Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-01-12
CHAPTER ~

whole matter as a misfortune. now be-
gan to think otherwise. She thought
! to herself that the next season she
would be more popular than ever. She
would be the mother of one of the
fairest brunettes. She saw that the
] two girls would never be rivals. their
style differed so greatly, and she be-
gan to take great interest in Veronica.
She went to her husband and told him
that she must have carte blanche for
Veronica's wardrobe.
IT'S all very WE'LL" said her lady
ship, ito look like a picture; but
dressing like one is quite different
matter. Your ward must dress LIKE
other people, Sir Jasper. l suppose she
can have what money she likes?"
Certainly replied Sir Jasper;
she is an heiress, have told you.
She must be treated as one;" and soon
afterward he placed in her hand a
check for three hundred pounds. I'VE
can arrange later on he added, about
her yearly allowance; at present pur-
chase for her everything that she re-
quires."
Her wants are legion" said Lady
Brandon; she has literally nothing
except few picturesque old dresses
that would look very nice in an old
curiosity-shop.
Lady Brandon set to work at once.
She knew too well the effect of dress
to offer to transform Veronica into a
fashionable English lady Every
| CHI
some picturesque Venetian fashion,
and Sir Jasper was pleased when he
saw it.
you have preserved the unities," he
said to his wife, with one of those
rare smiles that so altered the express
sion of his face.
AS for Veronica herself, she could
not understand such attention.
r "All this for mel" she cried when
she saw the lace. the silks. the yelvets
the thousand little elegancies that
make up a lady's toilet, fans and
slippers, gloves and sunshades
! Then Sir Jasper brought her some
superb jewels, set of rubies that
suited her dark loneliness, a set OF
corals, and a set of diamonds. The
; girl raised a wondering face to his
when he showed them to her.
. why do you do all this for me-?
. she asked.
He looked down at her. She was
. looking at him with dead Giulias love-
: lit eyes.
I WHY" he repeated. Because | am
n your guardian. You will know more
some day"
She took his hand and kissed it in
her strange, impulsive way.
@ You are very good to me, and l am
$ very grateful" she said.
4 But 1t seemed to him that Giulia's
lips had touched him He shrank
q back pale and trembling.
Never do that again, child" he
i said never again"
k She glanced at him quickly, not
o understanding. How should she?
p Have l vexed you?" she asked 80
| am sorry, for you are so kind"
n You have not vexed me, Veronica,
i he said. why should you have done
II so? English people are unused t
V showing emotion-yours startled me.
am pleased that you like the jewels.
" shall be glad to see you wear then
V when your black dresses are lait
aside"
= BY the middle of December, Veronic;
O was quite at home. How she loveC
r Katherine! There was something al
v most pathetic in the way in which sh,
II followed her about and waited upor
4 her She would have served her al
l. most on her knees. She watched hel
o every look. waited for every word
i Lady Brandon was amused by it, Sill
| Jasper was panied.
She had been introduced to most OF
/ their friends and neighbors the
beautiful Venetian girl. whose face
was a study, whose voice was like
I music, was admired by all who saw
her. She went with Katherine to all
the balls, the soirees. the parties, in
the neighborhood. where they reigned
as queens. There was no jealousy.
no rivalry, between them. How could
there be when Veronica worshipped
her brilliant young sister?
So Christmas came. and it was. as
usual, kept up in right good English
style at Queens Chace. Every man.
woman. and child on the estate was
the happier for its coming, and richer
Sir Jasper was most liberal The
! friends he had invited came, and
among them was Alton, Lord Wyn-
leigh, who had decided not to leave
Queens Chace until he had won the
hand of the heiress. He conquered
after few days hard siege; the love-
ly, wilful girl had plighted her troth
to him, and he knew that she would
keep it sacred until death.
Give me something else. Kate" he
said. "A kiss from you is indeed a
favor, but | want something more"
What do you want?" she asked.
II want your love. your promise to
be my wife. your troth tonight. |
want you, my darling, to be my own
forever and ever. What do you say?"
The sweet. flushed face dropped be-
/ fore hiS. hlnn aNroS oN,,Ia ,,oA ,.,oos