Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-02-01
CHAPTER VIII.

beside MIN.
TO all and each Alice gave her sweet
smile and gentle word: no trace OF fear
or aWarkdnes5 was in her demcanor.
Everyone was amazed.
They had come filled with a wild
curiosity to see the farm-girl who had
so suddenly and strangely become
countess, and instead Of behOldlng
series of terrible social blunders per-
formed by sturdy dairymald, they
saw nothing but a lovely patrician girl,
whose charms and WO1drOuS beauty
aclipsed 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 astOnishment; and felt that she
svmpathized with it, Her heart woke
from the bitter disappointment that
had lived in it ever since the day she
learnt o. 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
Il success"
Then she sighed little as her eyes
wandered to a tail stately form, on
whose red, brown hair the rubies and
diamonds quivered 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 E,ustace died.
She. too, would have made a proud
countess tonight, Yet this girl holds
her own
At last the guests were assembled,
She testimonial was handed to the
HSri and dinner was announced.
Alice found herself led in by Sir
Robert Carlyle, and smiled once or
15wice to herself as she read the adj
gmiration and amazement on his face.
The dinner proved long and tedious
TO her, though not to the majority, for
thoy ate heartily.
Alice had more pleasure in looking
at all the wonderful gold and silver or
naments, cups, goblets, dishes, and
vases that stood on the table.
It 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 that new sensation which was
growing stronger and stronger in his
nealt.
Dinner over. the ladies withdrew,
and Alice found her time occupied in
chatting with all the great DANES,
whose faces she recollected from see
ing them in their carriages dashlng
along to Nestley town.
Valerie had said little all evening,
but she was thinking the more. Her
hate for Alice had grown tonight to a
passion: the truth that Roy was grad
sually becoming Interested nay, at
tractcd by his wife, lashed her to 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 worshipped Eu-
STAGE Rivers, but with a great passion
OF genuine affection and tenderness;
she had been living in u dream these
two days past.
She felt secure in Roy's love. and
Thought of Alice only as cloud on the
horizon OF her happiness: but now she
realized she was indeed living il
dreamand.
Roy's eyes all this night had rested
son his wife: a dawn of something new
and such as had never come for her,
appeared on his face. and Valerie saw
that once again her happiness would
be wrecked.
She had us yet no plan; she knew not
what or how she meant to do it; but
she swore to herself that before many
DAYS the Earl should be ctfectually
separated from his wife, my Lady
Alice, and turned to her
The man coming in from the smok-
zing-room disturbed her thoughts.
Lord Radine hurried up to Alice.
countess" he exclaimed, ''how
beautiful YOU look tonight. [ could
not approach you before dinner you
were so surrounded. The pale checks
produced by the ghost have quite dis
appeared
'Ghost?" repeated Count Jura. who
mad stroled up to Alice also: ''have
YOU been frig htened to-day, Countess?"
Yes . Lord Radine went on: I'VE
rode overto the abbey ruins, you know,
this morning: and as we were about to
mount the remains OF the tower. Lady
Darrell turned deathly white uttered
Il slight exclamation, and fled back to
10 the air. When | taxed her with
seeing ghost, she declared such to
be the case.
Alice had grown pale during this
speech. She had looked up and met
the gaze of Valerie S eyes burning with
their passion of hate. and there was
such semblance at that instant to the
sinister ldtt vi tlil lNOSS, tlldo SiIS lCi
again the dread that had attacked her
in the rains.
Count Jura watched her cheeks
'blanch; his brows were knit.
why. Lady Darrell" he exclaimed,
'>you surely don't mean to tell me you
are afraid of spirits?"
Not spirits" Alice answered with
an imperceptible shiver, as Lord
Radine turned to a lady close by: but
of men, Count Jura. [ am afraid
She has seen Paul" was Count
Jura swift thought.
Then you think this was man?"
he continued easily.
~ am sure of it.
The Count elevated his brows.
shall we go tol a stroll into the hall
and conservatory" he said in his most
graceful fashion.
Alice hesitated.
She would much prefer to have re-
manned alone.
y. 81 f