Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-08-25
WomanAgainstW Woman
tBYt
MRS. NJ. A. HOLMES.
ABYt
MRS. NJ. A. HOLMES.


What was it? Could it be that
Roy, Earl Of Darrell, was growing
jealous Of his low-born wife.
Alice saw nothing of his expires.
sion, but she saw Valerie standing
near him, the bouquet in her hands
81 have been trying to console my
husband, Miss Ross" she said in hei
clear, sweet voice, but he would not
be consoled. You were late to claim
your promised gift of flowers"
The earl bit his lip, and walked
away. A sudden wish came to him
that Valerie and her flowers were
far distant. A veil seemed to be
falling from his eyes. He glanced
from Valerie's handsome face, with
its hard, passionate look, to Alice S
! sweet, lovely countenance lit with
womanly tenderness and gentleness,
and his wife's pleased him the most.
Her bearing, too, astounded yet graft
fed his pride, and unconsciously his
heart swelled as he pictured her
triumph.
Valerie, quick to read his honest
face, understood these thoughts and
she was maddened almost to frenzy.
The girls appearance, her GOODNESS,
were poisoned darts to Valerie's
h!ighted heart, and she vowed to be
avenged and to abase the low-born
wife of Roy Darrell.
CHAPTER VIII.
The crowd of guests streaming in
kept the earl we'll occupied.
He stood at the head of the salon,
the slight form in white satin and
diamonds beside him.
To all and each Alice gave her
sweet smile and gentle word; no
trace of fear or awkwardness was in
he" demeanor.
Everyone was amazed.
They had come filled with wild
curiosity to see the farm girl who
had so suddenly and strangely be-
come a countess, and, instead Of
boholding a series Of terrible social
blunders performed by sturdy
darymaid, they saw nothing but a
lovely patrician girl, whose charms
and wondrous beauty eclipsed even
Miss Valerie Ross, long considered
the goddess of all loveliness by the
folk around the castle
From her chair, Lady Darrell
noticed their astonishment; and felt
that she sympathised with it, Her
heart woke from the bitter disap-
rointment that had lived in it ever
since the day she learned of her sons
the fair young wife.
Where does she get her Manner
she unused to herself "She is pa
trican from head to foot. Roy has
TO need of shame tonight; his wife
has achieved a success"
Then she sighed little as her
eyes wandered to tall, stately form,
on whose red-brown hair the rubies
and diamonds quivered like jewelled
deNdrops.
Poor Valerie!" she said to herself
If it only could have been! l am
sure she loves Roy now whatever her
feelings were before Eustace died
She, too, would have made proud
countess tonight. Yet this girl holds
her own"
At last all the guests were assem-
bled, the testimonial was handed to
the earl, and dinner was announced
Alice found herself led in by Sir
Robert Carlyle, and smiled to herself
as she read the admiration and
amazement on his face.
The dinner proved long and teii-
Gus to her, though not to the ma
iCrity.
Alice had pleasure. however, in
looking at all the wonderful gold and
silver ornaments, cups, goblets, dishes
and vases, that stood on the table,
1t was glimpse of fairyland to
her. and the earl, glaNcing from his
seat at the far end of the room,
watched her bright look of admira-
ton, and felt again that new SEN
Sation which was growing stronger
and stronger in his heart.
Dinner over, the ladies with
dew, and Alice found her time oc-
Cupied In chatting with all the
great danes, whose faces she recol-
iected from seeing them In their
carriages dashing along to Nestley
town.
Valerie had said little all the
evening, but she was thinking the
more, Her hate for Alice had grown
tonight to passion. The truth
that Roy was gradually becoming ia
terested-nay attracted by his wife.
laShed her to madness. 1t was in
deed woman against woman
Lady Darrell was right, Valerie
loved Roy now with all the power
Of her heart; not as she had wor-
shipped Eustace Rivers, but with
great passion Of genuine affection and
tenderness. She had been living IN
dream these two days past
She felt secure in Roy's love, and
thought of Alice only as cloud on
the horizon of her happiness; but
now she realized she was indeed
living in dreamland