Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-04-20

kind word of consolation anu
gratitude but some imp will not per.
/ nit ner TO let well enough alone, but
impels her to add, as she thinks the
top stone of the edifice.
! my dear" She says, Il shall always
feel grateful to YOU for listening to
me so patiently. and sacrificing your
self to my sons welfare. am very
! grateful very grateful, indeed. | can't
/ utter the usual commonplace truisms
about speedy forgetfulness, but you
/ will let me say that ! hope, that | con,
| fdently believe, this-this little in.
cident in yor life will soon pass away.
! You have known each other so short a
| time that it is impossible the feeling
that has sprung up can have very
! strong root. And do hope you will
| forgive me. ! think ought to tell
you that | have not spoken of my
/ sons future on mere speculation.
Until you came across his path | hao
strong hopes-and these hopes will
now flourish-that shall see him
married to young lady whose posi-.
ton in life will be of the greatest as
| sistance to him, am sure If you
knew more of my young relative, Miss
Vavasour, you would like and esteem
| her"
! The young girl she is rorturng So
complacently sits writhing under her
hand, still silent, but the eyes, which
she cannot see, have grown harder
and fiercer and the lips, tightly shul
together, are white and quivering.
But we must not be selfish, !" goes
on the proud, patronizing voice; I'VE
must not forget the services you nave
rendered us. trust that though any
tie Of relationship between us is i'm
possible, we shall be friends, great
friends And, who knows, we may be
fortunate enough 10 find a more suit
able and happier match for you than
my son could possibly have prov"
She gets no further for with a sud
denness that causes her ladyship to
finish up as If she had trodden on a
chance nail, May rises TO her full
height, and with crimson face and
flashing eyes, with her soft, witChing
beauty transformed into the loneliness
Of a Medea, Confronts her.
Stop" she says, not loudly, but
low and pantingly, with her small
hand pressed to her heaving bosom.
Stop! You shall not--you shall not
say another word. How dare you in
suit me? Was it not enough that you
had gained your end, that you had
robbed me of the only great happiness
have ever known? was it not enough
that you should humiliate me in the
aust before your proud, miserable,
worldly plots and schemes? was it not
enough that | was in the dust under
your feet? No You could not be
content, you must--you must trample
on mel"
Painting, she is perforce compelled
to pause for breath, but she will not
let the white and trembling woman
speak yet.
NO." she says, II have listened to
you, have listend patiently to every
cruel, scornful word. Now you shah
listen to me. You came to plead fol
your sons happiness; you say that
shall ruin him and make him miser.
able. What have you ever done to
make him happy? Was he happy be
fore we've met? / would believe
his word againsl yours. And now,
not content with dividing us, you in
suit me by thrusting another girl in
my face. | am to give him up to Miss
Rose Vavasour. | will not do i'll
will not do 1t. You say you love aim,
You forget, when YOU heaped insult
upon insult on me, that il was pos.
sible |, too. loved him. | do love him!
and will not give him up. No, /
would have done ii for his sake and
might have done it even for yours.
but"-ald a CLEAN of honest scorn
flashes, like lightning, in the bright
hazel eyes-"not for Miss Vava.
sour's!"
For a moment her ladyship is too
overwhelmed to retort. With her
mouth wide open--like the most
vulgar Of mortals--she stares In
speeches. establishment at the pas
sionate outburst, then she arouses her
numbed faculties, and her thin face
grows hard and set, her eyes fash
not warmly as do Mays, but like colo
steel and she speaks:
so, this Is your decision, you win
not give him up, as you so ap,
propriately term it. You have en-
SHARED a good parti, and you mean to
keep it, Well, | can scarcely be
justified in expressing surprise, much
less disappointment. might have
known that the interview would end in
this way. You will not give him up
You intend to be mistress OF the
Void in the fact of the world and his
mother, Take care. You have not
yet gained your end. | would advise
YOU to hasten the conclusion Per.
suade him to marry YOU. and learn for
yourself. by bitter experience, how in
eSitable misery follows on such a
union. Marria2e," she echoes har