Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-01-13


ouisite bloom faded, the light seemed
to die from the blue eyes, and even
the golden sheen of the hair was less
bright, There was little wonder that
if should be so. for she wept 1nces-
sanity.
Her life was a martyrdom, and the
captain had grown quite callous, quite
regardless of all the pain his wife sui
fered. When she saw him going out
in the morning, looking bright and
handsome, full of health, strength, and
v;gor. she would hasten to him. She
had pretty, caressing fashion Oh
clasping her hands together and lay
ing them on her husbands breast. at
first he professed to like the graceful
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-
ietv 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
ga gement; but she suspected always
that he was going to see Gladys Rane
J Tn like manner, when he returned,
J he would go to him in the same visit
FIJI, anxic:s, tender fashion, and IN
! quiie:
"Where have you been, Vance?'
And he would tell her that he had
been 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 choice
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 two hours. lie
looked so bright, SO gallant, and hand'
some, that her very heart leaped with
ICY. 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 we'll you look this morning,
vance," she said, with smile.
Then she detected the subtle odor
of violets. and saw that he wore an
exquisite moss-rosebud, so beautiful
as to be rarity, and she knew at
once that he had been with Gladys
Rane Swiftly, with flashing anger,
Lady Laura tore the flower from his
breast and flung it away.
''You had that from Gladys Rane:
she cried. 'You shall not come nome
tc me wearing her 1owers!
The catain caught her wrist IN an
iron grasp.
Never dare to do that again." he
shouted in angry tones.
low cry of pain came from her
white lips, and, recollecting himself,
the captain loosened his hold.
81 beg your pardon, Laura" he said
in a uuieter tone. 81 did not mean
q hurt you; but you-you annoyed
me-"
'It does not matter" she returned,
the face that had flushed with anger
now paling with pain. But you shaH
not come straight from that Woman,s
presence to mine.
81 am afraid I have hurt your
wrist" he said awkwardly, for on the
fair, white skin he saw l1v1d brulse.
the mark of the strong, cruel
hand that had shown little mercy in
it's grasp.
He tried to examine it; but she
shrank back from him, pale and
scared.
81 believe" she gasped, chat 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;
81 am sorry if I have hurt you,
Laura"
| Her laugh was not pleasant to near
| cit does not matter" she repeated.
Then she held up the shapely white
wrist. with it's disfiguring mark.
81. ook." she cried. ct was cruel
grasp. hard as iron; but it is nothing
to 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 be
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, If
, they were twice as bad" he declared.
You talk of jealousy as a pain,
Laura; | call it a madness"
yes" she answered, with dreamy
look in her face, sit is madness,
Vance" Then, after a pause, she
asked suddenly: Gould I make you
jealous of me?"
81 think not" he answered, may, I
an quite sure"
st wish I could she continued. Il
should like you to feel the pain, the
fever. the despair, just once; you