, 1898-12-23

her son looked up at her in wondering
amaze.
Like lightning the thought flashed over
hsrn. Gould it be himself? Was it posi-
Bile that Beatrice had loved him all these
years-that she had refused such excellent
offers for his sake? He was but a NOR
lal man, and his vanity was fattered at
the thought.
Mother" he said, gently, you should
have been less or more explicit. Tell me
truly, do you mean that Beatrice cares
for me In that kind OF way-you known
81 should not have spoken" she said.
"Do not be angry with me, Vivian. l be-
ieve she has loved and cared for you all
her life."
"I never dreamed Of such a thing" he
said simply, and the conversation ended.
But he thought again and again of his
mothers words. Beatrice loved him, and
ne thought to himself that he might just
IS well make her happy as not. Every
one was telling him that he ought to mar
~ again, that a mistress was wanted for
Eelwyn Castle, and a mother for his young
heir. He was fiattered to think that she
loved him. 1t would make her happy, it
would make bis mother happy; as for him
self-Lord Vivian shrugged his shoulders
Happiness and sorrow were much alike
to him.
Two or three days afterward Lord Sell
wyn asked Miss Leigh if she could spare
him a few minutes, he had something i'm
portant to say, and she who had long
ceased to hope that the desire of her heart
would be given to her, thought it was
something about Rupert, or the domestic
affairs of the household, and told him she
was going down to the lodge, and he might
walk with her.
So they went together down the fresh,
dewy glades of the park; there was a
tender green on the young larch buds,
and pink May shone bright on the hedges,
and then Lord Selwyn, without any show
OF passion or great affection, asked Bea-
trice Leigh If she would be his wife.
There was one flash of startled joy in
her face, one CLEAN of love that for a
moment made her beauty almost divine,
then she answered quietly as he had
asked, and Lord Selwyn half-wondered if
bis mother had been mistaken.
They were married very quietly; and
q Lady Beatrice Selwyn, remembering
what she had called Lord ViEian's Gin
fatuation'' for the young wife, felt any
disappointment that he showed no infat-
aation for her, she made no sign. She had
secured her hearts desire; she had driven
the fair, loving young wife, her rival, by
scorn and insult, by continual petty per-
seeutions, by woman's wit and woman's
malice, from home-she reigned in her
own place, and she was content.
The only thorn in her crown was that
Violante's son must one day be lord of
Selwyn Castle, and she began to hate the
ehild with a jealous hatred that exceeded,
Il possible, the enyious dislike she had
Cor his beautiful but hapless mother.
One sunny afternoon in June Lady Bea-
trice Selwyn, tired and languid, has or
1ered the blinds to be lowered, and the
mellow light that fills the room is soft
ard rose colored.
Too tired to read, too languid to think,
Lady Beatrice lies upon the couch, wish
ing. the heat of the day were over.
And while the summer heat broods ST
emily over the white lilies, the rector of
ThOraReigh, DIR. Hearne, walked through
the green park and pleasure grounds of
Creighton to seek Lord Selwyn. He