Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-11-27
CHAPTER LII.


Chandos was justly indignant anc
wounded. If her husband had trusted
her, all might, even then, have beer
well, but he did not; he said to himself
that she would forget the story OF hel
annoyance in time, and all would be
well. He did not give his wife credit
for the depth of feeling that she really
possessed. Fiercest most cruel Jeal
ousy had taken hold of the gentle lady
It racked and tortured her; the color
faded from her face, the light from
her eyes. She grew thin and pale. A
night she could not sleep, by day she
could not rest. All her sweetness
grace and amiability seemed to have
given way to grave sadness; the soune
of her laughter, her bright words, dice
away; nothing interested her. She
who had never known trouble OF
care now wore the expression OF one
who was heart-broken. She shranh
from all gayety, all pleasures, al
parties; she was like the ghost OF he1
former self; yet after those words OF
her husbands she never spoke again
Of Madame Vanira. The sword was
sheathed in her heart and she kept it
there.
There is no pain SO cruel as jealousy;
none that so quickly deteriOrates a
character; it brings so many evils in
it's train-suspicion, envy, hatred OF
life, distrust in everyone and in every
ne. 1t is the most fatal passion
that ever takes hold of human heart,
and turns the kindest nature to gall.
There was no moment during the day
in which Lady Chandos did not picture
her husband with her rival; she drove
herself almost mad with the pictures
she made in her own mind. All the
cruel pain, the sullen brooding, the hot
anguish, the desolation, the jealousy,
seemed to surge over her heart and
soul like the waves of a deadly sea-
If she saw her husband silent and alb
stracted, she said he was thinking of
Madame Vanira. She saw him laugh
and light of heart she said he was
pleased because he was going to see
Madame Vanira She had sensible and
reasonable grounds for jealousy, but
she was unreasonably jealous.
"Trif1es light as air
Are to the jealous confirmation
strong
AS proofs of holy writ.
It was so with Lady Marion, and her
life at last grew too bitter to be borne.
There was excuse for Lord Chandos.
The mistake was in renewing the &C
ouaintance-a mistake that can never
be remedied.
People were beginning to talk.
hen Lord Chandos was mentioned,
they gave significant smiles. Against
Madame Vanira there had never been
even the faintest rumOr Of scandal;
but certain idea was current IN soc1-
ety-that Lord Chandos admired the
queen of song. No one insinuated any
wrong, but significant smiles followed
the mention of either name.
Madame Vanira was at Lady Mar
tyn's last night" one would say
And the laughing answer was al
rays:
"Then Lord Chandos was not very
Lr away"
Madame Vanira sang to perfection
Fidelio," would remark one.
Another would answer:
Lord Chandos wopld know how to
applaud"
Madame Vanira was more eagerly
sought after than other women IN
London. She reigned queen, not only
over the stage, but over the world OF
fashion also.
The Countess of Easton gave a grand
ball-it was the most exclusive of the
season. After much praying Madame
Vanira had promised to go, and Lady
Chandos was the belle of the ball.
They had not met since the evening
madame had sung for her, and Lord
ChandOs had many an anxious thought
as to what their next meeting would be
like. He knew that Leone would bear
much for his sake, yet he did not know
what his wife would be tempted to say.
They met on the night OF Lady
Eastons ball. Neither knew that the
other was coming. If Lady Chandos
had dreamed of meeting Leone there
she would not have gone. AS it was,
they met face to face in the beautiful
ante-room that led to the ballroom.
Face to face. Leone wore superb
dress of pale amber brocade, and Lady
Chandos a beautiful costume Of pale
blue velvet, the long train of which
was fastened with white, shining
pearls.
1t was like the meeting of rival
queens. Leone's face flushed, Lady
Marion's grew deadly pale. Leone held
out her hand; Lady Marion declined
to see it. They looked at each other,
then Leone spoke.
Lady Marion" she said, in a low,
panied voice, "have I displeased you?'
eyes, you have" was the brief reply.
''You will not take my hand?'' said
Leone.
''No, I decline to touch your hand, .
dno1inp fn L