Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-09-10


reproach you, the heart to which human
misery a. pealed in vain? You tell me
look ike death. Well, my heart is dead
! and to you belongs the blame. | live,
and yet do not live; breathe the fresh,
pure air Of heaven, but there is nothing
fair in my sight now \ blight rests
upon all the earth. When the eye Is dis
torted all objects upon which it falls as
sumo the same phase. So 1t is with me.
Need | say more, sirY
He stood there, stricken dumb with
Amusement, aye, with horror. What a
terrible crime he must have been guilty
Of in her sight TO call out this from the
lips that had never spoken a cross word
before. 1t began to anger Linn. He mad
suffered as man could hardly suffer twice
ia lifetime, and he counted it as nan sht.
Finally he found his voice. and, in spite
Of his efforts, it trembled ike a tightly
strung cord.
Carol, We stand here face to face. The
post, with all its joys and sorrows, lies
behind US. the future before, but we live
only in the present Since last we met
you have changed wonderfully. Tell
me why it is you look with aversion
where once you loved"
Something in his voice aroused all the
impetuosity Of her nature. For the time
she forgot how she had loved, did love
even then deep down in her heart this
man who stood before her with barred
head, his arms folded across his chest.
and his frank eyes fastened upon her
She only remembered how he had deceiv-
nd IA h,t Al. ~
terror must beat a heart blacker than
sin.
Where once loved You have said
it, Roger Darrell. May heaven forgive
you for deceiying me as you did" she
cried.
Il deceive you. Carol?" he echoed.
Those were my words, sir. / will put
them stronger if you wish basely deceiv-
ed me. On the very night after you
saved me from that wicked wedding.
Nora Warner was dragged away by the
mniOns Of that wretch Of a mad-house
doctor, dragged off to misery and rack
ing pain, and by your orders. Do not
attempt to deny 1t, sir, for / can see the
assumed look Of innocent surprise on your
face. You brought her to a living death.
you ruined the life of the gypsy girl, Bar
bara Merriles, and then. with your face
and sweet words, you tried to lure me
to destruction"
'Whatr
The word burst from him like pistol
shot. As if by magic the cloud was lift
cd, and he saw into what terrible mis-
take the young girl had fallen. His eyes
were opened to the truth, but it only
served to make his blood flow more rap
IDLY with indignation and anger.
For whom do you take me?" he ask
ed cOldy.
You yourself declared that you were
Roger Darrell. and Roger Darrell is the
man who sent his wife to the asylum TO
oe made mad. Surely the curse Of heav-
n must follow that man forever; surely
-Go cries Of his victims must ascend on
high and reach the great white throne.
For myself, | forgive You freely, because
loye-have loved you in the past, but
in the name of those whom you have
wronged in the past | could almost ask
heaven to crush you, broken-heartcd as
am"
Save your pardon for those who ask
i, Miss Richmond. As for me, | do not
seek it. Looking back upon my past
life, do not see an event for which
may have occasion to blush. As for
these things of which you accuse me. the
lay will come when you will realize what
I terrible mistake you have made, and
7ou will cry out to heaven to cover your
head. | am a proud man. and from 10
other lips than yours would hear such
y ords. You have now gone too far.
Some day shortly | will seek you to show
you the proofs Of my innocence; seek
fou to prove all that | ever claimed 10 be.
seek you to show that it was the faint on
my family name l feared not because 3.
mad ever done aught that could bring dis.
grace upon myself or the one / loved. and
having done this, will throw your love
from me like a tattered glove, To- il was
false false"
She uttered a low, piteous cry aud held
Gut her hands for him to stop, at he
went on merclessly, for She had reused
the lion.
Once you told me your love was as
durable as the rocks Of the cliff: that
through good and evil report you would
trust in me until my lips sounded your
death blow How has il come ont? At
The first breath of suspicion, your love
shudders and shriyels up, turning to
If that is your priceless love,
then ! wen help the next man upon
whom on bestow it. l am going, Miss
Richmond, What! are you still dumb
We shall meet once more. and when you
see ME as the man | am, and not in the
euise of a villain who chances 10 belong
to my family and wears my name, then
perhaps you will deign to offer me your
forgiveness"
With these last bitter words, he wheel
ed. One fash from his eyes and be had
gone gone from her in hot anger; gone
10 collect the proof that was to over
whelm her, while she sat there, and bow
ing her head, wept bitter tears, for the
spell was again upon her, and she would
have believed him innocent of those aw-
ful sins even should the whole world ac-
cuse him.
CHAPTER WI.
On the Potomac,
The "princely home provided for his
mad wife by Cantain raut-of hnr,,isa