Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-05-08
CHAPTER x.
A Shocked Father.

London, land that is, LeOne-1f my
father sees you before my mother has
time to interfere, it will be all right
He can resist anything but a pretty
face-that always conquers him."
Il WISH" said Leone, with a sigh,
"that I were less proud. Do you know,
Lance, that I cannot endure to hear
you speak as though I were to be re-
ceived as a great favor. I wonder why
[ am so proud? I am a farmers niece,
and you are the son of a powerful earl
yet please do not be offended; l
feel quite as good as YOU
He laughed aloud. There was moth
ing he enjoyed better than this proud
frankness of hers, which would never
yield to or worship rank or title.
81 am glad to hear it, Leone he
replied. For my own part, I think
you very much better than myself.
have no fear, if my father sees you
first, and that is why I have tele-
graphed to him to meet us at Dunmore
House."
But" she insisted, suppose that be
then?''
why" he replied, ''the right and
proper thing for me to do then will
be to try to love you, if possible, even
better than I do now. Leone, the first
thing we must do is to drive to one
of the court modistes. No matter
what follows, your Dress must be at
tended to at once-frst impressions
are everything. You look royalty
beautiful in all that you wear, but
would much rather that my father saw
you in proper costume. Suppose we
drive to a makers first, and
choose a handsome gown and all
things suitable; then we can go to the
Queens Hotel; the trunks can be sent
after us. We can dine there; and
when you have dressed la Lady
Chandos, we will go to Dunmore House
and carry everything before u.s.
He did as he had said. They drove
first to Madame Caroines. Lord
Chandos was accustomed to the prince
ly style Of doing things. He sent for
madame, who looked up in wonder at
his fair young face.
This is my wife, he said, Lady
Chandos. We have been in the coun-
try and she wants everything new, in
your best STYLE
It seemed to him hours had passed
when madame reappeared. Certainly
he hardly knew the superbly beautiful
girl with her. Was it possible that
after all the poets had said about
beauty unadorned" that dress made
such difference? It had changed his
beautiful Leone into beautiful en-
press. Madame looked at him for ap-
prevail.
81 hope your lordship is satisfied, .
she said; with the usual quickness of
her nation, she had detected the fact
that this had been a runaway mar
riage.
Il am more than satisfied" he re-
piled.
Before him stood tall, slender girl,
whose superb figure was seen to ad-
vantage in one of Worth's most fash
ionable dresses trailing silk and rich
velvet, SO skillfully intermiXed with
the most exquisite taste; a lace bonnet
that seemed to crown the ripping
hair; pearl-gray gloves that might
have grown on the white hands. Her
dress was simply perfect; it was at
once elegant and ladylike, rich and
costly.
Il shall not be afraid to face my
father now" he said, II have a tails
man."
Yet his fair young face grew paler
as they reached Dunmore House. It
was a terrible risk, and he knew it
a terrible ordeal. He realized what he
him that the earl awaited him in the
dining room. A decided sensation of
nervousness came over him, and he
looked at the fresh, proud beauty of
his young wife to reassure himself.
She was perfect, he felt that, and he
was satisfied.
"Give me your hand, Leone" he
said, and the touch of that little hand
gave him new courage.
He went in leading her, and the earl
sprang from his seat in startling
amaze. Lord Chandos went boldly up
to him.
Father" he said, "allow me to in
troduce to you my wife, Leone, Lady
Chandos."
The earl gave a terrified glance at
the beautiful southern face, but made
no answer.
ST have to ask your forgiveness, :"
continued the young lordling, ''for
having married without your consent;
but knew, under the circumstances,
it was useless to ask it, so I married
without"
Still the same terrified look and ut
ter silence.
Father" cried Lord Chandos, "why
do you not welcome my young wife
hime?"
Lord Lanswell tried to smile--a
dreadful ghaStly smile