Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-17

ed, abruptly, looking keenly at his face,
''why have you never marriedP
He smiled, but flush darkened the fine
old face.
II was in love once" he replied, simply,
''and only once. The lady was young and
fair. She loved me in return. But few
weeks before our marriage she was suddenly
taken i'll and died. have never even thought
of replacing her."
GLOW sad! What sort of lady was she,
Sir Oswald-this fair young love Of yOurs?'
Strange to say, in face, figure. and man.
ner she somewhat resembled your lovely
young niece, Lady Hampton. She had the
same quiet, graceful manner, the same pol
ished grace-so different from"
From Miss Darrell" supplied the lady,
promptly. "How that unfortunate girl must
Jar upon your
'She does; but there are times when have
hopes of her. We are talking like old friends
now, Lady Hampton. 1 may tell you that I
think there is one and only one thing that
can redeem my niece, and that is love. Love
works wonders sometimes, and l have hopes
that it may do so in her case. A grand mas
ter-passion such as controls the Darrells
when they love at all-that would redeem
her. 1t would soften that fierce pride and
hauteur it would bring her to the ordinary
level of womanhood; it would cure her of
many of the fantastic ideas that seem to have
taken possession of her; it would make her
what she certainly is not nova gentleWO-
man"
do you think sop queried Lady Hamp-
ton, doubtfully.
Il am sure of it. When L look at that
grand face Of hers, often so defiant, think
to myself that she NAV be redeemed nv love"
And IL this grand maSter-paSS0n does not
come to her-if she cares for some one only
after the ordinary fashion of women-what
them"
He threw up his hand with gesture indi-
cative of despair.
Or" continued Lady ampton-''pray
pardon me for suggesting such thing, Sir
Oswald but people OF the world like you
and myself, know what odd things are likely
at any time to happen-supposing that she
should marry some commonplace lover, after
q commonplace fashion, and that then the
master-passiOn should find her out, what
would be the fate of Darrell Court"'
II cannot TELL" replied Sir Oswald, de-
spairingly.
with person, especially young girl. Of
her self-willed, original, independent nature,
my niece is so sweet and so womanlyW
Sir Oswald sat for some little time In ST.
lence. He looked on this fair ancestral
home of his, with its noble woods and mag
niticent gardens. What indeed would be-
come of it if it fell into the ill-disciplined
hands of an ill-disciplined girl-unless, in
deed, she were subject to the control OF a
wise husband?
Would Pauline ever submit to such con-
troll? Her pale, grand face rose before him,
the naughty lips the proud, calm eyes-the
man who mastered her, who brought her
mind into subsection, would indeed be a su-
perior being. For the first time doubt cross
ed Sir OSwald'S mind as to whether she
would ever recognize the superior being in
Captain Langton. He knew that there were
depths in the girls nature beyond his own
reach. 1t was not all pride, all defiance
there were genius, poetry, originality, grand
eur of intellect, and greatness OF heart before
which the barOnet knew that he stood in
hopeless, helpless awe.
Lady Hampton laid her hand on his arm.
''Do not despond, old friend" she said. II
understand you. l should feel like you. |
should dread to leave the inheritance of my
fathers in such dangerous hands. But, SI
Oswald, why despond? Why not marryr'
The barOnet started.
'Marryp' he repeated. ''Why, have new
er thought of such a thing"
"Thnk Of 1t now" counseled the lady,
laughingly; "you will find the advice most
excellent. Instead of tormenting yourself
about an ill-conditoned girl, who delights in
defying you, you can have an amiable, &C
cOmplished, elegant, and gentle wife to rule
your household and attend to your comfort
you might have son of your own to succeed
you, and Darrell Court might yet remain in
the hands of the Darrells."
But my dear Lady Hampton, where
should find such wife? l am no longer
young-who would marry meP'
ANY sensible girl in England. Take my
advice Sir Oswald. Let us have a Lady
Darrell, and not an ill-trained girl who will
delight in setting the world at defiance. In
deed, L consider that marriage Is duty
which you owe to society and to your race
II have never thought of 1t. l have always
considered myself as having, so to speak,
finished with life"
you have made great mistake but 1t is
one that fortunately can be remeded."
Lady Hampton rose from har seat, and
walked few steps forward.
II have put his thoughts In the right
groove" she mused; "but L ought to say
word about Elinor."
She turned to him again.
''Y on ask me who would marry you. Why,
Sir Oswald, in England there are hundreds
of girls, well-bred, elegant, graceful, gentle,
like my niece, who would ask nothing better
from fortune than husband like yourself"
She saw her words take effect. She had
turned his thoughts and ideas In the right d.
rection at last
''Shall we go and look after our truants?'
she asked. suavelN
And they walked together down the path
where Pauline had SO Indignantly gathered
the broken lily. AS though unconsciously,
Lady Hampton began to speak of her niece.
II have adopted Elinor entirely" she said
Indeed there was no other course for me
to pursue. Her mother was my youngest sis
ter; she has been dead many years. Elinor
has been living with her father, but he has
just secured a government appointment
abroad, and asked him to give his daughter
to me-"
ut was very kind Of YOU" observed Sir
Oswald.
Nay, the kindness is on her part, not on
mine. She is like sunbeam in my house.
Fair, gentle, a perfect lady. she has not one
idea that is not in itself innately refined and
delicate. | knew that if she went into So
ciety at all she would soon marry"
us there any PROBABILITY OF that?' asked
Sir Oswald.
mo, for by her own desire we shall live
very quietly this year. She wished to see
Darrell Court and its owner-we have spoken
so much of you-but with that exception we
shall go nowhere
81 hope she is pleased with Darrell Court"
said Sir Oswald.