingly done no wrong;
l would rather-heaven knows | am
speaking thl TRUTH would rather have
died than have done wrong; and. to my
thinking, the wrong-doing falls from me,
leaving me unframed. l go from your
presence, Inundated, mortified, grieved
and wounded. but, thank heaven, not dis
graeed. You have sinned against me.
have not sinned.'
Irene he cried, to stop the passion
ate current Of words, Irene, do listen to
reason; we need not part. l will love
you to my LIES end. will live for you"
Stay she said. haughtily. "Remem-
Der that each word of yours adds insult
to injury. | ask you now one fair. honest
question. You own that you have sinned
against me; that you have wronged me;
that you would fain undo the evil you
have DONE"
Eyes, | own all that" he replied.
Il ask you now, most solemnly, most
pleadingly, will you undo that wrong?
You say that you love me, that you can
not live without me. ] ask you, will you
make me your wife? Give up Lady Lira.
will love you more faithfully and fond
ly by far. | will give all my woman's
wits and talents to help you. Marry me,
even now, and make me your lawful
wife,"
Il must refus-,' he answered.
=, gu persist in your resolution of mar
rying Lady Lira?"
Il must so persist" he replied. II
cannot help it, Irene"
mo tears, no prayers, no pleading will
avail" she asked.
mo. | must speak plainly. Mo-
She was silent for minute, then said
to him:
You have trusted me so far; will you
tell me the name of the man who helped
you in your fraud?"
He half hesitated.
You need not fear" she said, scorn-
fully. IF you could trust me with Lady
Lira's name you may surely tell me his"
Il will tell you" he said. 1t is Vane
Forester"
She repeated it.
"Vane Forester. All, well, we shall
meet some day. Heaven is great and
just; we shall meet; so here in life. Sir
Hubert Estmere, we part-remember al
ways, with my unutterable scorn and con-
tempt. / should despise from my heart
the man who needlessly shot sweet
singing bird. who wantonly tortured a
butterfly, who destroyed. without reason,
the life of a flower. What / feel for the
man who could deliberately take the
heart and soul of an innocent girl into
his hands to destroy it you can better I'M
derstand than | can explain. OF one
thing be assured-you have not so de-
stroye6 mine. Against you and Vane
Forester l appeal to heaven. | cry for
vengeance. And, listen while | swear it.
This is my vow. You will remember it in
the years to come. | swear by the truth
of heaven, | swear by my mothers grave,
by my fathers love, by my own outrag-
ed honor, | swear to have vengeance
against you, should l spend my whole life
in seeking it. When the time comes
for it you shall kneel before me with
binding hot tears asking for mercy, but
you shall ask in vain. Now, farewell.
Greatness, honor and glory lay before
You; but tremble in the midst of it. Do
not forget, sleeping or waking. Irene's
VOW"
Stay. Irene" he cried.
But she was gone-gone with a low,
passionate cry that he never forgot, leav-
ing him there stunned and dazed wita
her passionate words.