Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-05-05

AS she spoke she drew forth the
will and held it towards him.
He made gesture of assent.
"It is yours, Joan. JOAN" he said,
like a man demented, why do you
speak to me like this?"
''Why?" she exclaimed, a flame
springing suddenly to her eyes.
That l may repay you for the wrong
you sought to do me, See. Here is
the will which gives me all you hold,
will not take it from the hands OF
the man that wronged me, Take back
your wealth, Lord Villiars, l will have
none of it! There is not a shilling
of it but would burn me at the touch.
Not shilling but would remind me of
the man l trusted, anu who deceived
mel! and with superb gesture she
raised her hand and flung the will on
the fire.
Stuart Villiars stood and started at
her.
deceived-wronged you." he
cried. Great Heaven, be just to me,
L! L! who loved you as never man
loved.-I wrong you."
"Yesl" she retorted, stretching out
her hand accusingly. you would
have wronged me beyond reparation
but for an accident which revealed
your baseness. Lord Villiars, look me
in the face-eye to eye, heart to
heart.-and deny it,"
He stood, the great drops of per-
spiration on his brow.
Great Heaven! what is this?" he
cried, hoarsely.
Then suddenly he thrust his hand
into his breast pocket and brought out
a creased and folded paper.
JOAN" he exclaimed, 81 see it all
now, and here is my answer" and
with touch of manly dignity not to
be put into words, he held the paper
towards her.
She stretched out her hand and
took the paper gingerly, like a woman,
and let her glance drop upon it.
Then she started, and the color
came flooding to her face. 1t was the
marriage license!
See, my darling JOAN" he cried.
L wrong you. l who would have died
to save moments pain, | wrong
you! All, Joan, Joan, it is you who
have wronged mel"
She stood for a second looking first
at his white, haggard, handsome face,
and then at the creased and torn
license; then, with a cry, she threw
up her arms and staggered forward,
the one word "Forgive," upon her
lips.
He caught her as she fell and for a
moment held her against his heart,
while silence more eloquent than
words reigned between them.
Then, in the half dusk that had fal.
len upon the evening, he, still holding
her in his arms as he sat beside the
glowing fire, told her the sad story of
her supposed death, and she made
plain to him how in all innocence
BERTHE had parted them.
| They sat hand in hand, heart to
heart; there was so much to tell, such
| joy and sorrow and wonderment in the
telling, that oi,en the tears blinded
] Joan's eyes and choked her voice, and
he would catch her to him and kiss
he dewy eyes and trembling lips.
How wonderful it seemed, that story
of the dead girl whom he had taken
for his lost love!
How wonderful the way in which
fate had apparently played into
Mordaunt Royce's hands.
But now the dark clouds had rolled
away and the sky was blue and bril-
liant with the snshine of future happi,
ness.
After night cometh the morning,
and attire sorrow joy!" murmurej
Joan. IF our troubles have brought
us no other good, dearest, they have
taught us how true and deep our love
was, seeing that it has braved the
storm and outlived the tempest"
"Ah," he said, as the shadow of all
that he had suffered swept over him
and darkened even that moment OF
bliss, "but it was nearly wrecked
Joan! We were beth so Nearly
Lost!
The minutes fled, feather-footei