Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-09-15
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to be broken.
Then he was returned member Ior
the county; and it struck him that she
was pleased at his success. lie nuhg
himself heart and soul into his new
duties-he tried to fill his life with
them. But there was always the same
dreary sense of desolation, the same
heartache, and the same longing Tor
love. Then, when the season was
ended, they returned to Croompe. lie
began to abandon hope after tnaC'
His wife's well-bred Indifference be-
came unbearable.
Everything had fallen into its usual
routine Lady Ianthe spent her time
with the earl, and in receiving ana
returning hospitality, or amusing her-
self with books, music, and MOWERS.
She was always kind to her husband IN
certain Indifferent fashion. She
deferred on every occasion to MS
authority. He was treated by the
earPs wish, as master OF the mousse
His position was magnificent one,
but his heart ached for love, and no
love came. The woman whom he Wor-
shipped so passionately would never
care for him She had no heart; she
was too proud to love, too naughty to
care for anything but her own self
indulgence and her name.
1t came to him with a sicken1ng
SENSE of certainty at last. He did not
regret what he had done. For her sake
he would have done it all over again
But his manhood rose now in hot re-
belilon against his fate. She could
live happily enough without him, but
he could live no longer by her slde
He had suffered enough. She was
welcome, doubly welcome, to all he
had in the world, but he could no
longer bear the pain and torment of
her presence. His resolve was taken;
he must go. They were welded, it was
true, but they must part. He had
come to the limit of his patience. If
she needed him he would remain; but
she did not His absence could make
nc possible difference to her life.
There was no need for any scandal
for any eXplanatiOn-nO need that any
human being should know the truth as
to why he had gone. He would go to
America. He had money invested
there, and he could say business
called him thither; the best thing for
which he could hope and pray was that
Heaven in it's mercy would let him die
there One morning he sent for Ianthe
he was in his favorite room. She
smiled when she saw him there.
''You like this room, Herman" she
said
II had my first hope Of love here, ;"
he answered. "Ianthe, have sent for
you here to speak to you-here, where
without love, you promised to be my
wife, and I, trusting in the might of
myself a task that was superhuman.'
The gravity of his voice and manner
awed her. She sat down and looked
at him wistfully. Surely everything
was going on well. What did he want?
'Ianthe," continued the grave, pas
sionate voice, "have I not done all that
man could do to win your lover"
YES she replied, II own that you
have"
"Yet you no more love me now than
you did on the day that first spoke
to you here"
There can be no question of love
between you and me-" she observed,
haughtily. "Why are you not content
to live as hitherto?"
why I am not content?" he cried,
passionately. Because I am not made
OF marble or ice-because I have liv-
ing human heart that longs for love, a
soul that cries out against my cruel
life, my cruel solitude-because l can
bear my life no longer!"
why, what is wrong?" she asked,
startled by the passion in his voice.
ASK me, rather, what is right? I
love you SO entirely, so devotedly, that
I must win your love in return, or
must go from you. Can you place
your hand in mine, and say L will try
to love you, Hermann? Even that will
content me-
Her beautiful face had grown
strangely pale. She drew back.
NO" she replied, in low voice, Il
cannot"
He laughed aloud, and she shrank,
scared and frightened, from the sound.
mo, you cannot; this plebeian hand
OF mine must not touch the dainty
fir gers of Lady Carre!"
Herman" she interposed, you
brighten me. I do not understand you
in this mood
Il beg your pardon" he said, grow
ing calmer at the sound of her voice.
IL am at times frightened at myself
l believe that my great misery is driv-
ing me mad. I will try to say to you
in sad and sober earnestness what l
mean. I am very unhappy. l would
bear it all if there were any chance OF
ever winning your love; but there is
none, and I cannot remain here any
longer have borne more than a
man should bear, because I have al
ways thought time would win me your
love. Now 7 SEQ that If nnvnr will -