Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-02-03

- hS SpOhS lie LOOh Tic ACdF lest
mallet, and with a passion utterly un,
describable struck first at one beau
tiful face and then at another, until
the room was filed with the noise OF
falling marble, and the fragments
themselves, as they dropped and
rolled about his feet.
With the mallet in his hand he
went into the garden, made his way
to the shrubbery, where they had
talked so long and joyously, and
raised his destroying mallet before
the face Of statue which he and
Stephen had only that day set up
there.
1t was the statue of the mother
and child which he had worked at so
enthusiastically, and which he had
placed on the very spot in accord
ance with Stella's expressed wish.
But as his mallet was swung back
twinge of regret and remorse struck
across his soul, and with a sigh he
let The mallet fall to his side, gazed
up at the plaintive face of the mother,
and murmured:
"No, it is sorrow and despair itself.
1t shall stand!"
Then he flung the mallet from him,
and, with dropping head, re-entered
the house.
With the same calm seIf-possessfon,
which had settled upon him as the
snow does upon the mountain he as
cended the stairs, and entering the
room slowly and methOdicalIy, put on
his Oyercoat and heavy walking boots.
Then he descended again, went
through every room, locked every door
and, f1inging the keys into the TAR
thermost corner Of the studio, left
the house as desolate and silent as ne
had found it on that Christmas eve
upon which he had met Stella-his
beautiful, cruel and only love-at the
little wicket.
When he got clear of the grounds
he stood, for a moment, and looked
back at the Vale, which was all aIignC
in the clear night, and at a steady,
swinging pace started off on the Lon
don road.
For some few minutes Stella ana
her companion and protector re
manned profoundly silent
Every now ANA then Sir Richards
dark eyes took steaIthy gIances at her
face, but its expression was not en-
cOuraging.
Her eyes were bent upon the
ground, her lips compressed. The hand
which held her wrap around her was
clinched hard and fast as marble up
on her bosom.
Altogether she was as statuesque as
Louis, whom she had felt watching
her retreating form.
But as they neared the Vale the
little frost of despair, broken love,
and disappointment wavered and be-
gan to thaW.
Her lips trembled her hand I'M
clasped and cIasped again spasmOdl-
cally, her eyelids quivered, and Sir
Richard, glancing stealthily again
saw tear slip from under the low
cred lids and fall upon her pale cheek
Then he thought it was time to
speak, and, having learned his part
most thoroughly, he commenced to
take it up at the point at which he
had been compelled to drop it for a
while.
Miss Stella" he muir
INJURED in the softest, most dulcet tone
Of sympathy, do not let your gentle
heart distress itself. The cause is
not worth a tear! Think how merci-
fully you have been permitted to es-
cape a great misfortune. Remember
what vile plotter you have been res
cued from, and look more hopefully,
and-dare I ay?-thankfully upon the
future"
Stella turned her pale face to him.
Sir Richard" she said, in a very
low, flattering voice, 4 am grateful
to you, though I cannot show it, Il
know from what you have rescued me.
For life of misery, chained to one
who would have shared me for the
worthless drOss which has chung to
me like a curse, Oh, that L had been
the poorest peasant on earth rather
than my wealth should have tempted
him to such baseness!"
To be continued.