Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-14
LOVES VICTORY.

CHAPTER XXI.


ers and most beautiful ornancnts-a iilii,
fairy nook over which every one went into
raptures except Pauline: she never mentio,
ed them nor showed the least interest ia
them. She went Oh in her cold. proud. self
contained manner hiding many Thoughts in
Ter heart
miss Hastings" she said one morning
you can do me favor. Sir Oswald has
been saying that we must call at the Elms to
see Lady Hampton and Miss Rocheford.
should refuse, but that the request exactly
suits my plans. l wish to see Miss Roch.-
ford; we will drive over this afternoon. VIII
you engage Lady Hampton in conversation
while talk TO her niece?''
II will do anything you wish, Pauline"
returned Miss Hastings; but my dear child,
be prudent. l am frightened for you-be
prudent. 1t will be worse than useless fOI
you to make an enemy of the future Lady
Darrell. would do anything to help YOU,
anything to shield you from sorrow or harm,
but am frightened on your account"
CaresseS and demonstrations of affection
were very rare with Pauline; but now she
bent down with a softened face and kissed
the anxious brow.
you are very good to me-" she said.
You are the only one in the wide world
who cares for me-"
And with the words there came to her such
a sense Of loneliness and desoIation as nu
language could describe. o. what use had
been her beauty, Of which her poor father
had been so proud-of what avail the genius
with which She was 50 richly lowered?
No one loved her. Tne only creature liv-
ing who seemed to enter into either her joys
or her sorrows was the knd-hearted, gentle
goyernosS.
'Y0u must let me have my own way this
time, Miss Hastings. one p>cu:iaTity Of the
DarIells is thai they must say What i, on thcjl
minds. | intend to do So now; ii rests with
you whether do it III peace or not"
After that Miss Hastings knew all further
rem0nstrance was useless. She made such
arrangements as Pauline wished, and thai
afternoon they drove over to the Ems. Lazy
Hampton received them very kindly; the
great end and aim OF her life was accomplish
ed-her niece was to be Lady Darrell, o.
Darrell Court. There was no need for ans
more envy or jealousy Of Pauline. The girl
who had 50 lately been dangerous rival
and an enemy to be dreaded had suddenly
sunk into complete inSigntcance. Lady
Hampton even thought it better to be gra-
ciouS, cOncIiatOTy, and kind; as EinOr had
to live with Miss Dlrrei it was useless to
make things disagreeabIc.
So Lady Hampton received tacm kindly.
Fruit from the Court lighthouses and f)oWcrs
from the Court conSeryatorCs were on the
table Lady Hampton insisted that Miss
Hastings should join her in her afternoon
tea, while Pauline, speaking with naughty
grace, expressed desire TO see the Films gar
den.
Lady Hampton was not sorry to have an
hours gossip with Miss HASTINGS, and she
desired Elnor to show Miss ID rraI ali their
choicest flowers.
EiNor looked half-frightcned at the task
1t was wonderful to sea the contrast that the
two girls preseuted-Pauline tall, slender,
queenly, in her sweeping black dress all
passion and magnfcencc; Miss RochefOrd,
fair, dainty, golden-haired, and gentle.
They walked i'll silence down one of the
gardcn-p paths, and then Miss Rocheford said
In her low sweet voice:
If YOU like roses, Miss Darrn can show
you beautiful collection"
Then for the first time Pduine'S dark ewes
were directed toward her companions face.
Il am bad dissemblcr, Miss RocheforI,"
she said, proudly. Il have no wish to see
your flowers. | came here to see you. There
is a seat under yonder tree. Come with me,
and hear what have to say"
E.inor followed looking and feeling terri
bly, frightened. What had this grand, i'm
peri0uS Miss Darrell to say to her? They sat
down side by side under the shade of large
magnolia tree, the white blossoms of which
filled the air with sweetest perfume; the
smiling summer beauty rested on the land
scape. They sat in silence for some minutes,
and then Pauline turned to Elinor.
Miss ROcheford," she said, IL am come to
give you waming-the most solemn warn
ing you have ever received-one that if you
have any common sense you will not refuse
TO heed. hear that you are going to marry
my uncle, Sir Oswald. Is it true?"
Sir Oswald has asked me to be his wife,
Elinor replied, with doWncast eyes and a
faint blush.
Pauline'S face cleaned with scorn
'There is no need for aliy Of those pretty
airs and graces with me-" she said. II am
going to speak stern truths to you. You, a
young girl, barely twenty, and all your life
before you-Surely YOU cannot be so shame
lessly untrue as even to pretend that you are
marrying an old man like my uncle for love?
You know it is not so-you dare not even
pretend IT."
E.inor's face flushed crimson
why do you speak SO to me, Miss Oar
rell?'' she gaspcd.
Because | want to warn You. Are you
not ashamed-yes, [ repeat the word, aSham-
ed-to sell your youth, Your hope of love,
your life itself, for money and title? That is
what you are doing. You do not love Sir
Oswald. How should YOU? lie is more than
old enough to be your father. If he were a
poor man, you would laugh his offer to scorn;
but he is old and rich, and you are willing to
marry him to become Lady Darrell, of Oar
rell Court. Can you, EIinor Rocheford, look
me frankly in the face and say it is not Sor''
No, she could not Every word fell like q
sledgehammer on her heart, and she knew it
was all true. She bent her crimson face, and
hid it from Paulincs clear gaze.
Are you not ashamed to sell yourself? If
no truth, no honor, no loyalty impels you to
end this barter, let fear step in. You do not
love my uncle. 1t can give YOU no pain to
give him up. Pursue your present course,
and warn you. Darrell Court ought to be
mine. am a Darrell, and when my uncle
took me home it was as his heiress. For a
long period have learned to consider Oar.
rell Court as mine. 1t is mine," she contin
ued-'mine by right, for | am a u rrell-
mine by right of the great love | bear it
mine by every law that is just and right
Elinor ROcheford l warn you, beware Row
you step in between me and my b;rthright-
beware! My uncle is only marrying you to
punish me; he has no other motive. Beware
how you lend yourself to such punishment
am not asking you to give up any love. Ii
you loved him, | would not say one word
but it IS not a matter of love-only of sale
and barter. Give it upr'
how can You talk SO strangely to me,