Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
LOVES VICTORY.
BY BERTHA NJ. CLAY.


worthy countess was shocked. and, taking
counsel of her hopes. predicted that Madame
SelinTs institution would soon prove fail
ure. Notwithstanding this prediction. the
agency proSpered, and among its patrons
were many OF the nobility.
One fine morning in May carriage stop
ped before Madame Selini's door, and from
1t descended a handsome, aristocratic gentle
man, evidently of the old school, There was
some little c0mmotion in the interior of the
building, and then foot-page appeared, to
whom Sir Oswald Darrell-for that was the
gentleman's name-gave his card.
Il am here by appointment" he said, Ito
see Madame Selini."
He was ushered into handsomely furnish
ed room, where, in a few minutes, he was
Joined by Madame Selini herseIf-a quick
bright FrenchwOman, whose dark eyes SEEM
ed to embrace everything in their compre-
hensive glance. Sir Oswald bowed with
stately courtesy and quaint, old-fashioned
! grace.
Have you been so fortunate, madame, as
to find that which | am in search OPP he in
quired.
II think you will be pleased, Sir Oswald
nay, am sure you WILL" answered the lady.
81 have lady waiting to see you now, who
will prove, should say, a treasure"
Sir Oswald bowed, and madame contin-
ued:
miss Hastings-N1iss Agnes Hastings
has been for the last six years finishing gov
erness at Lady Castledine's, and her two
pupils make their debut this year; so that
there is no longer any occasion for her ser
vices"
''And you think she would be fitted, mad
anne, to occupy the position for which L re-
quire lady Of talent and refnement"?'
Il am quite sure of it." replied madame
miss Hastings Is thirty years of age. She
| is highly accomplished, and her manners are
exceedingly lady-like. She is person OF
great refinement; moreover, she has had
| great experience with young girls. do not
| think, Sir Oswald, that you could do better"
, rs the lady here? Can see her?''
| Madame Selini rang, and desired the little
| page to ask Miss Hastings to come to her
| In few minutes an elegant, well-dressed
| lady entered the room. She advanced with
| quiet grace and dignity that seemed nat
| ural to her; there was not the slightest trace
OF awkWardness or mlaGUdjS hO7ltG in her
| manner.
| Madame Selini introduced her to Sir Os-
| valid Darrell.
Il will leave you" she said, ''to discuss
| your private arrangements"
| Madame quilted the room with gliding.
| subtle grace, and then Sir Oswald, in his
| cOurtly fashion, placed chair for Miss Hast
| lngS. he looked at the pale, clear-cut face
| for few minutes in silence, as though he
were at loss what to say, and then he COM
i menced suddenly:
Il suppose Madame Selini has told you
! what want, Miss Hastings?"
Yes" was the quiet reply; 'your niece
| has been neglected want some one to
| take the entire superintendent of her"
'NeglectedT" exclaimed Sir Oswald. ''NIy
dear madame, that is a mild word, which
| does not express the dreadful reality. 1 wish
to disguise nothing from you, assure YOU
she literally hOrrlties me-"
| Miss Hastings smiled.
! "NeglectedH' he repeated-''the girl is a
savage-a splendid savage-nothing more
nor less"
Has she not received any kind of train
| inc, then, Sir Oswald?"
Training! My dear madame, can you
! imagine what a wild vine is-a vine that has
never been cultivated or pruned, but allowed
! to grow wild in all its natural beauty and
| strength, to cling where it would, to trail on
| the ground and to Irvine round forest trees?
Such a vine is a fit type of my niece"
Miss Hastings looked slightly bewildered.
| Here was very different pupil from the ele-
| giant, graceful daughters OF Lady Castledine.
81 should, perhaps" continued Sir o.
valid, explain to you the peculiar position
| that my niece, Miss Pauline Darrell, has oc-
cupied"
His grand old face flushed and his stately
| head was bowed, as though some of the
memories that swept over him were not free
! from shame; and then, with little gesture
| OF his white hand on which ShOne large
diamond ring, he said:
''There is no need for me to tell you, Miss
| Hastings, that the barrels are one of the
| oldest families in England-ancient, honor
! able, and L must confess, pTOud-very proud.
| My father, the late Sir Hildebert Darrell,
| was, L should say, one of the prOudeSt and
| most reserved of men. He had but two
| children, myself and daughter twelve years
| yOunger-my sister Felicia. l was educated
| abroad. 1t was one of my fathers fancies
that should see many lands, that I should
| study men and women before settling down
to my right position in the world; so that l
knew but little of my sister Felicia. She was
a child when l left hOme-the tragedy of her
life had happened before / returned"
Again a great rush of color came over the
pale aristocratic face
II must apologize, Miss Hastings, for
troubling you with these details, but unless
| you understand them you will not under
stand my niece. l cannot tell you how il
| happened, but it did so happen that while
| was away my sister dSgraced herself; she
| left home with a French artist, whom Sir
Hildebert had engaged to renovate some
| choice and costly pictures at Darrell Court.
How it came about | cannot say-perhaps
there were excuses for her. She may have
found home very dull-my father was harsh
| and cold, and her mother was dead. It may
be that when the young artist told her OF
warm love in sunny lands she was tempted,
poor child, to leave the paternal roof
my fathers wrath was terrible; he pur.
sued Julian L'Estrange with unrelenting
| fury. | believe the man would have been a
successful artist but for my father who had
vowed to ruin him, and who never rested un-
| til he had done so-until he had reduced him
to direSt pOverty-and then my sister appeal.
ed for help and my father refused to grant
it. He would not allow her name to be men
| toned among u.s. her portrait was destroyed
everything belonging to her was sent away
from Darrell Court.
when | returned-in an interview that
| shall never fOrget-my father threatened me
| not only with disnheritance, but with his
| curse, If made any attempt to hold the least
communication with my sister. I do moi
know that I should have obeyed him if ]
could have found her, but I did not even