Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-07-27


pleasure and gayety. There was
a picnic there was very simple mat
Ter. They heard OF very beautiful
spot, drove there, remained there so
long as it suited them, then went back
again. There we're, as there always
are, some very nice English people at
Nice, but none like fair, sweet Lady
Marion.
J AS the charm Of her sweet character
grew upon him, Lord Chandos liked
her more and more. He enjoyed her
society. She was not witty, she could
not amuse whole room full OF peo-
pie, she could not create laughter, she
was not the cause of wit in others, nor
did talking to her awake the magma
lion and arouse all the faculties OF
ones mind.
Talking to her was rest grateful as
the shade Of green trees after the glare
of the summers sun. The sweet voice,
the clear, refined accent, the gracious
and gentle thoughts, the apt quota
tions, all were something to remember.
| She was by no means a genius, but
she was well read, and had the power
Of remembering what she read, had the
gift of making the most of her knowl-
edge. If you wished for an hours in
| teresting conversation, there was no
one like Lady Marion. She had such
curious odds and ends Of information;
| her reading had been universal. She
had some knowledge on every point.
She had her own ideas, too, clearly de-
fined and straightforward, not liable to
vary with every paper she read, and
in these days one learns to be thankful
for consistency. On those warm,
lovely, lifeg giving days, when the sun
and sky, earth and air flower and tree
did their best, 1t was Lord Chandoa
who liked to lingcr under the vines
talking to this fair girl whose very
face was n haven Of rest
He never thought of love at all in
connection with her, he felt SO sure Of
the one great fact that he loved his
wife; he forgot that there could be
such a thing as danger or temptation
Lady Marion had grown TO love him;
it was impossible to help it; he had
great and grave faults as all men have,
but he was so brave and fearless, so
gallant and generous, so kind and chiy-
aIrous no one could help loving him.
his faults were loyablc, fact tina.
was much TO be regretted, since, if they
had been disagrGcable, he might have
been cured of them.
Lady Marion, in her quiet gcn,leI
fashion, had learned to love him. She
appealed to him continually; the read
ing Of a book the singing Of a song
The arrangement Of a days plans, the
choosing of acquaintances. on each
and all Of these points she made him
her contldant and guide; it was 50
gently and so naturally done that he
nsensibly guided her whole life with
ont knowing 1t. What Lord Chandos
said or thought was her rule. It was
such a pleasure to guide and advise
her she was SO yielding, so gentle, she
took such a pride in obeying him; she
would apologize to him at times and
say:
Il told you, Lord Chandos that |
must always have a stronger mind than
my own to lean upon. "
. He listened 10 the words with a
smile, but it did not occur to him that
she would not have his mind to lean
upon much longer, for he must 30
home to England to Leone. Once or
twice lately he had been much struck |
with Lady Marion's manner, She was
SO gracious, so charming with him.
When he had suddenly entered he |
room where she was sitting he had
seen the crimson blush that rose over
her white neck and brow. He noticed |
,oo that she rarely, ii ever, raised her
eyes to his face until that blush had
passed away, lest they should tell their
own secret, And one day he said to
her:
why do YOU never give me n frank,
open look, Lady Marion-such as you
gave me always when | knew you
first? Now You turn your face away
and your eyes droop Have dis
pleased you?'
No. she replied, gently; lit is not
that; YOU could not displease me,
Then you are keeping some secret
from me, he said, and she smiled
slow, sweet. half-sad smile that stirred
his heart with curious power.
have no secret" she said "or If |
have it matters little to anyone but
myself.
Tell me your secret, Lady Marion
he said, with sigh.
Il will answer you in the words of
my Cavoritc poet" she Said listen,
Lord Chandos."
They We're standing under the shade
of clustering vine. the wind that
kissed both fair young faces was full
OF perfume the flowers shat boomed
around them We're full OF sweetest
odors, the whisper OF the odorous wind
VAS no swccter than the voice in which
she quoted the words:
Perhaps some languid summer day,