Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-08-01

] silent. We're thrown open, and crowded
with young and beautiful faces. W,
| had plays and charades, in which thu
| heiress Of Arne, dressed in the sill
| brocades Of the last generation, looked
more lovely and fascinating than ever
we had picnics and riding parties
dances in the evening III the long pic
ture gallery-everythi in short, cal
culated to amuse the young and pleas
ure-loving- in all Hugh Stuart
took his part.
l took mine also, but it was a very
minor one. Beatrice was queen OF
every revel-I was her humble slave
[ searched old books for costumes Tor
her. and drew and invented many a
Quaint design at her bidding, amply
rewarded if she smiled and said,
''IEank you, Paul
Old Squire Stuart was warmly at
tached to me, and l was his constant
companion; he would not inspect his
accounts, visit his tenants, look over
the estates, write his letters, or do any
thing, indeed, unless l were by his
side.
~ wish you were my SON. Paul, he
often said; and Oace, as he uttered the
words, my eyes unconsciously wan
iered 10 the beautiful, queenly heireSs
Of Arne.
His glance followed mine.
NO, not that" he said, grave!y-
''anything but that. If Beatrice were
not my .heiress nothing would please
me better; but on her falls the re-
sponsibility of upholding the family
rame and honor. She must marry one
who can add lustre to a luStrOus name,
vino can add wealth and fame to Il
wealthy and famous race. Beatrice
viii have to marry as queen-regnants
do, from policy and not for the weak
child's-play called love. But surely,
Paul" he continued, locking at my
grave, quiet face-''Sulely you do not
love herr"
We were walking up and down a
broad path in the garden. For all an
swer l plucked a deep crimson rose
and said:
Il love her as this flower loves the
sun"
"Ah, l dare sAyr' ne replied, happily
unconscious of the inner and deeper
meaning of my words. That is all
right Paul. l should have not liked
my old friends son to carry an aching
heart through life"
And then he began to tell me all his
plans for the heiless of Arne. The
next estate to Arne and the one said
to be the richest and finest ill the cOun-
try was that of Hardley. At the time
write of, young Lord Hardley had
just succeeded to it; he had not yet ar
rived to take possession, but the whole
neighborhood was in a state of intense
excitement over his expected coming.
"Hardley Joins Arne," said the
squire, land | tell you, Paul, the dear
est wish of my heart is that the young
lord who inherits it may love and we'd
my niece There would be no sucn
fine property in England as the two
together would make. What do you
think of the plan?'
1T would be a grand one" I re-
piled. eff Miss Stuart should like her
suitOT."
"She must like him." was the vehe-
ment reply. 'And mind you, Paul,
she will. Pea trice is fl to be queen.
She would make no fit wife for poor
man; and 1 do not think she would
tolerate one who depended upon her.
She must like him. l shall invite him
over here as soon as he comes down,
and she will be Lady Hardley in less
than six MONTHS
What did it matter to me? Why did
my lip culver and my heart beat fast?
Why need l lie awake through the
long, silent hours Of the night, recall
ing every expression of that perfect
face, every infection of that musical
voice, thinking over every careless
word she had ever spoken, the frank.
SiSterly kindness she had ever shown
me-,hinkiDg until my heart burned
and my eyes grew dim? Sooner or
later the blow must fall. Who was L
that I should dare to love her? l, a
poor, paid dependent-she,t the beauti-
full, brilliant heiress of Arne!
Wild dreams came to me- l would
go out into the world and make for
myself a name that she would be
proud to share; alone and unaided
would climb TO heights attained by
few. | would work as man never
worked, and when the laurels were
mine l would lay them at her feet.
So did l dream; but reason told me
that long before wealth or fame was
mine the heiresS of Arne would be
wooed and won.
When l looked at the fair, proud face
of Beatrice Stuart, noted the firm lips,
the calm, deep eyes, the perfect self
possession and self-reliance, l knew
that Hugh Stuart might plan as ne
wOuld-that, if his plans did not please
her, they would be laid in vain.
l waited with some anxiety for Lord
Hardley's coming. Rumor told us how
magniticently the hall had been refur-
niShed and decora ted. We heard of
statues and pictures from Italy, OF
, choice books, of exquisite flowers and
plants; and, lastly, the squire told US
with a well-pleased smile, that he had
seen in Lord Hardley's stables finel
hunters than any he had ever ridden.
! Our neighbor must be a man OF
i varied tastes" he said to Beatrice. -
am told that Hardley Hall is scarcely
, to be recognized in it's new aspect.
/ '.Nhpn is hp pOnlinp2' in011ira6 Rna