Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-18

her society; she knew that she amused
and fascinated him. Now he should
learn what it was to be without her.
During those two last days she only
saw him at rare intervals; and when
he was leaving Lynnewolde he babe
her adieu with real regret, for she
had been a most delightful companion.
Send me message sometimes" he
said, when my mother writes;-
remember, I shall be lonely bachelor
on the Scottish moors; send me
little news"
During the first week she sent mere
ly little piquant message through
Mrs. Lynne; then she enclosed a
sketch Of his favorite hunter. Lord
Lynne wrote to her, and in less than
two weeks he began to look for her
letters more eagerly even than for his
days sport. Not that he loved her.
Love and Inez Lynne never entered
his mind together; but those letters
wer infnitly charming. A woman's
genius shows itself in her letters.
and those of Inez were matchless.
They were witty, sparkling, and anus
ing: yet a veil Of melancholy hung
over them. Sweet, simple Agatha
could never have written such let
ters; she would not perhaps have I'M
derstood them even; the graceful i'm
agery, the daring wit, the poetical
fancy, that revealed themselves in
every line, were all unknown to her.
So for nearly three months they
correspondent while Agatha regained
her lost roses, and strove hard to find
peace and tranquility. The Christ
mas came round, and Lord Lynne re-
solved to spend it at Lynnewolde.
They wrote and asked Agatha to
come home,-Allan Leigh was at the
Chase, and Mr.. Bohun was again at
the Court,-but she declined to leave
Evelyn, who chung to her society,
and seemed to love her better than
any one else upon earth.
Christmas was to be very gay. There
was to be grand ball at Lynnewolde,
and another at Bohun Court. Lord
Lynne determined that this year at
least he would be gay; no one should
know that he was a rejected lover,
rejected by a fair-haired, gentle girl,
too, who seldom said, mo" He
did not know where he should be next
year,-abrOad most likely. Time was
passing quickly; and all hope Of his
uncle's legacy died with his rejection
He was Lynne and a gentleman. 1t
did not enter his imagination to marry
Inez without loving her, and so secure
his fortune. He loved Agatha. He
would have married her, even if in
doing so he had lost instead of
gained his heritage; but she had re-
fused him. Love and money had
failed him, and Philip began to make
up his mind to the loss. He was too
honorable, too noble to think of
marrying without love- Not even to
win crown would he have done it:
and Inez Lynne, who read him rightly
knew that if she won him it would
be apart from all mercentry motives.
He was pleased to see her again. He
met her frankly, and kindly thanked
her for her charming letters, which
had cheered and amused his solitude.
That very frankness and kindness
were like a death-blow to her. If his
face had flushed, his voice had
trembled, or his hand had clasped hers
more warmly as it lay in his grasp,
she would have known that he loved
her. That frank, open kindness, the
clear eyes that looked into her own,
the calm, steady voice that thanked
her, all told the same story,-she in
terested, amused, charmed him; but
he did not love her.
81 will not lose heart" she said
mot even yet. I will succeed, or
will die
Lord Lynne showed that he re-
membered her words. During all
the Christmas festivities he thought
Of her constantly. He resolved that
she should never feel lonely or
neglected again. So they resumed
their old familiar intercourse. She
sang to him, rode with him, and
poured out the treasures of her genius
at his feet. She grew to love him.
Oh Heaven! save us from such love-
SO wild, so idolatrous, so blind!
The grand ball at Lynnewolde was
a great success. Inez was the belle.
She had never looked more lovely.
She wore a dress of rose-colored silk,
shaded and softened by costly, cloud
like lace. She wore no jewels;
wreath OF white starry jasmine
crowned her queenly head
(To be continued