Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-07-28
WomanAgainst Woman
tBYt
MRS, NJ. A. HOLMES.
.tBYt
MRS. NJ. A. HOLMES.
Continued.

dead of ennui and melancholia al
ready"
II am quite content" said Alice
slowly; then suddenly remembering
her duties: But will you not sit by
the fire, Miss Ross? This chair Is
most comfortable"
with thanks"
Valerie turned indlfferently toward
the fire. She ignored the chair, but
stood buttoning her gloves, with one
slender foot on the fender.
"You don't seem surprised to see
me-" she observed after moments
silence.
NO" answered Alice.
She did not add that she had grown
used to Valeria's cratic visits during
the last two months, and had ceased
to wonder ut them.
"Haye you heard from those worthy
people, your aunt and uncle. since
they left the village?" next queried
Miss Ross ever 80 lightly.
NO" said Alice again, this time
with crimson flush upon her checks.
There was something in Valerie's
tones that always made her wretched
brought her low origin In glazing
painfuness before her eyes.
"They are not considerate OF their
niece's welfare" observed Miss Ross.
Her gloves were buttoned; she let
her hands drop, and gazed at the
troubled young face before her In
differently.
Alice reused herself and tried to
smile.
"Aunt Martha Is only to ,..ad to
get rid OF me. She always looked on
me as a burden, and"
And was glad to see you happily
and well married." finished the other.
"Of course that was natural, was 1t
not?"
Alice's face was white now; her
hands clasped together, were cold
with the humiliation she was endur-
Ing.
She knew how cruel was the wo-
man opposite. and how powerless she
was to fight her The shame which
sometimes overcame her fell on her
heart now like heavy weight
She saw herself as Valerie thought
her--a vulgar, common girl, related to
people who were bought out OF the
village, out or the home they had
lived In for years. 80 that their
presence should not shock the eyes
Of tho castle. nor recall how low Its
master had sunk In mating with one
OF their number.
None knew-none knew--none could
ever know--what nm agony Of pain
and shame lived In the young heart
of Roy Darrell's wife.
She was utterly completely alone!
The man for whose sake she bar
tered her freedom left his home two
days after tho funeral OF his muir
dered friend.
His mother still occupied her rooms
In the castle. but there was chasn
between her and her sons wife.
She treated the girl with ceremony
and courtesy. Her wishes was con
suited in every way, but the olde,
woman--the proud descendant of NJ
ancient race--refused to sit at thu
table or be familiar with n girl whC
few days before had consorted Will
farm-help and laborers.
Occasionally the two Lady Darrell
met, and the elder woman woult
always drop deep courtesy to thu
shrinking, timd form of the younger
ht,t ihnu nun1 ~ wnrH
Valerie Ross alone appeared t
notice the girl thrown so suddenl,
into this strange life, but, though
to the world her overtures Of friend
ship seemed the essence OF kindness
and good nature, Alice knew to tn,
contrary, and always suffered tortur,
during the visits she received from
tho beautiful woman.
About a month after Roy's depar
ture news reached the castle that tn,
Earl of Darrell, his elder brother, {
man who had been wanderer from
his home for many years, was dead
leaving no heir: and Roy Darrell
succeeded to the title and the es
tates.
The tidings We're communicated L
Alice'in the most ceremonious man.
ner, but the fact that now she was {
countess, and moreover. entire mis-
tress OF the castle, did not appear tC
touch her.
She was growing day by day NOR,
wretched rs she saw how great
mistake 1t had all been and how
wretched her lie must be, hencefortl
passed in the gloomy solitude tina
appeared to be her lot.
Valerie Ross, standing by the fire
watched her face blanch, with pain
and the smile on her lips deepened.
II was almost a pleasure to her I,
make this young heart suffer, Sh,
had gone through such tortures her
self when her faithless lover die
that 1t seemed to have killed all tn,
tenderness and womanliness In her.
Alice reused herself at last.
Have You anything particular /,
tell me9" she asked hurriedly. turnin,
to open her book with tremhlin,