Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-05-16

thing else but that! I do not know how
to please you, d husband. You are
fearfully, causelessly jealous-oh! what
did you want me to do?"
Il did not want you to touch him; I
did not want you to speak to him or no
tice him. l am jealous, Grace" stop
ping suddenly beside her, and gathering
all her long fair ringlets into his hands,
and lifting one bright tendril caressingly
to his lips-"so jealous that l am almost
angry with the very winds when they
dare lift this treasured glory from your
shoulders"
She trembled so violently that she was
forced to put down the child on a cush-
ion at her feet. AS she turned, with a
mute gesture, as if to throw herself into
his arms. he dropped the golden mass
from his hands and coldly turned away.
Il would like to know, madam" after
a long pause, his voice ringing, clear,
cold, steady, from the opposite side of
the room, why you chose to come to
Washington at all-knowing it to be
against my wishes-what object could
you possibly have had, unless it were
to see him?"
That cruel insult struck the warm fcun-
tain of tears, too oft depressed by the
proud, loving young wife. Her face crop
ped in her hands, bright tears falling
through her fingers; her voice came to
him mournfully earnest through its re-
pressed sobs and means:
Because, oh! because l wanted to see
you, Paul, so much-oh, so much.-that
| felt | could brave your blame-dare all
your anger. but to look on your dear
face once more! l hoped you would not
see me. / did not know you could be
SO cruel and unjust to me, or | would
have fought harder against the tempta-
ton to come
Moving toward her, he half opened his
arms, then dropped them again at his
sides, with something like a moan.
"Oh, if | could only believe your
and do you not?' she asked, slowly.
81 cannot. The miserable doubt that
you have never loved me- the fear that
your marriage with me arose from self
ish considerations while your heart was
in the keeping of one who valued it so
little then, however much he may now
Oracle, with all these torturing doubts
on my soul, [ try to believe you, and
| cannot"
+ ''Once for ALL" she says, still patient
ly, 'let me tell you, whether you credit
or not, Paul, that my love for Bruce
Conway compared with my love for you
was as moonlight unto sunlight, or as
water unto wine. He was the deal Of
my silly, inexperienced girlhood-nay,
childhood-he never could have been the
choice of my maturer years. You ere
all [ can ask for in perfection of lnanli-
ness, saving this unhappily jealous ma
ture, and my whole heart is yours. l did
not marry you for any selfish considera-
ton, except that loved you and wanted
always to be near that strong, true, no.
BILE heart, sheltered by it's warm affec-
ton. Paul, can you believe these things
if | tell you so on my very knees?"
II cannot! My VOW is recorded
cannot help myself-it must be fulfilled"
''Since this is your decision,' she an
swered, in calm tones, that belied her
tortured heart, would it not be as we'll
to separate altogether? Would not your
freedom be better insured by a complete
divorce from one who has so deeply de-
ceived you that it seems impossible to
trust her again? / confess that it is
irksome to me to live upon the splendors
your wealth supplies while | am an exile
and an alien from your heart. Once fair
ly divorced, and we could go away
my baby and land never trouble you
again. 1 have worked for myself be-
fore: l am sure | can do it again"
ITO he cOnrinuedS