Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-06-12
Continued.

ANS""
CLEANS on her dark velvet dress, on
her exquisite point lace, and fine, cost
ly gems She looked regally proud,
haughty, and unbending the type Of
an English aristocratic matron, true to
her class, true to her order, intolerant
of any other AS she stood in the
heart of the rosy light the door opened
and this time the countess of LansWell
was startled out of her calm. There
entered the most beautiful girl she
had ever beheId-tall, slender, grace
EuI, exquisiteIy dressed, moving with
the most perfect grace and harmony;
her face like some grand, passionate
pOem-a girl lovely as an houri, who
walked up to her with serene and
queenly calm, saying:
Lady LanswelI, 1 am your sons
wife"
The countess, taken so entirely by
surprise, looked long and keenly into
that beautiful face-looked at the clear,
bright eyes, so full of fire and passion
at the lovely, imperial mouth, and
the whole face so full Of tragedy and
beauty; then in clear, distinct voice,
she answered:
''My son has no wife"
Leone drew the glove from her left
han6, holding it before my lady's eyes.
'Will you look at my wedding-ring!'
she asked.
A scornful smile played round my Ia
.dy's lips.
81 see a ring" she said, "but not a
wedding-ring. There can be no we'd
ding-ring where there is no marriage.
DO you believe that marriages are
. known in Heaven" Leone asked. DO
you believe that if marriage had been
contracted in the presence of Heaven,
witnessed by the angels, do you sup
pose that a mere legal bubble can set
1T aside?"
"You choose your arguments badly,
said the countess. eff you appeal to
Heaven, so can I. One Of the great
est commandments given from there
says, children, obey your parents
NV son is commanded by a divine
voice to obey me, and I forbid him to
marry until he is of age"
''You have not the power!" cried
Leone.
@'You are mistaken; not only the
power is mine, but have used it. The
foolish ceremony you choose to call
your marriage is already set aside"
Leone drew one step nearer to her
with flashing eyes.
~'You know that in your heart you
cannot believe it. You know that [
am your sons wife. You have brought
the great strong arm of the law upon
me. You have taken from me my nus
bands name. Yet neither you, nor
any human power can make me less
his WIFE He married me-" she con-
tinued, her eyes flashing, her face flush
ing, che married me before God, and
I say That you cannot undo that mar
riage I defy you"
"'True, I cannot undo it, but the law
both can and has done so. Half edu
Gated young ladies, who wish to make
such grand marriages. should have
common sense first No youth under
age, like my son, can legally marry
The flush faded from the beautiful
face, and gave place to white horror.
Leone looked at the countess.
<'You do not surely. think that mar
ried your son for any other reason ex-
cent that I loved him?" she cried
"Prav, believe that I have never
troubled myself in the least to think Of
your motive" said my lady
set loved him, Lady Lanswell, you
could never know now much You are
proud and naughty: YOU love hun
bred things. 7 loved but him. love
him with my whole heart and soul. If
he mad been a peasant instead of an
earl. being what he is. should have
loved him lust the same
Lady Lanswell's face darkened with
scorp.
set am willing to listen to ANYTHING
you may wish to saw. but beg Of
YOU 7nave all sUrFl nonsense as love
ont of the discussion. You have prob
ably come to see me becaHse Won want
money!. Let us come to the point at
once"
The nride that flushed the beautiful
face of thn Girl startled the naughty
pat~irian who stood before her.
Money" cried Leone. ct have never
thoroht IF money do not under
stand. WHY should 7 want money
from vou?'
To do Fer Justice, the countess
yShran1y from the words
SET should suppose" she said, "that
YOU will require some provision made
for YOU, now that you are leaving my
SOM"
eft was with difficulty that Leone
controlled herself Her whole frame
trembled with Indignation. Then the
color receded from her face and left
her white silent and motionless.
"T have been too hard" thought the