Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-06-11
by .RITA."

/ 1ou nave grown sensible at last. Is
that what you mean? Why couldn't you
give them up soonerT
II don't know" she said, YEARLY.
She had thrown aside her veil. and her
| face was white as death, her eyes wild
and fevered, and John Marsden noted,
with shock of surprise, how altered and
how i'll she looked.
Il have been very ILL.," she went on,
presently.
when did you leave the Abbey" he
asked brusquely.
~ esterday," she answered. at has
! grown u1bearable insupportabe. IL
could not stop, and | thought 1t was no
use to hold out; the lawyers say the
! case is clear enough. These" and she
! handed him some yellow, faded papers.
''are what they wanted. The certificate
of my mothers birth and marriage. They
were in my fathers desk. don't think
! he knew or even guessed that she was
| related to the Grants. 1t was runaway
marriage, you know, and her people never
! forgave her"
| 'And may l ask why you have thought
fit to oppose what was your lawful right,
and mineT'
Yours" Her white face flushed Grim
! son: she looked at him with a scorn and
defiance that no words could have por-
/ trayed. II thought your wish for a rec
onciliation was not quite disinterested.
| You have played your cards very well,
John Marsden."
Yes" he said, = ~, 81 think / have;
and I'm glad you've come to your senses.
| didn't want to use force. Well, this
settles the matter. There's nothing to
prevent US from going down to Grant
ham Court and taking possession as soon
as we Ike. When will you be ready?"
T Oh. don't ask NEEDN'T force
me TO go. The place is full of haunted
memories to nae. You--you can't under
stand"
NO" he said brutally. II can't, and |
don't wish to. Put all that sentimental
bosh out of your mind, for you've got
! to come there, and to come with me. I've
a fancy for p" = the country squire,
and I've fancy = YOU should see me
do it."
Don't be too hard on me, john" she
said in a strange, suppressed voice. IF
it's the money you iced, take it, and
welcome. | don't care for it. / don't
need 1t. But | can't go and live at the
Court. ! can't feel il is mine-not IN
the face of all the wills, and all the
laws that ever were framed"
But | mean that you shall do it," he
said doggedly; "and the law is on my
side, fancy"
Law she cried passionately; lit is
| always that-it Is always that. 1t is well
you don't say justice. well you don't call
this selfish tyranny by its right name.
! Lawl What does it care for woman's
/ sufferings- shame-agony; for the brutal
| force that seizes her life and holds it in
| prison from which she cannot escape
/ You stand there, you call yourself my
/ husband. and you know you have not
| one spark of tenderness, one thought that
| is worthy the name, one feeling that is
/ due to the rights you claim. You have
| tyrannized over me. neglected degraded,
deserted me. You came with a hypo-
| critics pretense OF sorrow, and won a
promise that ] believed it was my duty
TO give. l might have known better than
TO be deceived so easily, but for time
r. was deceived; and now l see you in
your true colors, now l know what your
wish for reconciliation concealed; and
night to tell you one thing You may
have my property. my money-eyerything
/ that the law giyes-the law that men
made for men-but do not force me TO
| live under your roof. 1t cannot benefit
you now-it is only added misery to me"
| He was not alone in his amazement--
| another spectator stood in the doorway
| lost in reluctant admiration of the scene
| he had witnessed, but neither husband
nor wife were aware of his presence.
"You-you-how dare you talk to me
| Ike thatT' clustered John Marsden at
! myth. Il tell you now, as sold you be-
! tore, that very few husband would have
1 behaved as generously as | did | could
have taken proceedings aga list you.
Why. could have had a divorce, mad
am, had chosen! II"
"YesT she said calmly. "Th,n why
did you not choose? Does il never occur
TO you that might ask how these three
years in India were spent by your
'She is superb muttered the listener
under bis breath. ITO think of a woman
like that being thrown away upon a
wizened little ape with no more brains
than an empty cocoanut"
THAT has nothing to do with you,
said John Marsdeu deiantly. a man
can do what he chooses. especially I:
his wife goes and leaves him, as you left
me"
Il wrote and asked you If | might re
turn to India. You forget that. aud your
answer. II had grown utterly reck'
less. if / had yielded to temptation
that lay close at my hand. into which
you. the man who should have defended
me, wautonly east me for your own self
ish ends. ! fancy you would have mad
no right to complain OF me to-day"
He was silent, Well enough he knew
she spoke the truth. Well enough h,
knew that even the law. in Whose
strength he trusted SO implicitly woult
scarcely have indicated conduct suci
rs his in the eyes Of the world
"Why-why do you come and say al
this uow?' he said at last. We agrcct
to be friends. | want nothing more o
you. Can't you bury lygones and lie
MS be al peace?'
Il say it," she Answered coldly. "be
cause you have deceived me again. Noi
left India with a settled purpose; yo,
, sought me with that purpose; you VOL
me over by pleading my duty, all til,
! time you knew you only wanted 10 saw
appcarances-that il was my monsy m.
: new position. which gave me any impor
lance in your eyes. You and your hate
: full spy played your cards we'll. Int no
quite well enough 10 deceive na Whel
| thought you were poor. III. lonely. tina
you were even a little sorry for all | hs,
had 10 bear, it was dlt. e-ent matter
| would have come to You then, aud il