Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-20
Lord Lynne'S Choice
BERTHA M. CLAY
BERTHA M. CLAY.

| the shy timidlty of her manner. She
had not any very brilliant accomplish
ments; she could not sing as Ine2
did, with a fire and passion that found
| it's way into the depths of every
heart. The one dazzled, and carried
you by storm; the other stole gently
| into your heart. When once known,
| it was impossible not to love Agatha
| Lynne. She was simply fair, modest,
| thoughtful English girl, fresh and
| blooming as rose; innocent and
guileless as a child; open, frank, can
| did, full of high principles, sweet
tempered and gay; no. capable, per-
haps, of either the deepest joy or the
most tragical sorrow; a girl who had
thorough command of her thoughts
and wOrds,-one who would never be
led away from what she knew and be-
lieved to be her duty. There was not
the making either of heroine of ro-
nance or of tragedy queen in Agatha
Lynne. She would be a good wife,
devoted mother, kindly neighbor,
and a steadfast friend. But it was
not in her to love mot wisely, but
too we'll" Genius and passion had not
marked her as their own. Her life
ran, and always would run, in COM
monplace grooves and channels
1t was this good and gentle girl
hO attracted the young heir of
Lyme. When in her presence, he
felt as one who, in the scorching
nOontide heat, finds rest and shade.
He was a better and truer man when
he had talked to her. She never
made his heart thrill,-she never
awoke in him that deep, pas
sionate love he could give, but she
Gained and cheered him; she did not
fire his ambition, but she taught him
more of his everyday duty than
Philip had ever known before, So
he grew to love her, and intended,
when the days of her mourning were
over, to ask her to be his wife.
Mrs. Lynne was much attached to
Agatha. She stood rather in awe Of
the brilliant and beautiful Inez, who
was so different from the general run
of young ladies, so intolerant of little
conventionalities, so fatally lowered
with the gifts of genius and song, so
proud, so naughty, yet at times low
ing and tender-Inez, whose childhood
and girlhood had been spent in that
far-distant land, and was. an unknown
story to them; whose beautiful face
paled, whose bright, dark eyes grew
dim, when they spoke to her of her
STn nj Sh hn Jxyho al
ter Indifference and scorn of all love
and lovers, while she sang such music
as would have charmed heart of
stone. Fitful, faulty, grand, gener-
Gus, and noble, capable of any ex-
IRENE of good or bad, requiring the
training and guidance of a master
hand, gifted with the rarest and most
wondrous beauty, capable of giving
her life for one she loved, she was an
enigma to the quiet English lady who
ruled at Lynnewolde. Mrs. Lynne,
through her very love for the girl,
slightly tyrannized over Agatha, but
it was very rarely that she interfered
with Inez
Had the proud, passionate heart
spoken yet? All, yes. She scoffed
at love, but she would have laid down
her life at Lord Lynne's feet, content
to die if but once he would look upon
her as he did upon her sister,
Il never feel as though Inez were
one of our own" said Mrs. Lynne to
her son one day; that strange foreign
life has made her so different to
Agatha. I cannot understand girl
having no stories of her girlhood to
relate. She seems to dislike the very
name of SPAIN"
Il quite disagree with you, mother
wac the reply. Il believe she loved
her early home SO much that she car
not endure to hear it mentioned"
Lord Lynne was away from home
very frequently during the first few
months after his unc1e's DEATH He
| did not return to Severnoke Castle.
Some one there watched, waited, and
hoped, but all in vain He wrote a
| note to Lord Wyverne, and told him
how constantly he was engaged, but
that he hoped to see him after Christ
mas. Lord Wyverne knew exactly
| what that meant, and he inwardly
ragged against the poor old lord for his
| inopportune death.
1T was all going on so charmingly,"
he said to himself. eff he had re-
manned here another week, he would
have made her an offer before he left
He went away too soon.'
| Lord Wyverne told Florence that
their late guest, now Lord Lynne, had
asked to be most kindly remembered
to her, but that he found himself toe
busy to pay his promised visit If he
had observed his daughter attentively
he would have seen her lips culver
and her violet eyes grow dim; but his
I, lordship was just then too busy with
a Perigord pie to attend to any one
but himself.
And if there were quiet tears shed
over bright hope faded, none knew
of it; if fair young head tossed
YEARLY through the long night, I'm.
able to find rest on a pillow that
seemed strewn with thorns, no one
was any the wiser. Florence Wyverne
knew how to keep her own secret.
The year of mourning expired a,
last, and then Lynnewolde resumed its
usual Inequalities. The terms of the
strange will had not been made pub
lie. 1t was the wish of all who were
interested in it that it should be so
Lord Lynne was consequently con
sidered as one of the most eligible mer
in the county. The ladies were press