Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-07-07
LORRIE
BY Charles Carvice

Countess OF Latcham-
Is it the silence, the immovable at
titude of the girl that strikes her, or
what? Whatever it may be, Greta
grows suddenly quiet and grave.
COCO and tell papa Jack
"Yes," exclaims Lorrie. Go and
tell the village. Have the bells rung
put it in the newspaper"
Jack stares from one to the other
Greta takes him by the arm.
GO away, Jack" she says, softly:
then, as he goes she approaches the
slim, girlish figure by the fire. "Lor-
riei" is all she says, but it is enough
With a low cry Lorrie staggers and
falls forward, her head resting upon
her arms.
"Lorrie. Oh, my dear, my dear!"
murmurs Greta, putting her arms
round her.
flush. Don't speak to me.-don't
touch mel" pants Lorrie.
"Oh, Lorrie!"
Hush! Don't speak to me-yet!
Oh, Heaven!-is it true? Greta, is it
true?" and she grasps Greta's arm
spasmodically. Tell me! Do you
think is is true? People tell such lies!
1t may be "a mistake!" and her
eyes-grow suddenly larger and Deep
er, as it seems-devoured Greta's
shocked face with feverish eagerness
Il think it is true" whispers Greta.
"Oh. Lcrrie! Oh, my dear-why didn't
! you tell me? never guessed
A hoarse, grating laugh breaks
from the white, strained lips.
"Why didn't tell you? Why should
l tell you? 1t was nothing-t was
nothing between us. Nothing, except
that"
She broke Off and hid her face for
a moment, then she raised it again
defiantly.
WHY didn't tell you that he made
me love him?- that | loved him with
all my heart and soul? Because we
agreed that We would not tell-that
we would be free. Dc you hear?-
free Don't blame him; he was free.
There was nothing between us. He
was free to go away and make love
to anv other wOman-tC propose to
Diana-and he has done it! That is
all: Why do you look at me like
that? "-fercely, but with a catch in
her voice. Don't pity me, Greta; l
could not bear it! won't say word!
Just let things go on as they were
before-befoTe he camel
Then sudden revulsion comes, and
with a low cry she falls forward and
leans her head on Greta's plying bos-
ON.
ooh, Greta! 1t is of no use to try
and brave it out! Ny heart is
brcken!" she murmurs, family.
Broken, Greta, it is true l did love
him; ah, l love him still! And he, he
swore-swore that he loved me, and
that he would not marry any one else
but me, even to save Latcham And
now, now, Greta-are all men like
that? Do all of them forget in few
short weeks?' and she clutches
Greta's arm and clings to it, hiding
her white, straining face from the
plying, tear-dimmed eyes.
Hush! hush! There may be some
mistakei"
mo, there is no mistake. can see
it all. l can understand how she
| caught him. Caught him! DO you hear,
Greta? If he had stayed here with
me, could have kept him! But they
took him away from me, they threw
him into her arms, and-and she has
stolen him from mel"
What can l say? Lorrie, nv dear,
my dear. never guessed. Oh, Heaven
will punish him"
No, it will not retorts the hoarse.
strained voice. Men never are pun
1shed for such things He will marry
her and her money, and will be happy
She will teach him to love her in time
while I-I-Oh, Greta. if could only
die!"
My poor Lorrie. When-when did
this happen between you and him?"
When? years ago; ages ago. No,
only a few weeks, few weeks, The
night OF the races Oh, Heaven, I
can see him now can hear every
word he said. 1t was the first time
any one had ever spoken to me like
that. and am not likely to forget it.
But he has forgotten it, and very
quickly"
He is cruel and wicked man. :"
How dare you say that? Cruel,
wicked? No. 1t is not his fault. 1t is
not his fault. 1t is theirs:
that hard-hearted old father
and hers-DiaRa Melford's. Oh Greta
| won't hear word against him He
would have gone on loving me if they
had not got him away. 1t was not his
I fault, or mine-but Fate's. And now
what am to do? Tell me, Greta. l
can't go on living day after day with
nothing to do but think, think. Greta:
what shall ] co? Oh,if one only could
Gle. What is the use of living when
ones heart is broken, and cne's life is
over?