The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-10-29

CHAPTER XIV.

She went TO the nursery where Rupert
lay sleeping; the nurse sat by the childs
cot, and she looked up in horror at tbs
white, CHASTITY face of her lady
Mrs. Peters" said Lady VioIante
will you 60 and find the butler? Tel
him to see Lord Selwyn. and say from
me that | am tired, and unable To return
to the ballroom tonight
You look very i'll, my lady" said th
woman; is there anything | can do TO
?-anything | can get:'
Lady Niolante thanked her 1t was on
Of this unhappy lady's peculiarities to be
exceedingly kind to every one about her
and Mrs. Peters went down stairs. think.
ing to herself that of all the urhappy
women she had ever seen, none we're sc
unhappy as Lady Selwyn.
She found the butler, who sought his
Iordship and delivered his lady's message
Lord Vivian shrugged his shoulders sem
some commonplace message in return, anC
said TO himself it was always the same
"NioIante was always Ill whom there was
anything to do.
When the nurse was gone she knoll
down by her sleeping child. She laid he,
tired head on the white pillow by hi.
side
She laid her gentle hands on the child :
; beautiful head: she kissed with tie pas
sion of mothers love the sweet, white
eyeIids, the red. smiling lips. the honny
bright curls. with gold shining in them
She kissed the white hands that clutchoc
50 tightly. even in sleep. a chld's toy
then in her passion of grief. she PRAYED
aloud that heaven would bless the boy
! Little ali. 50 little,-dreamn of whel
and how she should kiss that face again.
She went to her writing table and open
ed the pretty little desk that lay there
% say. wondering in what words she
| could best reach his heart, so rs to touch
! him with some little sorrow for his loss
Then she wrote.
My Dear HuShand-I call You ny thai
name for the last time as l write for the
last time We are not happy and l am
! going from YOU You are bitterly disap.
pointed in me. | heard tonight that al
! Florence pitied you, and knew how nm
happy | made You: so. Vivian, am going
away where you will never see me any
more. If l could die and set you free. !
would. so gladly: but until heaven calls
me. | must live. dare not take my owI
. = ~
next best thing to that-I will go away
where no one who knows you will ever see
inc again So shall | free you from 4
presence you dislike, and from what yor
dislike even more-the need of par,ins
with Miss Leigh. She can remain now
that | have gone
The poor jealous heart revealed herseit
in that lne-her scalding tears fell liks
raindrops upon the note.
Lady Nioante took what money 70
manned in her desk. Half Of il she gave
10 her .laid. and took half herself. Then
from her wardrobe shelves she took a
small travelling bag; in il she placed heI
/ jewel case and the purse, together with
Il few papers. One contained a lock @:
( her hahy's hair. and was labeled "Ru
pert's hair" The other contained n faded
/ rose. the first flower Lord Vivian had eve-
/ given her. ana the third held the little
/ locket that Lord Vivian had Travelled &c
( oakside 10 give her. These were AeI
/ treasures; little rocked the unhappy CIR
/ Of the diamonds and ruhlcs her husband
/ had laviShed upon her her only thougnt
was for those. her treasures. dearer &c
I her than gold and jewels.
Then she gave the bag into her ma!i' :
/ care. and as she did 50. she was struck
/ ny the coliness Of the womau'S hand
Are you chill and cold:" she aska,!
and the woman shivered as thought il haze
/ been December
/ am cold, my lady" she replied. cold
sick and faint. as though with a great
+ dread. l cannot tell what has come over
mel feel as though | were going 10 die "
With ner OWL hands Lady Selwyr tcok
/ from the shelves thick. warm fur cloak
/ She wrapped II round ner maids shout
+ ders
/ That will warm you" she said. "Ani
Row listen while | explain my plans.
am determined thai l VIII not be traced
/ that which l ly from IS more bitter than
death, and viii rot be found. We VII