Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-07-25
WornanAgainst Woman
%BYG
MRS. M. A. HOLMES.

| AucnOFlC0S Ike you newer u1A0 ou1
you know"
Alice met the merciless glance Of
those golden-brown eyes.
st accept with pleasure" she re-
piled quietly. "Pray convey my
thanks to Lady Darrell. At whai
hour does she diner"
/ Valerie drew herself up ant
frowned. She had come to tormen
and trouble this low-born girl, an6
now found herself treated with al
most as much hauteur and indiffer
ence as she herself could assume.
Where did this girl get her manners
and ways of speech? queried Valerie
angrily. She was no common crea
ture, but bore herself with a grace
and ease that might we'll have be.
come queen.
''There will be guests she OBJ
served coldly, smoothing an imaginary
wrinkle in her glove, "and you will
pardon me, perhaps, but Lady Darrell
is very particular about ones gar
ments, so if i"
Thank you,'' answered the young
countess quietly; II have my maid
Davis; she will assist me. coulc
not think of giving you SO much
trouble Oh my behalf
Valerie's brows met again. 1t was
the first time Alice had shown her
spirit of determination, and Miss
Ross resented it now most bitterly.
Hitherto she had looked on Alice
as a plaything, an object on which
she could pour out the oYerfowins
bitterness of her heart; but now she
saw before her a woman, as beauti-
full as herself, and every whit as
proud.
''As you like she observed in
differently. 81 thought I might
have been able to give you some
hints. The dinner hour is eight, il
is usually half-past seven, but Lady
Darrell has it later tonight, on ac-
count Of the earl's arrival. forge
what train he is to come by; but o.
i course he wrote to tell YOU"
Alice's right hand grasped a chair
for support; a I2.st clouded her eyes
4 One thought was alone in her mind
the earl was coming-the earl, hel
husband. All else was forgotten;
Valerie, her stings, the long lonely
months-all but the one thought, sht
should see once more that handsome
face. hear that manly voice, CLASP
that strong hand.
A joy seemed to come to her sc
swift and sudden that it illumined hel
countenance as with glorious sun
shine.
Valerie saw the transient CLEAN
and her heart grew still more bitter
towards the girl-bitter, and Their
triumphant, for in that glance she
had read Alice's secret, the secret
that Alice herself as yet did not
compherend, that Roy Darrell's low
born wife truly loved him.
HE has not written to your she
broke in. "Ah, that was remiss!
thought he would have arranged TIC
dine with you instead Of his mother
But I expect he forgot all about
that-at least he said nothing touch
ing it in the letter I received from
MIN I0lS uOIuluS'
Alice's JOY died as suddenly as il
had been born. She f1inched as though
a blow had been struck her, but sale
nothing, and Valerie walked airilJ
from the room, feeling that she had
triumphed easily.
Left alone, Alice flung herself doWr
by the chair and buried her face in
her hands.
FORGET mel" she whispered. eyes
that is what she says, and she Is
right. He can do nothing but hate
me. And I-oh, what shame is or
me! I cannot help him. I must re-
main for ever a burden and tie
She rose and paced the room.
eHow cruel she isl What shall !
do? If I remain away she vii
triumph, and if l go; but I must
CO." She stood silent, her arms
crossed over her breast; a struggle
was tearing her young heart. L wi
go. I must be brave; better he
singing words than her contempt
If she thinks me afraid, she will taun
me forever with it, and that Woul(
kill me. No; | will must 90 II
whatever happens"
She rang the bell and Davis ap
peared.
Light the candles in my room, and
} unpack those dresses that came tn
other day from London. I dine witt
!, the earl and his mother tonight, AM
! I must look WE'LL"
: The maid bowed and left the room
with a mind full of wonder and ad
miration. Never had she seen tn
young countess seem so beautiful
vet she was changed.
There was something different
something that told she had passet
from a girl into a woman, that III
had begun with all its storms ant
Joys, it's trials and happiness.
y Il
In the Dowager, Lady DARRELL
apartment the waXen lights gl1m
mered in profusion from their silve,
i stands, and shed soft radiance from
! beneath their Silken shades.