Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-25
CHAPTER XIV.
"True Until DEATH. "


"True Until DEATH"
! or some long months that case
stood on the records. Every paper in
England had some mention OF 1t; as
rule people laughed when they read
anything about it, They said 1t was
a case of Corydon and Phyllis-a dali
ry-maiu's love, a farce, a piece of ro-
mantle nonsense on the part of a
young nobleman who ought to know
better 1t created no sensation. The
papers did not make much of it; they
simply reported II petition on the part
Of the Right Honorable the Earl of
Lanswell and Lucia, his wife, that the
so-caled marriage contracted by their
son, Launcclot, Lord Chandos, should
be set aside as Illegal on account Of
his being a minor, and having married
without their consent.
There was Il long hearing, a long
consideration, a long lawsuit; anu it
was, as everyone uad foreseen it would
be, in favor of the earl against his son.
The marriage was declared null and
vold-the contract Illegal; there could
be no legal marriage on Lord Chan
dos side without the full ana perfect
consent of his parents.
When tuaL decision was given, Lady
LanswclI smiled. Mr.. Sewel congrat-
ulated her on it. My lady smileu
again.
Il may thank the law" she said.
(which frees my son from the conse-
qucnces Of his own folly"
Remember" said the lawyer, That
he can marry her, my lady, when he
comes of age"
Il know perfectly well that he will
not replied the countess but Mr..
Sewell did not feel so sure.
The earl, the countess and the So
icitor sat together at Dunmore House
in solemn consultation. They were
quite uncertain what should be the
next step taken. Due legal notice had
been given Lord Chandos. He had
simply torn The paper into shreds and
laughed at it-laughe0 at the idea that
any law, human or divine, could scpa-
rate him from his young wife. He
took no notice of it.; he never appeared
in answer to any inquiry or summons;
he answered no questions; the lawyer
into whose hands he had half laugh
ing placed the whole matter had every
thing to do for him, and wondered at
the rccklessness with which the young
lord treated the whole affair
1t was all over now; and the decree
which had parted them, which severed
the tie between them, had gone forth
the marriage was void anu worth moth
ing.
The matrons OF Belgravia who read
1t said 1t was perfectly right there
was no doubt ttat he had been in
weighed into 1t; and If such thing
were allowed to go unpublished there
would be no more safety for their
curled uarlings; they would be at the
mercy of any designing. underlined
girl who chose to angle for them.
Men of the world smiled as they read
it, and thought Lord Chandos well out
of what might nave been u very serious
trouble. Young people thought little
about it, the Belgravian bellies merely
said to one another that Lord Chandos
had been In some kind of trouble, but
that CHS parents had eXtricated him.
And then all comment ended: even the
second day after the Judgment was
given 1t had been forgotten.
When the Countess of I.answel held
in her hands tie letter which told her
the desire of her heart was granted and
her son free, for few moments she
was startled, her handsome face paled,
her hands trcmbled; it had been II
desperate step, but she had won She
had the greatest faith in her own re-
sources; she felt a certain conviction
that in the en0 she would win. but
for one moment she was half startled
at her own success.
Let us send for Lance here to Cav
dor" she said to the earl, while Mr..
Sewell sees the girl and arranges with
her. He must nave carte blanche over
money matters; whatever he thinks at
to mention ! shall agree to. IL a
thousand year contents her. am
willing"
Yes, yes It is no question of mon
ey, said the earl. 1T will be a great
trouble to her, naturally. and We are
bound to make What compensation We
can. II YOU visit me to send for Lance
! will do SO at once. will send a
telegram from the station at Dunmore;
he will be here soon after noon.
To be Continued.