Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-08-02
CnAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII
A few DAYS passed, and lSmay Waldron
began to feel at home at Bralyn She be-
came accustomed to its splendos, to its
maEniticenCe, to the new and beautiful
life that opened to her. She looked back
| with wonder on the time that had passed
on her life in the humble cottage How
had she borne the quiet, the seclusion, the
| absence of everything she now valued
most2
Lord Carlswood was most adroit in his
treatment of her He said nothing that
she could openly resent, but he lost no
opportunity of airing his Conservative
principles-of expressing his contempt for
all Liberals, all Radicals He was always
inveightng against poverty yet in such q
fashion that she could take no offense
| The time came when, so far from feeling
in the least degree annoyed with him, she
conceded with his every word: and when
the master of Bralyn found that that was
the case he sent at once for MIR Ford.
MY grandchild will not leave me. " said
the old lord to his lawyer; II am sure of
it"
MAY | ask why, Lord Carlswoodr"
because her maSter-passion is vanity:
she has more vanity than affection. |
have known women-women of our own
race, too-who would have laughed all
wealth to scorn. who would have given
their lives for their lOve-women of noble
nature, who would have trampled all lux
ury under foot. But lsmay is of lighter
nature. Her maSter-paSsion is vanity.
She Will stay with me, because l can adj
minister to her vanity, and her husband
cannot"
ut seems to me very like MURDER" said
Mr.. Ford, remembering the white haggard
face of the young husband, land |, nv
lord, should not like to change places with
you, if You sin in this fashion"
81 will take all the risk" was the quiet
reply.
Then the old lord began to tempt his
grandChild. He talked to her of the great
world, of its brilliant pleasures, its gave
ties, its honors; he told her how such beau
~ as hers would command universal hon.
age-that in London, even amid the no
blest ladies. she would be a queen. He
tempted her with the most costly Jewels.
with the most magnificent dresses: he law
ishcd every luxury upon her He insisted
that she should learn to ride, and pur-
chased beautiful arab for her. She had
the use Of a luxurious carriage; he had
servants TO wait upon ner.
He tempted her through her love for her
son. He would take the child in his arms
aud praise his noble face and his frank,
engaging manner.
1T is pitiful TO think of Lionel brought
up in a cottage. with no higher hope than
to be a respectable game-keeper; nature
meant him for nohleman. Lionel, Lord
CSrlswood, would perhaps be the greatest
man of his race"
He tempted her through her love of the
beautiful He surrounded her with every
thing that was most graceful and choice
he cultivated her t,iSJe-he spoke highly of
her appreciation.
He tempted her through the innate re-
/ finemeut that had always distinguished
| her, he minlStered to it in every way. He
I spoke always with the greatest contempt
| of poverty, of all approach to vulgarity;
/ he spoke with most condeScending pity of
/ those whose position in life was inferior to
| his own.
! He tempted her, too, by the wonderful
! reverence in which he held his race; he
told her stories of the Carlswoods dead
/ and goue-of the heroes, the statesmen.
/ the warriors, the noble and beautiful wo-
l men-the heroines of his race--womeu
4 whose names were framed in song and
story; and then, stopping abruptly, he
would say, with strange pathetic earnest
| ness
| Il could not bring dishonor on such a