Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-05-29

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miniously; he had declined to be pres
ent at the grand fracas between his
wife and his son; he had left it all in
my ladys hands.
your father had some business that
took him away this morning; he knew
That l could say for him all that he
had to say
Lord Chandos smiled, and the smile
was not, perhaps, the most respectful
in the world. My lady did not observe
it.
II am quite sure he said, that you
can interpret all my fathers ideas"
1t was then, with her sons hand
some face smiling down on her, that
the countess grew pale and LAID her
hand, with instructive fear, on the pa
pers spread before her. She nerved
herself for the struggle; it would never
do to give way.
II have other news for you, Lance, y
she said, and he looked with clear,
bright, defiant eyes in her face.
She drew herself up to her full
height, as though the very attitude
gave the greatest strength; there was
no bend, no yielding in her. Stern,
erect, proud, she looked full in her
sons face; it was as though they were
measuring their strength one against
the other.
to
what | thought of this wretched mis-
take you call your marriage" she be-
gan; my contempt and indignation
were too great that you should dare
to give the grand OLD name you bear
to dairy-maid.'
Leone's beautiful Spanish face
flashed before him, and he laughed at
the word dairy-maid she was peerless
as a queen.
Dare is not the word to use to a
man, mother" he retorted.
Nor should [ use it to man. said
my lady, with satirical smile. II am
not speaking to a man, but to a hot
headed boy; man has self-control,
self-denial, self-restraint; you have
none; man weighs the honor Of his
name or his race in his hands; man
hesitates before he degrades a name
that kings have delighted to honor, be-
| fore he ruins hopelessly the prestige
| of grand old race for the sake of a
1airy-maid. You, hot-headed, fool
| ish boy, have done all this; therefore,
repeat that I am not speaking to a
man."
''You use strong language, mother, -
| he said.
Il feel strongly; my contempt is
| strong she said. Il know not why
SO great a humiliation should have
fallen on me as that my son-the son
Of whom I was proud should be the
first to bring shame on his name
Il have brought no shame on it,
mother" he said, angrily.
mo shame!" said the countess, bit
terly. Il can read, fancy, the short
annals Of the Lanswells- Hubert, Ear
Lanswell, died while fighting loyalty
for his king and his country; Ross
| Earl Lanswell, was famed for political
| services; Lancelot, Earl Lanswell
married dairy-maid.' 1 would rath-
err" she cried, with flashing eyes, THAI
you had died in your childhood than
lived to bring such bitter shame on a
loyal race"
His face grew pale with anger, as
the bitter words were hurdel at him.
will you understand, once for all
mother, that | have not married a dali
ry-maid?" he cried. "My wife is a
wonder of beauty; she is dainty and
lovely as princess. Only see her, you
would change your opinion at once"
II hope never to do that AS for
seeing her, [ shall never so far lose
my own self-respect as to allow such
a person to speak to me-
Lord Chandos shook his head with a
rueful smile.
''If you had ever seen Leone, moth
er, you would laugh at the idea of
calling her a person." he said.
Lady Lanswell moved her hand with
gesture of superb pride
May do not continue the subject.
If the girl was not actually a dairy
maid, in all probability she was not
far removed from it. 1 have no wish
to discuss the question. You have
stained the hitherto stainless name of
your family by the wretched mistake
you call marriage"
II do not call it a marriage; it is
one" he said.
And then my lady's face grew even
palef.
1T is not one. I thank Heaven that
the law of the land is just and good;
that it very properly refuses to recog-
nize the so-called marriage of a hot
headed boy. You have ignored our
letters on the subject, you have
laughed at all threats, treated with us
dain all advice; now you will find
your level. The judicial decree has
been pronounced the marriage you
have talked Of with such bravado is