River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-26

Lady Lydia was woman thoroughly dis
gusted with so-Cllled society men, the ma
jority Of whom she considered either insipid,
or heartless; while she looked upon all as
..41re or less selfish.
Being . girl of quick perceptions, she gen
orally managed TO form tOlerably correct
opinion Of a mans character during the first
few interviews with hun.
She was a woman of strong physique,
strong wall and strong intellect. An only
child and the owner Of enormous property,
she was the target for the fiattery and SCI
lshaims Of an hundred designing advent
urers. Many Of her admirers were sincere
! IN their devotion, however, for her dispo-
sition and mental end0wments were not one
whit inferior 70 her physical and pecuniary
attractions. But she never yet had seen
any one who had inspired her with any thing
ike deep interest; and she was too sin
care, and possessed far too mucn inLivid-
uaiity Of character, TO desire a match for
mere honor or convenicnce's sake If she
/ ever thought Of marriage at all-and it was q
subject that rarely troubled her her future
husband was clearly defined in her magma
ton as a man whom she could love, respect
and. perhaps, fear.
She, too, had been struck with the sad
ness and fine expression of Fairfax's
/ countenance on that eventful night at the
/ Marchioness'
l When the mar was under the influence of
I any unusual or thrilling excitement, as he
b was during that evening, his entire manner
1 was strikIngly courteous, refined and digni-
fed. He never appeared TO better adj
1 vantage than when suffering pain, mental or
| physical
With a wOman's eagerness TO solve a
mystery, she desired to learn his history.
y,
mystery connected with it. Why had he
I been so disturbed At Natalie's appearances.
+ Them again, he had actually all but .'cutn
/ her-not Intentionally, she supposed; thus
making his action the more annoying, be-
+ cause Of his Observation-Disclosures.
+ At any rate, whatever the cause, her
thoughts were continually revcrting to
+ Fairfax. and she found herself making the
4 resolve TO see more Of him, and also to
/ fathom his relations with the Princess.
+ But fate, in the shape of Fairfax's willy
note, had forbidden her proposed conf
dental little chat with Natalie upon this
/ eventful afternoon.
/ Only yesterday Lydia had written a
/ pleasant little note 10 her ''hy-awayn
+ friend Richard, inviting him to a dinnert the
/ following evening, and begging him to
I bring his friend, Mr.. Fairfax, if he liked;
+
/ Cursng his fate and using some similar
+ associative expressions with regard TO the
+ headstroag and obstinate Fairfax. whose
+ inexplicable conduct was thus Willingly
I casting away 50 magnificent an opportunity,
f Oxford sat down, grinding his teeth and
! with tears Of anger IN his eyes, wrote po-
/ lite reply 10 ydia, regretting that Fairfax
nad left for Hayre the evening previous
+ with tho intention of sailing this sei q dag
i for America and that he himself was
+ obliged TO depart IN a few hours for Paris,
4 whence he would soon leave either for En-
+ gland OF for Switzerland
# This turn Of Affairs. while il ANNOYED
I lydia. only served to make her more deter
i mined. and, during her ride to Dol, she
t came 10 the COZ clusi0n that, il she would
f gain any Roadway IN learning the history Of
+ this young American. she must make her
I gay young c0Untry1nan the objective point
( Of her attack.
At Dol, Of course, she fund no aunt
+ Blanche. and no explanation % thai Iady's
+ non-appearauce. Whereup0n the energetic
f girl set about solving this lteE mystery.
f D2shing Of a hasty telegraph message,
+ she babe hCr coachman hand il to the OPP
orator in the depot. That official. the mo
f ment he glanced AZ I.ydia's signature, gave
i the coachraaR a note that he declared was
{ intended for his mistress.
f Tearing open the letter, Lydia read:
+ This Is simply a Flsss 70 draw the Lady
+ Lydia ont Of the way. Her friend, the Prin-
f cess Natalie, has been abducted kindly
make known the news at Chateau Dor,
urging the uselessness Of ny.seaueh for
her The inclosed note is FOR Madame Y. p
To explain the letters having been in his
+ possession, the operator quietly handed
/ Lydia large envelope, bearing the adj
dress; Telegraph Operator, r. r. Station,
Dol On sip Of paper inclosed therein
+ vas the following request:
..Please hand this envelope 70 Lady Lydia
Broadacres, II she comes 10 the r. r Sta
lion. Otherwise, hold It for further direc-
tons
That was an, but quite enough to en-
(. tighten LYDIA