Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-11-08

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| bing to his heart. He loved this
woman as he loved his own soul, and
she was false to him. He could have
sworn it there and then.
"I'll have her life for IT," he Kissed
through his clinched teeth, his face
growing black with rage.
He determined, however, to bide his
time. The stormy day seemed end
less. Dinner. with it's necessary for
malities, was living torture; but they
got through it, and night came, wild
with wind and rain.
'I'm going to Corbet Hall. Don't sit
up for me, Hildegard; l may not re-
turn tonight"
His lips grew white and quivered as
he spoke, and his eyes shone with a
dull, lurid fire. She drew near him
and put her arm about his shoulder.
Must you go, Guy? The night bids
fair to be stormy, and you don't seem
to be we'll Can't you defer the rider"
NO"
His voice was thick and hoarse
The touch Of her arm, the soft light
of her eyes, fairly maddened nim
"You are not WE'LL" she went on;
cor something has gone wrong with
you. What is it, lover"
She bent forward and touched her
sweet mouth to his forehead. He
could have cried out in his agony.
He threw her from him and hurried
out of the room.
Lady Hildegard olasped her white
hands.
ooh, surely he does not suspect the
TRUTH" she sobbed out.
Midnight came. The larches bent to
the fury of the blast; the sky was
thickly clouded. Venus, shining above
the Monks Tower, could not be seen.
But just as the tower bell strucA,
Lady Hildegard, wrapped in a long
mantle, stole down the broad STAIR
way, and made her way out into the
gloom. Like a phantom she flew
across the windy lawn and up the
craggy eminence upon which the
Monks Tower stood She reached
the spot, and tall figure came forth
to meet her
"Hildegard, is it you?"
eyes, Dugald."
"My faithful Hildegard, I scarcely
dared hope you would come through
all this wild weather"
He took her in his arms, shook the
rain from her mantle, and kissed her
white face.
A hoarse, mad cry, like the growl Of
an enraged beast, startled them;
lantern flashed out upon the darkness,
and Sir Guy, in a frenzy of rage,
leaped between the pair.
"Die, traitress! false, perjured
wife!" he cried, and his keen knife
flashed right and left.
Lady Hildegard sank down, with
piteous cry.
you've murdered her!" shouted
her companion, Selling upon the bar
onet, and wrestling the knife from his
/ hand; "and your life shall pay the
Forfeit"
But the wife's shrill voice arrested
his hand.
ooh, Dugald, stop; there is some
terrible mistake! Guy, husband, where
are your"
Sir Guy went down and raised her
in his arms.
ooh, Guy, you know him, surely,
my poor brother, Dugald?"
Great Heaven! You came here to
meet him, Hildegard?"
eyes," her voice failing her, my
poor, erring brother. I must tell the
truth now, Dugald; I wanted to tell
it in the beginning, but you wouldn't
consent. Oh, Guy, be merciful, for
your poor wife's sake!"
What do you mean, Hildegard? For
Heavens sake, speak QUIT" cried Sir
Guy in an agony of doubt.
Her voice fell to whisper, but she
put up her arms End drew his face
down to hers.
poor Dugald, he always was unfor-
tunate. He got into debt and difficult
ties, and oh, Guy, he has forged your
name for thousand pounds. Exposure
threatened him, and he came to me,
but he wouldn't let me tell you. Dear
husband, forgive him, for my sake!"
Oh, Heaven, yes, I forgive him!
But, my wife, doubted you, and I
have killed you!"
She drew him closer, till her cold
lips touched his.
Darling, am true to you," and with
the whisper on her lips, she tainted III
his arms.
They bore her to The Larches, the
stricken husband and the repentant
brother, and for weeks thereafter she
lay at the door of death.
But Sir Guys prayers were avail
ing in the end-she lived, and in time
regained all her old bloom and won
drous, winning beauty; but no matter
how much she was admired, her hus-
band was forever cured of his jeal-
ouSy.-New York Weekly.