Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-18
LOVES VICTORY.
1Y BERTHA II. CLAY.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE STORY OF ELAINE.

With quick glance OF pleased surprise.
81 am glad that | came to Omberleigh,"
she said. Imagine, Pauline, WHO'S here.
You have heard me speak OF the 81. Law
rences / educated Laura St Lawrence, and
she married well AMI went to India. Her
husband holds very high appointment
there Lady st. Lawrence is here with her
son, Sir Vane. / am so pleased"
"And | am pleased for YOU" responded
Pauline, with the new gentleness that sat SO
well upon her.
81 must go and see them," continued Miss
Hastings. They are staying at Sea View.
We can soon find out where Sea View is"
''St. Lawrencer said Pauline, musingiy;
81 like the name; it has pleasant sound"
''They are noble people who bear it," OBJ
served Miss Hastings. Lady ST. Lawrence
was always my ideal of a thoroughbred En-
glsh geItewoman. | never heard how it
was, but the greater part of their fortune was
lost when Sir Arthur died. He left but this
one son, Vane; and, although he has the title,
he has but little to support it with. | know
their family estates were all sold. Lady st.
Lawrence has small fortune of her own;
but it is not much"
Again Pauline repeated the name to her
self-"Vane st. p-thinking there
was a sound as of half-forgOtten music in it.
That was a name that would have suited the
face she had watched on the sands.
"Vane st. Lawrence!'
UnconScOusly to herself she had said the
words aloud. Miss Hastings looked up quick
ly.
Did you speak, my dear?" she asked; and
Pauline wondered to find her face suddenly
grow warm with burning blush.
81 think" said Miss Hastings, presently,
shat | should like to visit them at once.
Lady st. Lawrence may not be staying long,
and | should never forgive myself if l were
to miss her. VIII you come with me, Pau
line?'
Eyes, willingly"
She was ready to go anywhere, to do any
thing, with that great, wondering love, that
great grand calm, filling her heart and SOUL
For the first time the sight OF her own mag
nifcent loveliness pleased her
81 may see him again." she thought to her
self with almost chiId-lil1e simplicity, land l
should like him to think of me-"
She took more pains than she had ever
taken before; and the picturesque taste that
was part of her character greatly assisted
her Her dress was of purple silk, plain,
rich and graceful; her hat with its dropping
purple plume, looked like a crown on the
looking royal and queenly than she could
help the color of her eyes and hair. Miss
Hastings looked up with q smile of surprise,
the proud face was 50 wonderfully beautiful
the light that never yet shOne on land or
sea was shining on it.
"Why, Pauline" she said, laughing, Lady
St Lawrence will think l am taking the
Queen of Sheba in disguise! What strange
change is coming over you, child?"
What indeed! Was it the shadow of the
love that was to redeem her-to work Won
ders i'll her character? Was it the light that
came from the half-awakening soul? Wiser
women than good, kindly, supplemented
Miss Hastings might have been puzzled.
They were not long in finding Sea View
pretty villa a little way out of the town,
standing at the foot Of a cliff, surrounded by
trees and nOWers-One of the prettieSt spots
in Omberegh. They were shown into the
drawng-room the windows of which com.
manded magnificent view of the sea.
Before they had been there many minutes
there entered fair, gentle, gracious lady,
whose eyes filed with tears as she greeted
Miss Hastings warmly.
''You are like a spirit from the past" she
said Il can see Laura little child again
L II
me so much as seeing you"
Then she looked admringly at the beauti.
full girl by her side. Miss Hastings intro.
duced her.
Miss Darrell" She said, sit seems strange
that | should meet YOU My husband in his
youth knew Sir Oswald we'll"
Lady st. Lawrence was just what Miss
Hastings had described her-a thoroughly
high-brcd English lady. In figure she was
tall and upright; her face had been beautiful
in its youth, and was even now c0mely anC
fair: the uXuriant brown hair was StreakeC
here and there with silver She wore dres.
of rich hrocade, nith some becoming arrange
ment Of flowers aud lace on her head; she
was charming in her lady-Ijkc simplicity anC
geutlCnesS.
Pauline, knowing that the two ladies would
have much to talk about, asked permission
to amuse herself with some books she saw
upon the table.
'They belong to my son." said Lady st.
Lawrence, with a smile
There were Tennyson, Keats, and Byron
and written inside OF each, in bold, cleal
hand, was the name ''Vane st. Lawrence
Pauline lost herself again in the sweet story
OF Elaine. from which she was aroused at i'll
terYSlS by the repetition of the WOrdS-''My
son Vane.
She could not help hearing some part OF
Lady st. LaWrence'S confidential cOmmuni
cation, and it was to the effect how deeply
she deplored the blindness of her son, who
might marry his cousin LilIith Dlvenant
one OF the wealthieSt heiresSpS in England
Miss Hastings was all kindly sympathy.
1T would be such an excellent thing fol
him." continued Lady ST. Lawrence; "anC
Lillith is a very nice girl. But it is uselcs:
counseIing him; Faue is like his father ST
Arthur, you know, always would have lii
own way
Pauline began to feel interested in thi:
Vane st. Lawrence, who refused to marry
tue wealthy heireSS because he did not love
ser.
He must be somewhat like me-" she sale
90 herself with a smile.
Then the conversation changed and Lady
st. Lawrence began to speak of her daughter
Laura and her children. Pauline returned
to Elaine. and soon forgot everything else.
She was aroused by a slight stir. She hear(
Lady ST. Lawrence say:
MY dear Vane, how You startled mer'
Looking up, she saw before her the SAME
face that had engrosSed her thoughts anC
fancy!
She was nearer to it now, and could SET
more plainly lhe exquisite refinement CT thu
beautiful mouth, the clear, ardent expression
of the bold, frank eyes, the gracious lines o
the clustering hair. Her heart seemed al
most to stand still-it was though she haC
suddenly been brought face to face with
phantom.
He was bending over Lady st. Lawrence
talking eagerly to her-he was greeting Mis-
II, I;,l