Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-03-25
CHAPTER MI

uG must plOlCNl tue nVihdA nv
bore his name; he was quite sure of that.
CHAPTER MI.
"Home again." These were the words
that Irene Darcy said to herself when
the cruel reality of the mockery practic-
ed on her came home to her. Home once
more; back to those who had been true
as steel, kind and loving; back TO the
home she believed she had left forever,
to her mothers grave, and her fathers
house; back to the kind, indulgent father
who had loved her so well. She cid not
pause to ask whether she would be receiy-
ed or not; she seemed quite sure of that;
no doubt of their love, or trust, or fidelity
crossed her. She did not feel like peni-
tent returning to the scenes Of her lost
innocence; her faith in herself never wav-
cred.
The sin of another cannot hurt me"
she said, in her righteous indignation.
She had walked directly out from the
house wherein she was no longer mis-
tress She did not go to her room, she
spoke no words to her servants. She
would take nothing with her that had be-
longed to him. But, as she stood outside
looking her last at the home she had low
ed so well, the CLEAN of her wedding
ring struck her with keen pain.
MY marriage was no marriage" she
said TO herself, perhaps my ring is no
ring; it may be brass, not gold: shall
take it off and fling it away, or shall
keep it, that, looking at it from time to
time, it may help me in my vengeance:"
She would not remove it. AT least,
fafh fhat II
there she thought.
She had no hesitation at ali in going
home. She had done wrong in leaving
it, without their consent. but the CLAM
our of love had been over her. She had
written TO them, and had gone without
their permission; but she had done no
more.
The shadow of death met her as she
recrossed the threshold of her home Mrs
Cotrel had died during her absence.
Dreary and dark had been the long
days during which Santon Darcy had
mourned for his daughter. The one idea
that possessed him was that he had in
some measure been faithless to his trust;
he had left too much to his daughter; he
had forgotten the fancies, and thoughts,
and loves of youth. To such man-pure
in heart and soul as a dreaming child.
hopeless and helpless where all needs of
this world were commemorative fact Of
his cherished daughter leaving home
without his permission had been almost a
death blow; he never quite realized it.
He read and reread the letter she had
written telling him that she had gone
to be married, Sut that her marriage was
for the present to be kept secret on ac-
count OF her future husbands circum-
stances-he had certain reasons for keep
ing his marriage dead secret. She had
written kindly. loving letter, yet every
word was pointed dagger to the heart
of Santon Darcy.
1t was a terrible blow; and yet the
child must be all right. OF course it was
horrible thing for her to leave home
in this fashion; but then she knew SO
little of the world. and it had evidently
seemed to her that she was doing what
he. in her place. would have done. He
strictly obeyed her request not to speak
of her. to look for her. or cause any in
quiries to be made about her.
The garden gate opened and his daugh-
ter walked up the broad garden path
lined with roses-walked as though she
had left it yesterday. He could see in
that faint light that she had changed
very much; she had grown taller. she was
dressed with great elegance. He was
struck mute and dumb by her marvellous
and exquisite loneliness. His daughter
Irene. Great heaveni were the evening
shadows playing him false, or what was
it?
Nearer and nearer she drew; and then
by the faint light from the golden clouds
he saw that her face was white with
some terrible mental pain. His great
honest heart went out to her.
my darling. my darling" he cried.
with outstretched arms! -oh. my darling.
have you come back to me at last?"
She looked up, and the pale face quiv-
cred with pain.
Il knew you would welcome me. papa;
but before you take me to your heart.
before you kiss me, let me tell you what
has happened"
Tell me the worst. Irene" he cried;
suspense kills me. You-yon have
wedding ring on your finger. child: there
can be nothing wrong"
Listen. papa she said NAY. do not
fear = kiss me. do not fear to take me
to your heart. / have not sinned-I have
been shines again. Before earth and
heaven. before lrsn and before heaven. /
stand erect and refuse TO own that | have
done wrong. or that the crime of traitor
has touched me-"
What is il. my child: Had he been
married before? Is there another wife?
What is it:''
She went up to him and laid her hand,
which bore the wedding ring. on his
shoulder: she raised her white. proud.
panied face 70 his.
4 viii tell you" she said The man
whom | loved with all my heart was
traitor-a traitor-aad you know al that
word means He wOoed me. be won ali
my love: then he asked me TO leave home
and marry him. Ii be had asked me
to 20 with him TO the depth Of the sea.
the FIRE of the southern desert. / should
have gone He asked ne to be his wife"
4 great sigh Of relief came from san
ton Darcy
Thank heaven be cried II feared
there was no marris Ee.-
Listen" said Iifae. He took me
straight 10 London and to the place
where We were 10 be married Father.
the marriage was a mock marriage. the
minister mock minister. II was bias
Phemous farce played TO deceive me; and
BOW he has told me the TRUTH am not
his wife"
0ee By one Irene resumed her duties