Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-08-21
CHAPTER XXXITI.
ST Have Periured Myself"

81 Have Perjured Myself.
Lady Lanswell was triumphant; she
lost NO time; before noon of the day
following she had sent to the Duke of
Lester saying that they were staying at
Granada, and that important family
business awaited him there. She
knew that he would lose no time in
going there. In the days that inter
vened she managed her son most
cleverly; and she said little or nothing
to him of Lady Marion. If he preached
the subject, she changed it at once,
saying: "Let the matter rest for
while" she was so sorely afraid he
would draw back She was kind 10
him ir her way; if she saw his hand
some face looking distressed, panied,
or anxious, she would cheer him up
with bright words, with laughter, or
anything that would take the weight
of thought or care from him.
The Duke of Lester was soon there.
Anything in which his niece was in
terested was of vital consequence to
him. he had no particular liking for
Lady Cambrey, and always regretted
that the young heiress had been given
into her charge rather than in that of
his amiable wife He went to Granada,
delighted with the news; he had heard
so much of the talents of Lord Chandos
that he was charmed with the idea of
/ his belonging to the family. Tt had
been a sore and heavy trial to the
duke that he had no son, that so many
honors and such great offices should
die with him Tt was from that motive
that he had always felt an especial in
terest in the marriage or his beautiful
young niece.
eff she marries WE'LL, he said to him
self more than once, cher husband
must stand to me in the place of a
son.
If he had to choose from the wide
world he would prefer Lord Chandos
from his singular talent, activity, and
capability for political life. He knew,
as every one else did, that there had
been some little drawback in the young
lords life, some mysterious love-affair,
and he had not interested himself in it;
ters of that kind Evidently it, at any
time, there had been a little faux pas,
it was remedied, or so worldlywise a
woman as Lady Lanswell would never
have introduced him to his niece
So the Duke of Lester, all amiability
and interest, gave the finishing touch
to Lord Chandos' fate When he had
II.
no receding from it without scandal
that would have Mortified all England
The dukes first words settled the
whole matter; he held out his hand in
frankest, kindliest greeting to Lord
Chandos.
''T hear very pleasant intelligence, -
he said; "and while I congratulate you
I congratulate myself that am to have
the good fortune of an alliance with
you"
Lady Lanswell stood by, and there
was a moments pause; perhaps she
never suffered such intensity of sus-
pense as she did during that moment,
for her sons face grew colorless, and
he looked as if he were going to draw
back The next minute he had re-
covered himself, and returned the
dukes greeting: then, and only then,
did the countess give a great sigh of
relief: there could be no mistake, no
drawing back from anything which
| the duke sanctioned.
That same day there was a family
meeting; the earl and countess, Lord
! Chandos, the Duke of Lester, Lady
Marion Erskine, and Lady Cambrey;
they all dined together, and the duke
discussed with the countess the time Of
the marriage
There was little said, but that little
was binding; there could be no retreat.
In the autumn, about September, the
countess thought; and Sire suggested
that they should not return to Eng
land for the marriage; it could take
place at the embassy at Paris. There
would be plenty of time for discussing
these details; the thing now was TO
settle the cement. It gave great
delight; the earl, it is true, had some
! little scrupIe, which he ventured to
express to his wife.
To Be Continued.