Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-30
CHAPTER l.

It was a pretty and picturesqu
scene upon which the June sunbeam
fell one bright summer morning som
few years ago.
Out upon the lawn of SeYernok
Castle stood young girl, just in tn
first spring-tide Of youth. There wa
something in the brightness of he
face that harmonised with the beaut,
Of the day.
1t was a picture that an artist would
have misunderstanding variety o
flowers of every color that Diversified
the green grass of the lawn, and the
The center figure, which seemed t.
concentrate the light and brightness
was that of the young girl, Florence
the only child of Lord Wyverne. A
plain morning dress of white muslin
showed to advantage the slender girl
ish figure. The ripping golden hail
was simply tied with a blue ribbon
the lovely half-childish face was a
poem complete in itself. It was a
face that changed with every thought
one moment gay and bright, in an
other thoughtful and sad There was
passion and deep feeling, and withal
a quaint kind of imperious, half-wil-
full look that charmed even more than
the regular features or the violet eyes
Lady Florence was wilful. The
friends who admired her most and
loved her best, admitted it. She had
been spoiled all her life-had known
no law, no will, save her own. The
petted darling of the household, no
angry word, no well-merited rebuke,
| Wyverne's daughter. Her very faults
were smiled at, as being part of her
| pretty, Wilful, fascinating manner,
! that no one wished to see changed.
| She was a fair picture-a type OF Eng
| lish beauty, as she stood this summer
| morning. In her dainty white hands
she held some pieces of bread with
which she was RECALLING a magnificent
peacock, that was exhibiting his airs
and gTaces in the sun.
You will spoil that bird, Lady
Florence; you flatter him too much, :"
said clear voice; and the young girl
started as she heard the voice
Good morning, Mr.. Lynn" she said,
without turning round. eff my bird
is proud you must at least own that
he has something to be proud Of"
The young man sat down to watch
the process of feeding the peacock and
the pretty tame white doves; and then
it was that the picture became beauti-
full. There was the slightest and pref
test air of embarrassment in the
young girls face as his eyes followed
her every movement, although she af-
fected to be quite unaware of his close
observation. She revenged herself,
however, by making many little
speeches to the birds which were in
tended for him.
These little symptoms were not I'M
noted for at the window of the break
fast-rOom, which opens upon the lawn,
stood Lord WyveTne himself, watch
ing, with an eager and scrutinising
glance, the faces of his daughter and
his guest. With one look at Lord
Wyverne's face, his history was told.
L
diligence in vice and folly, had left
unmistakable traces. The bent figure,
the dimmed eyes, the furrowed brow,
the trembling hands, told their own
tale. Lord Wyverne was not much
above fifty, yet he was an old man. He
was wont to boast that he had seen
more of life in his fifty years than
oil hod in
probably that was true. He had spent
a noble fortune. When it was all
gone he married an heiress, and in the
course Of a few years he spent her
fortune also. Lady Wyverne died, the
doctors said, of heart disease, her
friends said Of despair, leaving one
only child, Florence.
Ruined in fortune, shattered in
health, stated and wearied of the world
in which he could no longer play his
favorite part, Lord Wyverne gave up
his town house and came to live upon
the estate he had so long neglected.
1t was not a pleasant picture to gaze
upon, this ruined spendthTift, this
possessor of a noble name, the de-
tered honor, character, and fortune,
for mere pleasure There were times
when he turned in disgust even from
himself; and such moment was the
present, as he stood watching his
daughters face, and trying to under
stand it's expression.
1T would do, charmingly," he NUT
tered to himself. "She would be Lady
Lynne; and it would not matter so
much that have not a penny to leave
| her"
| There is papa at the window"
cried the young girl. He is waiting
! breakfast for us, l suppose. Pray
| tell him, Mr.. Lynne" she said, as Ine
| young man arose, that l will be there
in three minutes. Try she added,
softly, and be more amiable to papa
than you are to my bird and to me- .
Mr. Lynne looked half-bewildered,
and stood for moment as though in
elined to dispute the charge; but she
gave him saucy little mutinous
smile, that sent him to breakfast in
| an unusual state of mind.
Lord Wyverne still stood at the
| window. He did not leave it while
his guest exchanged greetings with
| him. There was a wistful look on mis-
| worn, worldly face.
Have I rested well?" he said, in re-
ply to the young mans inquiries
Yes, as well as I can do with the
| remembrance of a lifetime of folly
strong upon me- | do not like my
| - oop