Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-12-01
TRUE HEARTS
Are More Than COrOnets. and Simple
Faith than Norman BIOOC.

WOiuIy he never spoke W II6 Vi IoF6
or marriage, never told me | should
make q good match, never apparently
thought Of anything of the kind. His
sole idea was my happiness. My gov
erness, too, was Of simple, unWorldly
disposition. My thoughts were never
occupied, as are the thoughts of most
young girls, by love or marriage. /
never even reflected about the fortune
that was to be mine. enjoyed life
after the fashion of birds and butter
flies, content to exist and to be happy,
without care or thought, without heed
for the future, or plans or schemes of
any kind. / sometimes think it would
have been better if my uncle or my
goYerness had spoken to me about love
or marriage; but they did not, and
Lady Ashton was the first to impress
upon my mind that must make q
good match, and that with my enor-
nous advantages / ought not to think
Of any body lower than q peer.
/ was introduced to Lord Fitz-John
ut Lady AshtOn's grand ball He adj
mired me very much. but | felt SUI
premely Indifferent about him. '"The
best match in England ," I heard him
called; and found that his attentions
made me more distinguished than
ever. The girls were all jealous and
envious. Lady Ashton congratulated
me and overwhelmed me with fattery.
| knew nothing of love; not the faintest
shadow of it had ever fallen across me;
my heart was asleep. And when Lord
Fitz-John asked me one autumn even
ing to be his wife, consented, without
more thought or heed than a butterfly
gives to the flower that for the moment
it seeks. | did not know that there
was anything higher or holier than the
vague liking | had for my affianced
husband. After that interview in which
he told me that he loved me, and ask
ed me to be his wife, we spoke no
more of love.
My Mayfair friends congratulated
and enyled me, but no one ever called
into question the wisdom of my en-
agement--none, save my cousin, Kate
Walton.
Duronmere, in Westmoreland, Is one
of the most picturesque and beautiful
places in England. The hall, q stately
old building, is surrounded by q fine
park and scenery Of a wild and roman
tic description. No pen could ever do
justice to that glory of summer foliage,
the smiling lakes, the purple hills, the
blue sky and dark woodlands. Duron-
mere derives its name from an immense
mere or lake that bounds the north of
the park. 1t is broad, deep sheet of
water, bearing white lilies on its bosom,
and shadowing in its depth the blue sky
and the thick woods. In the middle
there is a large island, and on this is
land stands q beautiful little cottage
ornee, known by the name of Lady
Walton's Folly" Many years ago one
of the Waltons of Duronmere married
beautiful and wealthy lady. The le-
gend is that in the great great house
she committed some crime, for she
never dared to sleep there, so she built
this little cottage on the island, fur
nished it with every luxury, and, when
her husband came to Duronmere, she,
with her guests, made her home at the
Folly.
Soon after l had arrived at the hall [
descended to the drawing-room and
found large party of guests assembled.
My uncle introduced me, and presently
| found myself claimed by my lover,
Lord Fitz John.
"This is very jolly, Ernestine-you
know, this kind of thing--amOng the
lakes, too-quite romantic-yery kind
of your uncle to invite me, I'm sure. !"
The effect of his lordships enthusi-
asnl was somewhat marred by the fact
that in the midst of his speech he yield
ed to a most terrible and unmistakable
yawn. He led my aunt into dinner,
but l had the supposed happiness of
sitting near him. [ did not pay much
attention to the other guests. for [ was
most unromantically hungry, and be-
sides | was engrOssed by my cousin
Kate. | do not remember having dis
tinguished the sound of any voice save
hers and my lovers.
After dinner, instead of lingering
about the drawing room, we went out
on to the lawn. How pleasant it all
was-the soft grass, the stately trees
under whose foliage we sat to rest, the
lake and hills in the distance The
evening was warm, but the breeze whis-
pered among the trees and rippled the
surface Of the water, and the perfume
of thousand flowers was waited to US.
All this was indeed a different world
from gay. brilliant, artificial London.
Glow do you like it all, Ernestine?"
said Kate, coming up to me as [ stood
alone under large plantain tree
watching the changing summer sky.
THE life we lead here is different from
yours"
"And more beautiful" replied Il
am glad / came, Kate. | am glad to
change gaslight for moonlight, the per-
fume of art for this fragrant breeze,
and the Lady's Mile for canter on
this turf"
Mature will never cease to charm"
said deep musical voice behind me,
while hearts are human"
turned in surprise-I had not OBJ
served the speaker join him. I saw
before me a face-how shall | describe
it? not the face of an Apollo. l re.
member once to have seen the picture
of Savonarola, and l thought of it as l
gazed upon Eustace Vivian for the first
time-a face wherein high and holy,
pure and beautiful thoughts were writ
ten; eyes whose clear, calm depths
were unruffied; lips that were sweet,
sensitive and firm; anoble head, proud
ly set; waving mass of chestnut hair;
a figure erect and manly, and voice
whose very tone was a charm. As,
from among heap of common flowers,
a kingly white lily-from among heap
of worthless stones, rare diamond