Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-02-10
CHAPTER XII

oir Raoul Iaureston had been for three
| weeks at Halby House; during that time
ne naa grown to love the young countess
us though she had been a sister of his
| own. Ihey agreed very well together;
| put then Raoul was always different from
| otner men7Ta preux chevalier. For whole
Gays together the earl did not see his
WlIe, and oftener now than ever he dined
from home.
One smiling June morning Lord Cara
ven had, for wonder, breakfasted with
the countess and Sir Raoul. They had
been talking about their plans for the
summer, when the earl looked up with a
| good-tempered laugh.
Do you know" he said, .that I am
literally tired of hearing the constant rep
etition of titles? Raoul, you claim re-
iatlonshlp with Lady Caraven, why not
call her Mildred? Hildred, why not give
over your formal and ceremonious Sir
and simply say 'Raoul!'"
L shall be only too happy" said Sir
| Raoul, IF my dear and beautiful kins-
woman will permit it,
Before the young countess had time to
answer Lord Caraven laughed again.
What old-world notions you have,
Raoul! Fancy talking about "a dear and
beautiful kinswoman.'
And why not, Uric? 1t seems to me
that the people in your set sheer at every
thing simple and noble. repeat the ex-
pression-my dear and beautiful kins-
woman, have y.sur permission to lay
aside your title and call you 'Hildredg I"
Yes" she replied, ''if you wish it, Sir
Raoul."
sit must be On equal terms then.''
IF you wish it, Raoul," she said. Her
face flushed, her dark eyes dropped and
her fingers played nervously with the dia-
mond cross on her breast.
THAT is BETTER" said the earl. II al
ways felt compelled to be formal myself
when heard YOU"
Perhaps the distress that Sir Raoul
Laureston could not help feeling for the
sorrows Of his fair young kinsWoman was
too much for the weak, shattered frame,
or it may have been that the air Of Raw
ensmere did not suit him. He was not
well for many weeks after his arrival.
He did not actually keep his room; the
earl, who was tender enough and anx-
ious enough where his cousin was con-
cerned, had ordered two Of the largest,
lightest and most cheerful apartments in
the castle to be prepared for him, and
Lady Caraven was only too anxious to ar
range everything most luxuriously for
him.
More than once, when she came to read
to him, always bringing with her sweet
est flowers and choicest fruits, he had no
ticed that her face was pale and her eyes
were heavy with weeping. Once, as she
bent over him to show him the lovely
bloom on peach, he said to her
"Hildred, do you spend the whole night
in tears?"
sSometimes," she replied; "but, Raoul,
do not talk to me about i'll would rather
speak on any other subject than myself. /"
He respected her wish. ;.
The quiet of Ravensmere was indeed
broken up-the house was filed with
guests.
Lady Caraven did not like some of the
people whom the earl had invited. If not
rude. they were neglectful Of her-seem-
ed to know her position by instinct
ed to guess that she was an unloved wife,
that she had been married for her money,
and had a title instead of love.
One morning she was quite alone In the
castle. The whole party had gone out
riding and driving, some of them greatly
disappointed at not having their beauti-
ful young hostess with them; but she
thought Sir Raoul looked worse that
morning, so would not leave him. She
was busily engaged in reading to him,
when servant came to say that poor
woman was waiting to see her.
Il tried to send her away, your lady
ship.', said the man, "but she begged SO
hard that had not the heart"
''Tried to send her away! Why did you
do that?" asked Lady Caraven.
81 think she is one of the tenants, your
ladyship: and his lordship gave orders
that they should never be attended to
here-they were to be sent to Mr.. Blan-
tyre. If I have done wrong, l am sorry
for it,
"You have done right" she said; "no
blessing ever comes to q house where the
moor and the sorrowful are sent from the
door,"
Not even to "a servant would she utter
one word in disparagement Of her hus-
band. although she thought the order a
cruel one.
(To be continued.)