The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-02-03
WOMAN AGAINSY WOMAN.
BY MRS. M. E. HOLMES.
CHAPTER VIII.


To all and each Alice gave her sweet
smile and gentle word; no trace of fear
Or awarkdnes5 was in her demeanor.
Everyone was amazed.
They had come filled with a wild
curiosity to see the farm-girl who had
so suddenly and strangely become a
countess, and instead of beholding
series OF terrible social blunders per-
formed by study dairymaid, they
saw nothing but a lovely patrician girl,
whose charms and wondrous beauty
eclipsed even Miss Valerie Ross, long
considered the goddess of all lowell
ness by the folk around the castle.
From her chair, Lady Darrell noticed
their establishments; and felt that she
from the bitter disappointment that
had lived in it ever since the day she
learnt Of her sons marriage, to admire
most genuinely the fair young wife.
Where does she get her manner"
she unused to herself. She Is patrician
from head to foot Roy has no need Of
shame tonight: his wife has achieved
a success.
Then she sighed little as her eyes
wandered to a tall stately form, on
whose red, brown hair the rubies and
diamonds quivcred like jeweled dew
drops.
Poor Valerie :" she said to herself.
eff it only could have been. | am
sure she loves Roy now whatever her
feelings were before Eustace died.
She. too. would have made a proud
countess tonight. Yet this girl holds
her own.
I. III Il
the testimonial was handed to the
Earl. and dinner was announced.
Alice found herself led in by Sir
Robert Carlyle. and smiled once or
twice to herself as she read the ad-
miration and amazcment on his face.
The dinner proved long and tedious
to her. though not to the majority, for
they ate heartily.
Alice had more pleasure in looking
at all the wonderful gold and silver or
namcnts, cups, gobiets, dishes, and
vases. that stood on the table.
1t was glimpse Of fairyland to her,
and the Earl, glancing from his seat at
the far end of the room, watched her
bright look of admiration, and felt
again hat new sensation which Was
growing stronger and stronger in his
heart.
Dinner over. the ladies Withdrew,
and Alice found her time occupied in
chatting with all the great danes,
whose faces she rccoIIccted from see
ING them in their carriages dashing
along to Ncstlcy town.
Valerie had said little all evening,
but she was thinking the more. Her
hate for Alice had grown tonight to d
passion: the truth that Roy was grad
uallv becoming Interested nay. at
tractcd by his wife, dashed her 10 mad
ness 1t was indeed woman against
woman.
Lady Darrell was right, Valerie loved
Roy now with all the power OF her
heart; not as she had worshippcd Ell-
STAGE Rivers, but with great passion
Of genuine affection and tenderness:
she had been living in ii dream these
two days past.
She felt secure in Roy's love. and
thought Of Alice only As a cloud on the
horizon Of her happiness; but now she
realized she was indeed living in
drcamlaud.
Roy eyes all this night had rested
on his wife: dawn of something new
and such a. had never come for her,
appeared on his face. aud Valerie saw
that once again her happiness would
be wrecked.
She had as yet no plan: she knew not
what or how she meant to do it: but
She swore 10 herself that before many
days the Earl should be etfectual y
separated from his wife. my Lady
Alice. and turned to her.
The man c,minu in from the smok-
inr-room disturbed her thoughts.
lord Radine hurried up to Alice.
Countess" he exclaimed. how
beautiful Won look tonight. [ could
not approach Won Ec ore dinner Won
were 30 surrounded. The pale cheeks
produced 10y the ghost have quite dis
appeared =
Ghost" repeated Count .Tura. who
had stroIled up to Alice also: "have
YOU been frightened to-day, Countess"
YES" Lord Radine went on: we
rode overtothc abbey ruins. you know.
this morning: and as we were about to
mount the remains of the tower, Lady
Darrell turned deathlv white. uttered
a olirEt exclamation. and fled back ia
10 the air. When taxed her with
seeing Il ghost. she declared such to
he the case.
Alice had grown pale during this
speech. She had looked up and met
the gaze OF alerie eyes burning with
their passion of hate, and there was
such semblanrc at that instant TO the
sinister face of Paul Ross. that she felt
again the dread that had attacked her
IN the RUNS.
Count .Iura watched her cheeks
ola alI-I ms 9ro W. were KNIT.