Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-07

had ever met, for his wife had never
attracted him or appealed to the intel
lectual side Of his nature as Mrs
Grenville did; and alasl he knew now
that the feeling he had had for his
wife was but purely physical passion
born for her beauty. She could never
have held his mind-she was too shall
low, too vain.
After that conversation with Lady
Grahame, Walton's eyes were opened
to the true state of his feelings for
Mrs. Granville, but as yet he gave her
no hint. First no must tell her his
story, yet he shrank from the idea Of
laying bare the shameful past before
that pure soul.
The days gllded swiftly away, swift
even in their monotony. Alden, that
barren-looking spot, with It's cluster Of
red-roofed dwellings, lying low On the
shore-all that can be seen from the
steamer as it lies at anchor-had been
passed, the Parramatta had steamed
through the Red Sea, and was rapidly
nearing Suez.
It was couple of evenings later;
Suez was left behind, and the PARA
malta had entered the canal. Several
passengers had remained on deck to
view the entrance, though to a good
many the sight was no novelty. Among
the former were Walton and Mrs.
Grenville. The big searchlight affixed
to the steamers bows threw a brilliant
glare ahead, and lighted up the dim,
sandy banks Of the desert, past which
they glided.
Walton and his companion leaned
side by side over the rail, and talked
in a fragmentary manner, but there
was an information in his voice, ten
derness in his gray eyes that made her
heart beat and stirred her pulses
strangely. One little hand lay near
his, and suddenly his closed on it, and
he raised 1t to his lips and kissed It
passionately.
my darling" he whispered "vio-
let, love you. Will you be my wife?
Speak. to me, darling; tell me 1 have
not hoped in vain"
For a moment. as he put his arm
round her and drew her to him, she
yielded to his embrace. Then she hur-
riedly drew herself away.
"Wait until tomorrow" she MUIR
INJURED. I'll will tell you then, If you
still care to hear"
Care to hear!' he cried passionate
ly. Child, don't you guess how much
I love you?"
But with a sad little smile she
fitted from his side, and was lost in
the shadows Of the deck.
The next day the Parramatta was
still in the canal, gliding along its sin
uous windings. All through that long,
hot day-or the earlier portions Of it
1t almost seemed as If Mrs. Grenville
wanted to avoid Major Walton. She
remained in. her cabin under the plea
Of headache, and it was now nearly
5 o'clock. To Walton-in his lovers
Impotence that day had seemed end
less, with it's usual canal incidents of
little Arab boys running along the
banks beside the slowly moving steam
er, shouting for backsheesh; or the oc-
casional appearance on the banks Of a
solitary Arab and his camel; or a
whole herd Of camels gathered to-
gether, crouching in the sand, giving
an old world, biblical aspect to the
scenery.
But punctually at 5 o'clock, Mrs.
Grenville appeared on deck, looking
very lovely in her white dress, though
her face was pale and heavy shadows
rested under the gray-blue eyes. Wal
ton, to whom her coming was as a
glimpse Of paradise, hurried forward
to meet her, and he carried her deck
chair to secluded corner, shaded
from the glare Of the afternoon sun,
which was now creeping to its rest.
They were more or less quite alone,
for most Of the passengers were below
enjoying siestas, and Walton drew a
chair near to his companions.
'Well, Violet, which is it to be?" he
whispered. You don't know what
tortures Of Impotence and uncertainty
l have suffered since last night. Is it
to be-yesw and he tried to read his
answer in her averted eyes.
She was deadly pale, and her slender
hands trembled as they lay in her lap.
wait" she lnurmured family. 81
1 have something to tell you before
give you my answer, something that
you ought to know. If after-you still
care, I-will-say yes"
my darling" he cried. violet,
only say you love me little, and
don't care for anything else"
A little flush and faint smile
frightened her face.
Eyes, II do care for you," she
whispered. More than I thought
could ever care for any one. I feel 1
can trust you, lean on you, respect
you, and you do not know what all
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