Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-28
".
"HandSOma Mr.. Rex Verne

hope Castle" vas a nine days wonder
in the newspapers: and was discussed
in country houses, with many virtuous
structures or Lady Stanhope's careless
ness.
And she wore the diamonds on her
wedding-day.," cried sentimental young
ladies. to which responded a satirical
lady, II don't think that would add to
her regret, my dears!"
The detectives were at fault. and
the gun-smith whose name the revolver
bore recollected nothing, save that he
had sold such a pair to q young gen
tleman some time before. which
strengthened Mr.. Benson from Scot
land Yard in an idea he had that this
was the work of a ''harnateur." And
so, when, in February, the Stanhopes
came to town for the season, the topic
had died a natural death. 1t was re-
yiTed, indeed, to condoie with the fair
loser, but then dropped. Baptiste was
not with his master.
SO March came around and neither
dust nor wind had power to keep the
crowd away from Burlington House
for the winter exhibition. The court
yard was lined with a double row of
carriages, and, among these %connois-
seurs in such things recognized the
neat victoria and pair of grays which
everyone" knew was Lady Stan
hopes. She then must be one of the
visitors within these walls. Upstairs
people were whispering and looking
after a tall and graceful form clad in
black velvet and rich fur-lined mantle,
on the coils of whose glittering hair
rested a hat a cavalier might have
worn, its dropping black plumes
clasped with a jewel. Lovely was
Clare %Stanhope; every month seemed
to add something to her rare beauty;
and the pride that lay upon her brow
and in every line of the firm lips could
not detract from that beauty. even
had it not been somewhat softened by
the light in the dark eyes.
'Who is that beautiful grip whis-
pered strangers and outsiders.
THAT is Lady Stanhope liOn't you
know" others answered. you must
remember the robbery of the StanhOpe
diamonds-that is the Lady Stanhope
only eighteen now, | fancy. She's
in mourning for her father, who died
very shortly after the marriage they
say he had made up"
And every head went round, par.
ticularly the male heads, and she
bowed and smiled to one and another,
and seemed or careless of the
notice she attracted. She was moi
alone. Her young companion was
Dora Trent, radiant, bright, bewitch
ing; but no one gave her a second
look just now.
"But what made you come at this
times said Lady Stanhope, smiling 6
little. you see n can scarcely ge'
near the pictures-and you have no
seer them, have you, yet?"
"Oh! no." laughed Dora. "But wha'
did you come for?"
"I?" Glare lifted her brows ant
smiled-it was not a bright smile
"For a hundred reasons-to see TIT
world-to meet people-pour passer l
temps-what does n do anything for
Certainly not to look at the pictures
1 always did that before clever
o'clock"
: "You queer girl! But you are s.
critical and artistic, and that sort o
, thing! Well, I came to quiz the pee
pie"
t ga laudable reason, ma chere! Tn
pictures, then, are a secondary cor
t s%ideration,'' said Lady Stanhope.
e ooh! quite" returned Dora, lightly
'"You know 1 don't go in for the 81
= we're in art, and 1 don't understand a
: the distances and 'tints,' and all tina
j that you and Lionel enjoy. By tn
+ bye, isn't your brother coming to tow
d soon?'
What a light seemed suddenly to i
" lumine Clare's eyes at the mentlo
n even of that loved brother! Did sue
light ever dwell there at the sound
= her husbands name?"
d He might come this evening" 81
Y answered.
"How nice for you if he does? / a
S glad, l liked him so much when v
Ie met him at Lausanne-he is so clever
. He is taking a good place in Il
lie university, Lionel thinks" She brol
off suddenly. Under the rich ferns Il
le delicate hands were pressed convl
il sively together for a scarcely perceI
N ible pause; then she finished quietl
as though she had never stopp'
f speaking-"that Wilfred will make
name some day. Look at this pictul
- Dora" she added, turning aside to
I'll beautiful Caracci-''I am sure you W
r. like it."
n Dora looked and admired, and
rs, statue outwardly, doing fierce bat
es with the risen ghost of the past-wi
le- the thrill of strange joy that had ST
IS through her.
But Dora's eyes were soon wand
Sir ing away from the aureoied Madon
err, and Child, and she touched La
he Stanhope, saying, eagerly:
ar- "Look over there, Glare. Dc Y
see some one you know-handsome !
IN. Werner? He sees you, and is conf
as your way"
7ill Clare raised her eyes and turned
tie a young and very handsome man, af
nd whom many looked, crossed the 70
quickly and came to her side, hold
out his hand with a smile both brii
he and winning.
led II thought 1 could not be mistake
he said. almost eagerly. as he claSI