Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-03-30
CHAPTER |.

scene upon which the June sunbeams
fell one bright summer morning some
few years ago.
Out upon the lawn of Seyernoke
Castle stood a young girl, just in the
first spring-tide of youth There was
something in the brightness of her
face that harmonised with the beauty
OF the day.
1t was a picture that an artist would
have immortalised-th variety of
flowers of every color that diversified
the green grass OF the lawn, and the
golden sunbeams that lit up the scene.
The center figure, which seemed to
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
laA ag9So, Hs.9. HipFl.ag. .galden hair
was simply tied with blue ribbon;
the lovely half-childish face was
poem complete in itself. 1t was
face that changed with every thought
--one moment gay and bright. in an
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,
40 lecture, ever fell to the lot of Lord
Wyyerne'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 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 regaling 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. IF 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 aud 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
She revenged herself,
however, by making many little
speeches to the birds which were in
tended for him.
These little symptoms were not un-
noted for at the window of the break
fast-room, which opens upon the lawn,
stood Lord WyyeTne himself, watch
ing, with an eager and scrutinising
glance, the faces of his daughter and
his guest With one look at Lord
Wyyerne's face, his history was told.
Years of wild disorder, unbridled in
diligence in vice and folly, had left
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
other men had in a hundred. Most
probably that was true. He had spent
a noble fortune. When it was all
gone. he married an heness, and in the
course of few years he spent her
fortune also Lady Wyyerne 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
scendent OF noble race who had bar
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, ard 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 a the window,
cried the young girl. lie is waiting
breakfast for us, suppose. Pray
tell him. Mr.. Lynne she said, as the
Young man arose, chat viii be there
In three minutes Try, she added,
softly. "and be more amiable TO papa
than you are to my bird aud to me,
Mr., Lynne looked half-bewiIdered,
and stood for a moment as though in
clined to uispute the charge; but she