Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-03-31


Well, you shall see! There shall not be
a whim of yours ungratified-
"Ah, there it is STILL" murmured
Joan; you treat me as child. | am
a woman."
1.-The best, the sweetest, the dearest
in all the world" he exclaimed,
passionately. Give you up? ] would
rather give up life itself. Did you hear
what / said jusl now TO Emily when
she said in jest there was many slip
between the cup and lip, dearest?"
YES" murmured Joan; 'and the
words, spoken lightly as they were,
set NE thinking, and led me to speak
to you Poor Emily if she only knew.
With an inward curse, Royce
echoed:
Poor Emily! Yes, indeed! She
would be sorry enough if she knew
that few idle words had brought you
such distress, But think no more of it,
dearesti You have laid bare your
heart to NE; you have concealed
nothing" Joan hid her face in her
hands. You have nothing to reproach
yourself for. My freedom is what you
tenderly. "Well, you see I decline it!
No, will not give you up, dearest,
because | cannot AS well ask me to
give up my life ITSELF and l would
soonerlose my life than you. my queen
my wife!"
L no
You have decided?" she said, in a
low voice, and almost solemnly. 81
have laid bare my heart to you; l have
told you all that makes the thought of
tomorrow a misery and a dread to me;
and you have decided?'
YES" he said, his face clearing:
81 have decided! In the future, when
am inclined to be cruel to you, l will
recall these words of yours, and we
will laugh at them together"
Joan rose and stood looking at the
fire. A dull apathy seemed to have
fallen upon her, the apathy of the con-
demned wretch who has said his last
word and received his sentence and
for whom in this world there is no
CLEAN of hope.
You are tired now, dearest" he
said. Il will go. You must go to bed
early and look the beautiful bride to-
morrow"
He held out his hand and drew her
towards him; but at that moment the
door opened and Emily came in.
ooh, beg your pardon she said.
hurriedly; Out
She paused and her face went from
red to white.
Joan looked at her with a ha1f-fear-
full glance. She was overstrung and
nervous.
What is it, Emily?" she said.
ooh, nothing-don't be alarmed! F."
said Emily; 'but there is someone who
wants to see you on important bust
ness"
ITO sec me?" said joan Then she
smiled. ut is MIR. Gifiard with our
agreement about the new theater, l
expect Why don't you let him in,
Emily?"
1T isn't Mr. Giffard," said Emily,
glancing at Mordaunt Royce, who
leaned against the mantel-shelf listen
ing, with his calm, self-possessed smile
concealing all traces of his recent
agitation. 1T is-Ida, dear, you'll
never guess."
Don't give her the trouble" said a
voice, at the sound of which Mordaunt
Royce started forward slightly. 1T is
Miss Mazurka, Miss Trevelyan!"
And that young lady. entered and
stood regarding Mordaunt Royce with
bland smile.
His face flushed holly for moment,
then he came forward with a bow.
Joan, as she heard the name, felt a
thrill of pain run through her. This
was the woman whom Stuart Villiars
was going to marry What did she
want with her, Joan?
| But with an effort she crushed down
/ the sharp misery and jealousy. and in
her graceful. gentle way crossed the
/ room towards her.
/ Miss Iazurka bowed, her eyes fixed
on Joan's face in an inqulring fashion
then, as if something in its beauty and
/ sadness had touched her, she held out
her hand.
Il humbly beg your pardon for in
/ truding at this late hour, Miss Trevel
yam" she said. Il know it is almost
objectionable. but l wanted to see YOU
on important business, and as / heard
that you are going to be married to
morrow-you are. aren't your"
Yes" said Joan, in low voice and
without change OF color.
And to Mr.. AIordaunt Royce,
heart" said Miss Mazurka. with q
sweet smile.
Mordaunt Royce bowed as easily
and coOlly as possible.
"Ah," and Miss Mazurka breathed
the ejaculation as If she wished them
every happiness in it. We'll, | was
rightly informed. wasn't 1? And, Of
course. if You are going to be married
tomorrow. why, you'll disappear from
mortal ken-as we say on the stage
for two or three weeks, and my bust
ness being important
Too important TO wait a week o.