Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-11-20
CHAPTER LII.
A Gathering Cloud.


the same words which Leone had used.
81 cannot bear it, Lance" she said.
"Why have you done this?''
! He was quite at a loss what to say to
her; he was grieved for her, vexed
with those who told her, and the men
tai emotions caused him to turn
angrily round to her.
"Why did you take her? What is
| Madame Vanira to your she asked.
"My dear Marion, can you see any
harm in my giving madame a days
holiday and rest, whether on water or
on land?"
She was silent for minute before
she answered him.
"No," she replied, '*the harm lay in
concealing it from me; if you had told
me about it I would have gone with
you,'
Poor, simple, innocent Lady Marion!
The words touched him deeply; ne
thought of the boat among the water
lilies, the beautiful, passionate voice
floating over the water, the beautiful,
passionate face, with it's defiance as the
/
her lips.
Lance, why did you not tell me?
Why did you not ask me to go with
you? I cannot understand"
When a man has no proper excuse
to make, no sensible reason to give,
he takes refuge in anger Lord Chan
dos did that now; he was quite at
loss what to say; he knew that he had
done wrong; that he could say nothing
which could set matters straight; OBJ
viously the best thing to do was to
grow angry with his wife.
ct cannot see much harm in it, he
said 81 should not suppose that I am
the first gentleman in England who
has taken a lady out for holiday and
felt himself highly honored in so do
| ing"
'But, Lance" repeated his fair wife,
sorrowful1y, "why did you not take me
or tell me?"
''My dear Marion, did not think
that was compelled to tell you every
action of my life, everywhere I went,
everything I did, every one I see;
would never submit to such thing.
Of all things in the world, I abhor the
idea of jealous wife,
She rose from her knees, her fair
face growing paler, and stood looking
at him with a strangely perplexed,
wondering gaze.
'sI cannot argue with YOU, Lance,
she said, gently; "I cannot dispute
what you say. You are your own
master, you have perfect right to go
where you will, and with whom you
will, but my instinct and my heart tell
me that you are wrong. You have no
right to take any lady out without tell
ing me- You belong to me and to no
one else"
t'My dear Marion, you are talking
nonsense" he said, abruptly; you
know nothing of the world. Pray
cease"
She looked at him with more Of
of anger on her face than he had ever
seen before.
Lord Chandos," she said, sis this
all you have to say to me? I am told
that you have spent a whole day in the
society of the most beautiful actress in
the world, perhaps, and when I ask
for an explanation you have none to
give me-"
"No," he replied, 81 have none"
Lane, I do not like it," she said,
slowly; "and I do not understand.
thought Madame Vanira was so good
and true?"
$50 she is" he replied. "You must
not say a word against her.
ct have no wish; but if she is SO
good why should she try to take. my
husband from me?"
"She has not done So" he replied,
angrily Marion, I will not be
annoyed by a jealous wife"
"I am not jealous" she replied; but
when am told such story, and it
proves to be true, what am to do?"
"Say nothing, Marion which is al
ways the wisest thing woman can
do" he replied
His wife gazed at him with proud IN
dignation.
81 do not like the tone in which you
speak of this. Tell me frankly, is it
with Madame Vanira you spend all the
time which you pass away from
homer"
"I shall say nothing of Madame Va
Mira" he replied.
She drew nearer to him; she laid one
white hand on his shoulder and looked
wistfully into his face.
Lance" she said, "are we to quar-
rel-over woman, too?" I will not
believe it. You have always been hon
est with me. Tell me what Madame
Vanira is to you"
''She is nothing to me-" he replied.
Then the remembrance of what she
had been to him came over him and
froze the words on his lips. His wife
was quick to notice it.
'You cannot say it with truth. Oh,
Lance how you pain me-"