Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-01-16

, first he professed to like the graceful
r action. and would kiss the white
hands: now he barely endured it.
Vance, where are you going?" she
would ask; and he could read the anX
Iiety in her pale, anguished face.
His answers varied. At one time
he would say that he was going to MS
club, at another that he had an ell
gagement; but she suspected always
that he was going to see Gladys Rane
In like manner, when he returned
she would go to him in the same Wlst'
full anxious, tender fashion, and IN
iquire:
'eWhere have you been, Vance?'
And he would tell her that he had
Ibecn to his club or keeping an en-
gagement. But, when he came home
with a sweet, subtle odor OF Violets
about him and a flower more cholce
than usual in his buttonhole, she
knew that he had been to see Gladys
Rane.
One morning she was in the draw
ing room when he returned nome
after an absence Of twv hours. lie
looked so bright, so gallant, and hand
some, that her very heart leaped win
iov. She forgot for the moment all
her jealousy and unhappiness, and
went up to him eagerly, love shining
in her eyes and in her face.
How well you look this morning
vance," she said, with a smile.
Then she detected the subtle door
of viOlets and saw that he wore an
exquisite moss-rosebud, so beautiful
as to be a rarity, and she knew at
once that he had been with Gladys
Rane Swiftly, with flashing anger,
LADY Laura tore the flower from MS
breast and flung it away.
you had that from Gladys Rane!
she cried. You shall not come nome
| tC me wearing her flowers"
The catain caught her wrist in an
iron grasp.
"Never dare to do that again" he
shouted in angry tones.
A low cry of pain came from her
white lips, and, recollecting hlmSeh'
the captain loosened his hold.
81 beg your pardon, Laura, he SAID
in a ouieter tone. 81 did not mean
ia hurt you; but you-you annoyed
me-"
eft does not matter" she returned,
the face that had flushed with anger
now paling with pain. But you small
NOT come straight from that woman's
presence to mine"
81 am afraid l have hurt your
wrist" he said awkwardly, for on the
fair white skin he saw livid bruise,
fine mark of the strong, cruel
hand that had shown little mercy in
its grasp.
He tried to examine it; but she
shrank back from him, pale and
scared
II believe" she gasped, that you
would kill me for the sake OF Gladys
Rane"
And in his evil heart he knew the
words were true; but he merely SAID:
Il am sorry if l have hurt you
Laura"
Her laugh was not pleasant TO hear.
ct does not matter" she repeated.
Then she held up the shapely white
wrist, with it's disfiguring marx.
"Look," she cried. ut was a cruel
grasp. hard as iron; but it is nothing
ia the hard grasp in which you hold
the heart that loves you"
But her words failed to touch him.
His dislike of her was increased from
her having betrayed him into COW
ardly, unmanly action.
Il wish, Laura, that you would De
more reasonable" he said. These
scenes are uncomfortable"
Put an end to them" she retorted,
promptly. "by ceasing to visit Gladys
Rane.'
81 should not do that, my dear, II
they were twice as bad" he declared
You talk of jealousy as pain,
Laura; l call it a madness.
Yes" she answered, with dreamy
look in her face, "it is Madness
Vance" Then, after a pause, she
asked suddenly: Gould l make you
Jealous of me?"
81 think not" he answered, may, l
am quite sure.
81 wish | could she continued. Il
should like you to feel the pain, the
fever. the despair, just once; you
would never be so cruel to me again.
Bat you could not be jealous of me,
for one must love deeply to be jeal-
| Gus. Still | must ask you one ques-
/ ton Do YOU not think it needless
cruelty to come straight into my pres
ence from hers wearing the very
flower that she has given you? Let
me place a flower in your coat,
! Vance"
| What nonsense" he cried. Il
! have no patience left. Of all intoler-
able things upon earth, jealous wom-
an is the worst" And the captain
strobe from the room, banging the
door behind him with no gentle hand.
= would rather never enter the house
again than to have TO submit to such
I scenes!" he said to himself. as he
walked toward his club; and he NUT
tered something between his teeth as
he thought of the black bruise on the
white, rounded wrist.
Lady Laura stood looking at it long
after he had gone. If she retained
any faint hope that her husband loved
her. or even cared for her. it van
shed when she glanced at that cruel
mark.
He would have broken my arm. "
| -bo ElodvS'