Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-21
CHAPTER XIV.
A PULLING QUESTION.

Does Miss Darrell show any signs of dis
appointments inquired Lady Hampton one
day of Miss Hastings
Miss Hastings, although she noticed hun
dred faults in the girl which she would fain
have corrected. had nevertheless a true
strong, and warm affection for her pupil; she
was not one therefore to play into the enc
my's hand; and, when Lady Darrell fixed
her eyes upon her, full of eagerness and
frightened by curiosity, Miss Hastin s quiet
ly resolved not to crafty her.
disappointment about what?'' she asked
II do not understand you, Lady Hampton"
About the property" explained Lady
Hampton, impatiently. "She made so very
sure of it. | shall never forget her insolent
confidence Do tell me, is she not greatly
annoyed and disappointed?''
Not in the way you mean, Lady Hamp-
ton. She has never spoken of such thing"
Her ladyship felt piqued; she would have
preferred to hear that Pauline did feel her
loss, and was grieying over it, In that case
she would have been kind to her, would have
relented but the reflection that her pride
was still unbending annoyed her, and she
mentally resolved to try if she could not
force the girl into some expression of her
feelings. 1t was not an amiable resolve. but
able woman.
Fortune favored her. That very day, as
she was leaving the Court, she saw Pauline
standing listiessly by the lake side feeding
the graceful white swans. She went up to
her with a malicious smile, only half-vailed
by her pretended friendly greeting.
How do you do, Miss Darrell? You are
looking very melancholy. There is nothing
the matter, hope?''
For any one to attempt to humilate Pauline
was simply a waste of time; the girls natural
character was so dignihed that all attempts
of the kind fell through or told most upon
her aSSailantS. She answered Lady Hamp-
ton with quiet politenesS. her dark eyes hard
ly resting for a moment upon her.
You do not seem to find much occupation
for your leisure hours" continued Lady
Hampton. You are making the round of
the grounds, | suppose? They are very beau
tiful. am afraid that you must feel keenly
how much my niece has deprived you Of
1t was not Il lady-like speech; but Lady
Hampton felt irresistibly impelled to make
1.-THE proud, defiant beautiful face provoked
her. Pauline merely smiled she had self
control that would have done honor to one
much older and more experienced.
Your niece has deprived me of nothing,
Lady Hampton" she returned with curl
or the lip, for which the elder lady could
have shaken her. Il possess one great adj
vantage of which no one living can deprive
me-that is, the Darrell blood rurs in my
VEINS
And, with bow, she walked away leav-
ing her ladyship more angry than she would
have cared to own. SO Pauline met all her
enemies. Whatever she might suffer, they
should not triumph over her. Even Sir Os-
valid felt himself compelled to yield to her
all aumlrauOn Jnat he nau never gwen De-
fore.
He was walking one evening on the ter
| race. The western sunbeams, lingering on
the grand old building, frightened it into
beauty Flowers, trees, and shrubs were all
| in their fullest loneliness. Presently Sir Os-
| wald, leaning over the balustrade of the ter
race, saw Pauline sketchng in the grounds
below. lie went to her, and looked over her
shoulder. She was just completing sketch
of the great western tower OF the Court; and
he was struck with the vivid beauty of the
drawing.
You love Darrell Court, PauIine?" he
said, gently.
She raised her face to his f0r minute: the
feud between them was forgotten. She only
remembered that he was Darrell, and she
his nearest OF kin.
- do love it, uncle she said, 'as pilgrims
love their favorite shrine. 1t is the home of
, beauty, of romance, the cradle OF heroes;
every stone is consecrated by legend. Love
| is a weak word for what | feel"
He looked at the glowing face, and for a
| few moments a doubt assaiIed him as to
whether he had done right in depriving this
| true Darrell of her Inheritance.
But Pauline" he said, SLOWLY, you
| would never have"
| She spran- from her seat with a quickneSs
| that almost startled him. She had forgotten
al that had happened; but now it all return
| ed 10 her with bitter pang that could not
! be controlled.
''Hush, Sir Oswaldr' she cried, interrupt
Ing him: lit is too late for us to talk about