Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-14

Is ~ SN~- lA4N1- N1b-S IL I1IN III : q.
the new star.
BY Jove, Lady Chris. Introduce
me, please. Your daughter is charm.
ing" drawled Lord SIoshfre. IL 7 stage
whisper"
THE prince has already asked who
is with you. Lady Chris"
And says he won't believe she is
your daughter"
That Chicago girl. Amelia Potts.
Suesses she's real mad, and has just
reckoned the game is up with her
staggered Talbot Hurst. who delighted
in fostering social %squabbles.
"Oh, hush. hUsht' cried Lady Chris
tine. Il shan't bring my daughter
here again if you're going to spoil her
at once Why, she's only a little
schoolgirl! All. there goes the curtain.
Now. run away, all Of you. You need
not come back again this evening.
What do you thing of the girl
asked Talbot Hurst of Lord SIoshfre.
as they strolled down to the omnibus
box.
Don't know. I'm sure, and don't
S$LN| SIAIC1, SIcNIeu Ills lO1tlSIll1.
who hated Talbot Hurst for a ''mean
little sneak"
But Talbot HnrStS charitable sup
positions We're baseless. For. in spite
of countless OBJECTIONS from her ban
ner. Lady Chris-as the world would
call her-did not ride Jealous of the
e beauty, a. Christabel quickly be-
came, And yet-and yet there were
moments when she would have given
a year of her loneliness. a half of her
fortune to read the heart of the man
she loved. For Lady Chris had TO con-
fess to herself that she loved a man
who. as likely as not, had fixed his
fancy on another woman. young.
fresh, eminently desirable in every
way.
IF l only knew! If l only could find
out!' she cried to herself in her dress
ING room one night. He is the same
as ever. courteous and kind. but al
ways a little cold. And apparently
he is the same to Chris. If l could
only guess how he speaks to her, looks
at her when they are alone together!
He sat out three dances with her at
the state ball on Wednesday. and rode
with her an hour this morning in the
Row. l wish l knew, l wish l knew!''
And upstairs in the pink and white
nest that framed the new beauty's
loneliness the words II wish I knew
were breahhed to the dawn. Slipped
like a pale wreath from her snowy
Satins and laces. Christabel stood,
slender as a May lily before the mir
rOr, her white hands c1asDed above
her tumultuOus heart, as she sighed:
Il wish | knew if he loves me-" The
mex day the girl Thought she had
found the solution to the riddle. 1t
was The last function of the season
a ball at Maiplaquet House. Leaning
on Tregenna's arm, Christabel drifted
down the low steps that led from the
draWing-r0om into the GOODNESS OF the
quiet garden. Lanterns danced in the
soft might air and the swish Of
women's gowns trailing over the grass,
the 0 of distant voices came to ears
still ringing with the final CRASH of the
fni she'd valse. Christabel sighed as
she nestled into a cushioned chair.
"Tirei:" queried Lord Tregenna.
mo, sOrry!r' and she sighed again.
"You and sorrow should not meet
so soon," he said gravely. Whats
the tr0uble?"
I'VE are going away tomorrow an
sWered Christabel.
The girls n~aiyete made him smile.
But there's plenty of fun ahead.
Are YOU not going to be the belle on
Sloshire's yacht at Cowes? Then
you're to have three weeks at Ham,
burg, supplemented by-how many
visits in Scotlanal Miss Mainwaring.
you are growing i~nsatiable!'
She gave a little laugh of deprecia-
ton.
Tregenna leaned forward and stroye
to pierce the mystery of her sweet
violet eyes. Lady Chris-and you
will miss men' His voice took a fuller
tone. his eyes a deeper light.
Indeed, we SHALL" she answered
slowly. "You know, Lord Tregenna, I
always think of you as my first friend
in London. You were in the drawing
room when l came home that after
noon"
"And You will be sorry to lose your
first friend for even a few weeksY'
She nodded the reply her trembling
lips could not speak.
"Chris'-he laid one strong. firm
hand upon the girls nervous fingers
Chris, if l never left you, if | were
always with you in the future as your
Neutrality-suspicious. would be glad?"
Every gladr'
The words scarcely stirred the air,
but he caught them. They were
enough. for he rose and led her back
to the house.
lit was late next morning, almost
midday, when Christabel came dancing
downstairs, her feet like feathers,
her eyes like stars.
Lord Tregenna has been here,
miss said q servant. His 1ordship
asked for milady or for you, but, not
seeing either. left a note in the draw
ing-1Dom. His lordship will come back
to luncheon"
Singing a valse tune. Christabel ran
into the drawing-room. How happy
she was! He had been to see her, ITO
speak with her mother. He would
return presently and stand by her side,
never to leave her again.
Where was the note? She saw at
once the tiny corne of the envelope
sticking from her mothers blotter.
With hr1orn1.- +hot ry.a cold with nv