Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-05-19

THAT may be" he said. Il do not
know why it is, but you remind me of
my mother mere than any one have
ever met. She was gentle and yet
} full OF sweet wisdom, tender and sim.
pie in her manner, as you are. viii
you come to the gallery now. Mrs.
Rivers?"
let me have two pleasures instead
Of one" she said Il take with me
the memory Of your mothers picture I
should prefer coming another time to
visit the gallery"
She longed to be away; the strain
upon her nerves was so great she
could not endure much more. She
must go out into the leafy solitudes
of the woods, where she could cry aloud
in her anguish and none could hear.
How do you like little Lance?" said
Rupert as he went with her TO the
door He will be a handsome boy.
| wish my lady would let me touch
him sometimes she always seems
afraid that shall break him"
She smiled adieu; she had not
strength for another word Down
the broad steps through the lawn and
the pleasure grounds, into the park
she went where the birds sung as
though no sorrow had ever darkened
the world.
No one was there She could weep
to her hearts content: she could cry
aloud; she could call upon Heaven
\ for help, and human eyes would not
see her She plunged still more deep.
~ into the leafy shade; the tall trees
grew wild there-their branches were
intwined like giant arms caressing;
the blue sky was almost hidden by the
dense foliage flowers grew sweet and
wild at the foot Of the trees; and there
she knelt. in the abandonment of her
sorrow. 1t was a luxury to be able
TO fling herself ON the ground and
weep at will. She had controlled her.
self so long, she had driven back the
burning tears from her eyes, she had
held with an iron hand the vast sor-
row that was hers, that now there was
even a luxury in her passion of grief
She leaned her desoate head against
the ivied trunk Of an cid oak tree;
she clasped her tender arms round it,
In this the supreme hour of her aban.
donment and grief, there was no hu.
man heart for her to lean upon no
kindly hand to wipe away the tears
from her aching eyes.
When she could weep no longer, she
That was reserved for another day;
tried to think The full consequences
of her act had not come to her yet
but she saw plainly now the wrong
she had done to Lady Beatrice and her
child
She must guard her secret with
double zeal now; she had a double
motive for 1t. Her son revered. nay,
idolized her memory. Lady Beatrice
had concealed from him all that she
used To taunt her with For very
gratltude's sake she must guard her
rivals fair name. Because Lady Bea.
trice had spared her son, she would
spare her, let the temptation be what
II might.
There was no fear now, she said to
herself. She had stood with her hus,
band in their own home. and he had
not recognized her. Sh" nad stood
with her son before her own picture,
and he had not known her. She had
held the child of her mortal foe in her
arms. and that woman still believed
her dead. There was no fear, but
If discovery should ever come what /,
should she do? Then, indeed would
Lord Selwyn turn round and curse
her; then would her son blush to hear
her name,
The words that had driven her to
the wrong were--"lf she were dead. he
wcnld be free," She had forgotten
what he could do with his freedom;
that with 1t he could love and marry
another. Let It be wrong as it might, |
she must carry II through now She
only prayed Heaven the punishment OF
1t might fall On her alone.
What would be said of her should 1t
be discovered? All, they would per-
haps be mercful, they who told the
story, and say it was womaus error
after all; "A mistaken notion mis-