Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-05-08
A MID LOVE
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

not. The young lady will excuse me
if I decline to bid her welcome to q
home that can never be hers
Father" cried the young man, re-
proachfully, 81 did not expect this from
you."
II do not understand what else you
could expect" cried the earl, angrily.
"Do you mean to tell me that it is
true that this person is your Wife?"
"My dear and honored wife, replied
the young man.
"Do you mean to tell me that you
have actually married this lady, Lance
really married herr"
II have, indeed, father, and it is
about the best action of my life,' said
Lord Chandos.
'How do you intend to face my
Lady," asked the earl, with the voice
and manner of one who proposes a
difficulty not to be solved.
II thought you would help us, IA
Their; at least, speak to my wife,
The earl looked at the beautiful, dis
tressed face.
II am very sorry" he said, "sorry
for you, Lance, and the lady, but I
cannot receive her as your wife,
She is my wife, whether you receive
fer or not" said Lord Chandos. lie
one, how can I apologize to you? I
never expected chat my father would
receive you in this fashion. Father,
look at her; think how young, how
beautiful she is; you cannot be unkind
to her,
II have no wish to be unkind,'' said
the earl, "but I cannot receive her as
your wife"
Then, seeing the color fade from her
face, he FASTENED to find her chair,
and poured out a glass of wine for
her; he turned with a stern face to
his son.
what have you been doing?" he
cried. while your mother and I
thought you were working hard to
make UP for lost time, what have you
been doing?"
Il have been working very hard" he
replied, "and my work will bring forth
good fruit; but, father, I have found
leisure for love as WE'LL
80 it seems" said the earl, dryly,
perhaps you will tell me who this
lady is, and why she comes home with
your"
MY wife; her name was Leone No
ell; she is now Lady Chandos.'
For the first time Leone spoke:
Il am farmers niece, my lord" she
said, simply.
Her voice had a ring of music in it
so sweet that it struck the earl with
wonder.
A farmers niece" he replied. ''You
will forgive me for saying that a farm
er's niece can be no fitting wife for my
son."
Il love him, my lord, very dearly,
and I will try hard to be all that he
can wish me to be-"
'Bravely spoken; but it is quite in
vain; my lady would never hear Of
such a thing-I dare mott cannot
sanction it, even by word. My lady
would never forgive me. Can you tell
me when this rash act was accom-
p1ished?"
"This is our wedding day, father"
cried Lord Chandos. "Only think of
it, our wedding day, and you receive
us like this. How cruel and cold"
may, I am NEITHER" said the earl,
1T is rather you, Lance, who do not
seem to realize what you have done.
You seem to think you belong to your
self; you are mistaken. A man in
your position belongs to his country,
his race, to his family, not to himself.
That view of the question, probably,
did not strike you"
mo- replied Lord Chandos, cit GER
tainly did not; but, father, if I have
done wrong, forgive me-
II do forgive you, my dear boy, free
ly. Young men will be foolish-I for
give you; but do not ask me to sane
ton your marriage or receive your
wife. l cannot do it,
Then, of what use is your forgive
ness? Oh, father, did not expect this
from you; you have always been so
kind to me. I had fancied difficulties
with my moher, but none with you
! my dear Lance, we had better send
for my lady She is really, as you
know, the dominant spirit of our fam
lily. She will decide on what is to be
DONE"
Il insist on my wife being treated
with due respect" ragged the young
lord.
MY dear Lance, you must do as you
will. I refuse to recognize this lady
in any way. Will you tell me when
and where you we're married?"
"Certainly; this morning by the
Reverend Mr.. Barnes, at the Church Of
st. Barnabas, in Oheton, a little viii
lage twenty miles from Rashleigh.
The marriage was all en- regle. We
had the bans published and witnesses
present"
''You took great pains to be exact;
and the lady, you tell me, is farmers