American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-06-04


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 ?"
She could not expect the same attcn-
ton to be paid to her little son in his
cradle but it was gall and NORWOOD
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 q glimpse of these feelings. They
were looking at the picturcs-he was
explaining to her how he came to
have so many excellent ones-when she
| paused before this picture of dead Inez.
"Do you think this face very 'beau-
tifulp p she asked, affecting not to
know whose it was.
He told. her, adding that he thought
it one of the lovcliest 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.
ANSWER me, Austen. DO you like it
better than mine?''
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. shall see it
no more on this side of the grave"
His solemn words awed her for 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 s
neck.
Austen, if you had seen us together
your first wife, Inez de Luna, and
myself-tell me quite honestly-you
will not offend me in the least--which
would you have thought the more beau
tiful-that il, supposing that you think
me beautiful at all?'
You know you are beautiful, Hes
ter. Why do you ask me such ques-
tions?"
81 want to know" she cried; and he
did not see that her red lips were parted
as though she gasped for breath.
"Inez was perhaps, the more beauti-
full" he said, gently" but your beauty
pleases me. Hester"
land which do you love bestP' she
asked. ''Tell me. 1 must know"
Inez was my first love, Hester, and
there is no other like it; but 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 Cumnor 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 failed
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 never
interfered much with his authority;
when he was at home he was quite con-
tent to let the rcins 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 glance;
and it was much easier for Sir Austen
to sit in his easy-chair while his son
rode about the estate, arranged as to
the shooting and fishing, and gave in
terviews to the steward and agents. If
dinner-party had to be given, it was
much easier to say, "Ross, just say
who shall come and send out the 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 q 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 why,
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 Cumuor arose a
few days after Christmas, when, during
breakfast. Lady Viola spoke of wanting
some silk for embroidery from Larch-
toni; and Ross, hearing what she said,
rang TO order the carriage to be at the
door at a certain time.
II shall be very pleased to accom-
pany YOU" he said. Perhaps Lean
will join u.s."
Lady Cumnor, who was present, said:
do not think it will be possible for
you to have the carriage this morning.
Lady Viola / am very sorry; but 1
made an engagement yesterday which l
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.
Il beg your pardon" he said, hasti-
ly: 81 forgot. OF course should have
asked your permission. Will you ex-
cuse me ?''
6 YES" she replied, raising a calm,
impassive face to his-'scertainly will
excuse you. You did not think of the
altered state of-things. did you?'
"No, that did notr'
cit was q most natural mistake"
said her ladyship, with bland patron
age-.'most natural. You have. of
course, been in the habit of ordering
the carriage whenever you wished. 1t
will be at your service now whenever l
do not want it."