Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-03-28
CHAPTER III.

..So there is TO pc qulte party mere
tho autumn, my DEAR said Lady
,n+ addressing her young hostess,
no sat by small table, turning over
hook OF photo graphs and talking to
s,ra-a gay aud pretty maiden just
s,sattted to tAe world" who had
susn violently in love with Clara.
cha and her mother had been stay
- ar Lausanne, where, it seemed
nav had met with Wilfred's reading
or+y Dora was half kneeling on a
.w chair beside Lady Stanhope, look
- ut the photographs. OF the other
Members of the party some had drawn
,,und the fire, while Lionel was listen
NJ 10 the lively talk of the young
,ountess Of Tregaron. But often his
ives rested on his wife's Bonded head:
nd across his companions chatter he
>,,,ld hear her sweet-toned voice and
boras merry laugh.
Clara looked UP as Lady Trent adj
dressed her.
"a large party? Yes; there will be
enough gayety, | hope, to satisfy even
IA,ra," answered Clara, with smile.
sDo YOU know" continued Lady
brent, Eve met some one you know at
ausanne- passing through-Mr. Yer
ber. or Rex Werner, as every one calls
hfm"
Lionel, whose glance just then had
,rested on his wife. saw her lift her
ayes for enc sec0nd-saw that from
their depths sprung look as of one
who has sustained some mental shock.
II passed directly, as If she had not
heard the words that called 1t forth.
81 remember" she answered; then,
quietly. in her usual manner, $50 you
met him? / did not know he was
abroad"
"He was on his way to England,
believe. He spoke a great deal of
Tou my dear" said Lady Trent, with
smile. "But your brother did not
seem to like him. Indeed, I scarcely
wonder, for, from all / hear, Mr..
"A Werner is-somewhat Of worthless
4 fellow"
II suppose he is much like other
/ young men," remarked Clara. turning
over the leaves of the album.
Dora broke in deprecatingly, the
young men near having been drawn
off by the countess to look at some
piece of Moorish carving which Sir
Lionel had brought from Granada.
ooh, mammal he Is so handsome and
so nice!"
"A woman's speech, Dorar' said
Clara, passing her handkerchief over
her lips to hide her quivering.
Gle is certainly, with one exception,
the most handsome man have ever
seem" observed Lady Trent. emphati-
cally. "Lonel is the exception. But
there is undoubtedly singular fascin-
alton about him-Verner l mean. He
has all that bright, winning manner
Of the Irish gentleman. | quite think
1t ia impossible to remember what a
seapegrace he is"
Some one has been giving Mr.. Yer
ner a very bad character" said Clara,
STOPPING to pick up her handkerchief,
which she had let fall. 81 am afraid
his friends have been busy"
"0h, Clara! you naughty, sarcastic
GIRL" cried Dora. Ellis enemies-if he
has anyr
There lives no man, Dora" Clara
said, lifting her eyes to the girls face
and speaking with an unconscious bit
terness in the clear voice $50 winning,
so handsome, so favored who has not
his enemies ready to hound down his
faults carefully passing over the few
virtues his friends leave him."
But really, my dear Clara" re-
marked Lady Trent, Il have heard
stories about Mr.. Werner which are
quite authentic. Mr. Davenant told me
he was we'll known at Monaco-that
paradise of gamblers; and other stories
o. course there arc. However. l have
no doubt he has many temptations.
May | ask for whom that gentle
palliation Is made, Grace?' said the
soft voice Clara had never more
dreaded to hear; and Lionel came up
% the group. Certainly temptation
covers a multitude of SINS
Lady Trent was telling me she had
met some one we knew. remarked
Clara answering before her cousin.
She is very severe on a young man
who IL wen known at Monaco; and of
whom there are other Stories but al
lows that he may have temptations"
"A very handsome man like Rex
werner, said Lady Trent, smoothing
ner dress, SIS certain to find host
z apologists among the youth of the
Fair sex. Am l not right, LionelT'
Turn 1t the other way, Grace" re-
Piled Sir Lionel, half smiling, "and
you will find the same fault--it fault
De A woman's apologist is rarely
Iand among those of her own sex"
Tiara shaded her eyes with her hand.
aud seemed to be looking at the picture
before her; but no light of that picture
4"elt on her sight. Outwardly calm
aAd Intensely quiet, she suffered I'm
.aat moment a very agony internally.
INV should those words make her al
most sick-diZzy with a wild fear7
Rut we are getting very grave for
drawing room conversation" added
es3naape; some one over there Is
ttklEg for music III. Yarhq ~ van ara