Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-05-15
Continued.

marriage aSlue.
II had not thought of that"
Then my lady took the lace mantilla
from her shoulders, and sat down at
the writing table.
said. eff any one can give us good
advice, he cam
Mr.. 'SeWell was known as one of the
keenest and cleverest lawyers in Eng
land. He had been for more than
twenty years agent for the Lanswells
Of Cawdor. He knew every detail Of
their history, every event that hap
pened; and the proud countess liked
him, because he was thoroughly con-
serVatiye in all his opinions. She sent
for him now as a last resource. The
carriage was sent to his office, so that
he might lose no time. In less than
an hour the brisk, energetic lawyer
stood before the distressed parents,
listening gravely to the story of the
young heirs marriage.
"Have you seen the girl?" he asked.
eyes, I have seen her." said the earl.
''Is she presentable?" he inquired.
would any degree of training enable
her to take her rank
Lady Lanswell interrupted him.
'"The question need never be asked
she said, proudly. II refuse ever to
see her, or acknowledge her. insist
on the marriage being set aside"
zone has to be careful, my lady"
said Mr.. Sewe1T. H. )
II see no need Of any great care"
she retorted, my son has not studied
us. We shall not study him. would
rather the entail were destroyed, and
the property go to one of Charles Sey-
toms sons, than my son share it with
a low-born wife"
My lady's face was infexible. The
earl and the lawyer saw that she was
resolved-that she would never yield,
no matter what appeal was made to
her.
They both knew that more words
were useless. Ny lady's mind was
made up, and they might as we'll tight
the winds and the waves. Lord Lans-
we'll was more inclined to pity and to
temporize. He was sorry for his son,
and the beautiful face had made some
impression on him; but my lady was
infiexible.
ssThe marriage must be set aside"
she repeated.
The earl looked at her gravely.
"Who can set aside a thoroughly le-
gal marriage?" he asked.
You will find out the way" said my
lady, turning to Mr.. SeWell.
Il can easily 90 that, Lady LansWell.
Of course it is for you to decide; but
there is no doubt but that the mar
riage can easily be disputed-you must
decide. If you think the girl could
be trained and taught to behave her
self-perhaps the most simple and
honorable plan would be to let the
matter stand as it is, and do your best
for her,
"Never!" cried my lady, proudly
81 would rather that Cawdor were
burned to the ground than to have
such a person rule over it. It is USE
less to waste time and words. Inc
marriage must be set aside
The lawyer looked from one to the
other.
"There can be no difficulty whatever
in setting the marriage aside" said
Mr.. Sewell. ''In point of fact / must
tell you what I imagined you would
have known perfectly WE'LL"
MY lady looked at him with re-
doubled interest.
"What is that?" she asked, quickly.
The earl listened with the greatest
attention.
cit is simply this, Lady Lanswell,
that the marriage is no marriage; Lord
Chandos is under age-he cannot mar
ry without your consent; any marriage
that he contracts without your con-
sent is illegal and invalid-no mar
riage at all-the law does not recog-
| nize it,
|Is that the English law" asked
Lady Lanswen.
eyes, the marriage of a minor, like
TOUR son, without the consent of his
| tarents, is no marriage. The law ut
erly ignores it. The remedy lies,
lerefore, in your own hands,
Husband and wife looked at each
ther. It was a desperate chance, a
esperate remedy. For one moment
ZACH thought of the sanctity of the
| marriage tie, and all that was involved
in the breaking of it. Each thought
how terribly their only son must suffer
if this law was enforced.
Then my lady's face hardened and
the earl knew what was to follow.
ct remains for us, then, Mr.. Sew
eH," she said, 'to take the needful
steps,"
eyes, you must make an appeal to
the high court, and the marriage will
be at once set aside" said Mr.. Sewell .
cit is a terrible thing for the young
wife, though"
''She should have had more sense