New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-05-18

why he must suffer; and the answer
was, lie was the son of the dead woman
who had once held her place he was
the heir to the property she coveted for
her son; he was handsome, and be-
loved by Sir Austen as her son could
never be. Everyone seemed to look up
to him, and the servants adored him.
If any little thing happened to him, the
whole neighborhood was III q tumult
Before many days were over, she could
not help seeing that neither she nor her
little son was Of any consequence when
compared with the well-loved young
master. All faces frightened at the
sound of his CHEEKY voice and his genial
laugh. The moment he entered a room
Sir Austen would lay down his paper
or book, and, looking up with an air of
relief, would say
"Well, Ross, where have you been
Whom have you seenp What have
you been doing p
She could not expect the same atten-
! ton to be paid to her little son in his
cradle but it was gall and wormwood
to see it paid to Ross. If she could have
had her way, she would have swept all
memory of the dead Spanish wife and
her son from Larchton Mere. If she
had dared, she would have had removed
from the wall the lovely picture of Inez,
Lady Cumnor, taken in the first year
of her married life. She hated it for
its sweet, sad beauty, and she hated
every other trace of the dead woman
whom Sir Austen had loved so well.
Once, and once only, did she give
him a glimpse of these feelings. They
were looking at the pictures-he was
explaining to her how he came to
have so many excellent ones-when she
paused before this picture of dead Inez.
EDO you think this face very beau
tiful ?" she asked, affecting not to
know whose it was.
He told her, adding that he thought
it one of the loveliest he had ever seen.
A flash that might have warned him
came into the cold blue eyes.
Do you like it better than minep''
she asked. "Do you, Austen?"' He
looked at her in wonder; pain and an
ger were in the ring of her voice.
s'Answer me, Austen. Do you like it
better than mine?''
s:Your face is before me, Hester"
he said, gravely, 'with sparkling eyes,
ruddy lips and golden hair. twenty
years since her face was hidden forever
from the sight of men. I shall see it
no more on this side of the grave.'
His solemn words awed her for a few
moments. Was it worth while to be
jealous of this face which was now but
dust and ashes? Yet he had loved it,
and better perhaps than hers. She put
her arm coaxingly round her husband 8
neck.
Austen, if you had seen us together
your first wife, Inez de Luna, and
mysef-tell me quite honest]y--you
will not offend me in the least which
would you have thought the more beau
tiful-that is, supposing that you think
me beautiful at allp'
"You know you are beautiful, Hes
ter. Why do you ask me such ques-
tions?''
II want to Know she cried; and he
did not see that her red lips were parted
as though she gasped for breath.
1nez was perhaps the more beauti.
ful," " he said, gently; :: but your beauty
pleases me, Hester.''
"And which do you love bestP' she
asked. ''Tell me. I must know
lnez was my first love, Hester, and
there is no other like it; but I love you
with all my heart.''
He bent down to kiss her, but, even
with his lips on hers, she vowed that
she would revenge herself on the dead
woman's son.
Lady Gunner found her task very
easy one. Ross had been so completely
master at the mere that he was con.
stantly forgetting his new and strange
position. Not that he ever once tailed
in respect and Difference to Lady Cum.
nor-that would have been impossible
to him-he was by nature too chival-
rous; but he was continually forgetting
himself, and it would have been won
derful had it been otherwise. He had
been absolute master for those LONG
months during which Sir Austen had
been abroad. His father had neve,
interfered much with his authority
when he was at home he was quite con
tent to let the reins of power rest in the
hands of his son. Ross was young and
full of energy; he was so keen, So
quick, he saw everything at a glance
and it was much easier for Sir Austen
to sit in his easy-chair while his son
rode about the estate, arranged as tc
the shooting and fishing, and gave in.
terviews to the steward and agents. Il
u dinner-party had to be given, it was
much easier to say, Gross, just say
who shall come and send out Ike invi.
tations," than it was to do it all him.
self.
Sir Austen had a thousand good quail.
tiles; he was honorable and generous to
fault, but indolent. It was a good.
natured, polished kind of Incidence,
that was rather charm than otherwise.
1t never did him or any one else the
least harm; he never neglected any.
thing that was of vital consequence
yet, at the same time, he never did him.
self that which he could induce any one
else to do for him. That was WIN.
even before he went abroad, very much
of his power had already fallen into the
hands of his son; and, now that lady
"a perfect stranger, rival, as it were,
OF his dead mother, one who was to take
her place and name-had come amongst
them, it was hard for Ross all at once
to reconcile himself to the change.
The first approach to conflict be-
tween Ross and Lady Cumnor arose a
few days after Christmas, when, during
breakfast. Lady Viola spoke of wanting
some silk for embroidery from Larch.
ton; and Ross, hearing what she said,
rang to order the carriage to be at the
door at certain time.
II shall be very pleased to accom-.
pany you." he said. perhaps Lean
will join u.s.
Lady Gunner, who was present, said
:" I do not think it will be possible fol
you to have the carriage this morning,
Lady Viola. I am very sorry; but
made an engagement yesterday which
must keep
She did not look at Ross or address
herself to him. His face flushed, and
his whole heart rose in hot, passionate
rebellion. Her ladyship was quite cool
and calm. Evidently she had prepared
for the struggle.
81 beg your pardon" he said. hasti.