Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19

gentleman. If / was neglected when my
father was alive, l wish to goodness such
neglect were my portion now!'
Sir Oswald shrugged his shoulders.
Each one TO his or her taste. Pauline.
With very little more of such neglect you
would have been a"
He paused: perhaps some instinct of pru.
dence warned him.
"A what" she demanded, scornfully.
Pray finish the sentence, Sir Oswald
My dear, you are too impulsive, too hasty.
You want more quietnesS of manner, more
dignity"
Her voice deepened in its tones as she ask
ed:
Il should have been a what Sir Oswald?
never begin sentence and leave it half fin
ished. You surely are not afraid to finish it?'
No, my DEAR" was the calm reply; there
never yet was Darrell afraid of ANYTHING
on EARTH If you particularly wish me to do
so, l will finish what | was about to say.
You would have been confirmed Bohemian,
and nothing could have made you a lady,"
Il love what you call Bohemians, and de-
test what you call ladies, Sir Oswald" was
the angry retOrt
Most probably: but then, you see, Pauline,
ways been -high-bred, elegant wo-
men. doubt if any of them ever knew
what the word Bohemian meant"
She laughed little scornful laugh, which
yet was sweet and clear as the sound of sill.
ver bells.
Il had almost forgotten" said Sir Oswald.
Il came to speak to you about something,
Pauline; will you come into the house with
me?'
They walked on together in silence fol
some minutes, and then Sir Oswald began:
Il went to London, as you know, last
week, Pauline, and my errand was on your
behalf"
She raised her eyebrows, but did not deign
to ask any questions.
81 have engaged lady to live with us here
at Darrell Court, whose duties will be to fin
iSh your education, or, rather, | may truth
fully say, to begin it, to train you in the
habits of refined society, to-to-make you
presentable, in fact, Pauline, which / am
sorry, really sorry to say, you are not at pres
ent."
She made him low bow-a bow full of
defiance and rebellion.
81 am indeed indebted to you, Sir Oswald"
mo trifling," said the stately baronet, mo
sarcasm Pauline, but listen to mel You are
not without sense or reaSOn-pray attend.
Look around you" he continued; ''remem-
Der that the broad fair lands of Darrell Court
form one of the grandeSt domains in En-
gland. 1t is an inheritance almost royal in
extent and magnifcence. Whose reignS here
is king or queen of half a county, is looked
up to, respected, honOred, admired, and imi-
tated The owner of Darrell Court is pow
er even in this powerful land of ours; men
and women look up to such an one for guild
ance and example. Judge then what the
owner of the inheritance should be-"
The baronets grand old face was flushed
with emotion
He must be pure or he would make inn
morality the fashion: honorable, because
men will take their notions of honor from
him; just, that justice may abound; upright,
stainless. You see all that, Paulinew
YES" she assented, quickly.
mo men have so much to answer for"
continued Sir Oswald, las the great ones of
the land-men in whose hands power is vest
ed-men to whom others look for example,
on whose lives other lives are modeled-men
who, as it were, carry the minds, if not the
souls, of their fellow men in the hollows of
their hands,"
Pauline looked more impressed, and in
senSlply drew nearer 10 linn.
''Such men, I thank Heaven" he said,
standing bareheaded as he uttered the words,
shave the Darrels been-loyal. upright hon
est, honorable, of stainless repute, Of STAIN
less life, fitted to rule their fellow men
grand men, sprung from grand old race.
And at times women have reigned here-wO-
men whose names have lived in the annals
of the land-who have been as shining lights
from the purity, the refinement, the grand
eur of their lives"
He spOke with a passion of elOquence not
lost on the girl by his side.
81" he continued humbly, sam one of the
least worthy of my race. l have done moth
ing for it's advancement, but at the same
time l have done nothing to disgrace it. ]
have carried on the hOnors paSSively. The
time is coming when Darrell Court must pass
into other hands Now, Pauline, you have
heard, you know what the ruler Of Darrell
Court should be. Tell me, are you fitted to
take your place here"'
Il am very young" she murmured
''It is not a question of youth Dame ST.
bella Darrell reigned here when she was only
eighteen; and the sons she trained to sue
coed her were among the greatest statesmen
England has ever known. She improved
and enlarged the property; she died, after
living here sixty years, beloved, hOnOred,
and revered. 1t is not question of age"
Il am DARRELL" said the girl, proudly.
Eyes, you have the face and figure of a
Darrell; you bear the name, too: but you
have not the grace and manner of Darrell y
''ThOSe are mere outward matters of polish
and veneer" she said, impatiently.
NAY, not so. You would not think i!
right to see an uniformed, unframed, unedu-
Gated, ignorant girl at the head Of such a
house as this. What did you do yeSterdavf
A maid dlspIeased you. You boxed her ears.
Just imagine it. Such a proceeding on the
part of the mistress of Darrell Court would
fill one with horror
A slight smile rippled over the full Grim
son lips.
Queen Elizabeth boxed her courtiers'
ears said the girl, land it seemed right to
her.
ga queen, Pauline, is hedged in by her
own royalty; she may do what she will. The
very fact that you are capable of defending
an action SO violent, so unlady-like, SO OPP
posed to all ones ideas of feminine delicacy,
proves that you are unfit for the position you
ought to occupy"
Il am honest, at least. make no preten-
sions to be what | am not"
80 is my butler honest, but that does not
fit him to be master of Darrell Court. Hon
esty is but one quaiity-a good one, sturdy
and strong; it requires not one, but many
qualities to hold such position as would
fafn have you occupy"
Miss DaTelFs patience was evidently at
an end.
"And the upshot of all this, Sir Oswald,
is
Exactly so-that 1 am anxious to give you