Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1920-01-08
THE MAN SHE:
LOVED
By Ralph Hamilton
Copyright, 1919, by the Western
Newspaper Union)


in love with her, and when he disap-
peared from Creston without expla-
| nation or farewell word Inez Walters
| felt as though all the sunshine had
| gone out of the world When Alfred
Davis two months later asked her to
become his wife, she told him YEARLY
that she would never marry.
The latter left her chagrined, con-
vinced of the uselessness of a further
appeal and feeling secretly like a
whipped cur. Inez little suspected
that he had been the cause of the evan
ishment of Lisle under a purposeful
Misrepresentation. Davis had played
mean, insidious game and had lost
| out, and what little conscience the
| ardent schemer possessed upbraided
him, for his efforts had gone for moth
| ing.
| Inez Walters became a changed and
| chastened woman. Her sweet serenity
| did not leave her but she locked close
| ly in her heart the secret pain she felt.
realizing that love was a thing of the
past. Bertram Lisle had been her
ideal, and there was no one who could
ever fill his place in her thoughts and
she took up her lonely life as duty
less than as burden.
1t was five years later. when there
came thrill into her life that caused
its currents to drift her into action,
even if it accentuated the fear that
Lisle had never really cared for her.
The weekly newspaper of town called
Wooster, hundred miles away, by
chance came under her observation.
Her heart beat wildly and then slowed
down into dread forlorness as she read
an item telling how Bertram Lisle,
"our esteemed citizen, a rising archi-
tect," in defending a neighbor from
| robbery had been set upon and beaten
by the vicious thieves, and had sus-
tanned injuries that would incapacitate
him from work for many month. The
publication dilated on his heroism and
an appeal to raise subscription fund
was headed with ten dollars. A wife
and little child were mentioned.
Inez Walters felt no jea1ess resent
ment. Her esteem for Lisle as friend
alone was too sincere for that. She
only reflected that the man she loved
was a sufferer, and she would have es-
teemed it boon to nurse him back to
health. She sorrowed for the hard
ship his affection might bring to his
loved ones. Before the week was out
the Wooster publisher received dona-
ton of 81 200, with the restriction
that her identity was not to be re-
vealed
1t was matter of interest to Inez
after that to regularly receive the
| Wooster newspaper. Is weekly is
sues kept pace with the gradual re-
coverv of Bertram Lisle.. There had
been a reference to the princely do
nation that had put him on his feet
| in a substantial business way, an al
fusion to the great blessing the kind
| w mysterious almoner had conferred.
| Then there came an item telling how
Lisle had been appointed superintend-
ent of a construction plant at some
distance and would temporarily spend
| only month-ends with his family.
There came a strong, impelling in
| fuence over Inez to visit Wooster. She
| wondered what kind of a woman Lisle
| had married. Her gentle heart yearned
| towards the little one. She longed to
| Get a closer knowledge of the life
| Lisle led.
When Inez had located the home of
| the Lisles, she was impelled to frame
fiimsy excuse to get within its pre-
cincts. A request for glass of water
| led her to be invited into the cheer
| full parlor of the bright, neat little
cottage by a cheery-faced woman, at
whose side toddled a pretty little girl.
| The color faded from the face of Inez
as among some framed photographs
on the wall she recognized that of the
man she had never forgotten.
Eyes, indeed, we are very happy and
contented here" answered Mrs. Lisle,
in response to a remark on the part
of Inez as to the LONELINESS of the lit
tie place. MY husband had a serious
misfortune, but, ooh! everybody was
so kind and helpful. There was a
stranger, who sent us the means to
tide over our darkest hours. There IS
not day that | do not bless her"
''That is your husband" asked lnez,
indicating the photograph that so
poignantly brought back to her the
memory of Bertram Lisle.
"Oh, dear, no!' replied Mrs. Lisle.
"That is his cousin. They bear the
same name. That is Cousin Walter,
We call him that, which is his middle
name. He has been out West for over
two years. Before that he met with
a disappointment in love that clouded
his life. 1t was a young lady at Cres-
ton, whom he fairly worshiped, only
to be told by successful rival of their
engagement. Cousin Walter is due OF
his regular yearly visit to US today OF
oh thoro bo ie ,oo--sv