Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-15

one wing was habitable; and there
madame, her daughter, and two SER
wants dwelt. The day was spent in
hard study and the requirement of
numberless accomplishments; and the
stern, beautiful mother never neglect
ed any means in her power Of instill-
ing her own wishes and plans into the
mind of her child. When the days
work was ended, the young girl listen
ed for hours together to stories Of the
brave deeds of her ancestors.
Shall this great name die out?''
the mother would ask, when the
child's heart was glowing with her
words. "Ah, no, Blanca! let your
destiny be to re-establish it. Live for
that, and you will be the greatest Of
all the ladies of Monteleone."
So the young girl grew up in the
lonely old castle, cut off from all the
pleasures and amusements of her age,
without any companion except her
mother; living only in the glories Of
the past and the hopes of the future,
thinking of the present merely as
probation that must be ended. At the
age of eighteen she was beautiful as
an houri, and accomplished to an ex-
traordinary degree She spoke
Italian, French, and German with as
much fluency as Spanish. She sang
beautifully, and played with no mean
skill Well might her mothers heart
glow with pride as she watched her,
and her hopes rose higher day by day.
Madame MonteIeone had begun to
form her plans She had purposeIy
lived in the most economical man
ner, and had so managed to save a
sum of money With this she in
tended to go to Madrid, where her
name was still known and honored,
and there introduce her beautiful
child to the notice of the Spanish
queen. While maturing these plans
circumstance happened which rem
dered them all useless and unavailing.
Destiny had other things in store for
Blanca Monteleone.
The northern front of the castle
faced the high road that led to the
ancient and celebrated city of Seville.
One evening a man, coming on bust
ness to one of the servants, found in
the middle of the road young gentle
man, who had apparently been thrown
from his horse and lay either stun
ned or dead on the bank, while the
horse quietly grazed at some dis
lance from him. In a few minutes
the inhabitants of the castle were
aroused, and, by Madame Monteleone's
command, the gentleman was car
ried into one of the bedrooms, and
doctor sent for with all speed.
The extent of his injuries was soon
discovered; they were violent con-
cussion of the brain and a broken
ankle. For many days the life of the
young stranger trembled in the
balance. During that time he never
recovered his senses, but evidently
imagined himself in England. They
discovered that he was an English
nobleman, for in a small pocket-book
was written his name, stephen Lord
Lynne" They knew he must be
wealthy, for he wore diamonds of
great value, and purse full of gold
was found in his pockets. Inquiries
were made at Seville, and then they
discovered that the wounded stranger
had been residing for some weeks in
that city, and that only two days be-
fore his valet had left him and re-
turned to England. Some large boxes
belonging to him were still at the
hotel, and these were forwarded to
Serranto at Madame Monteleone's
desire.
Very slowly did Lord Lynne recover
consciousness and strength. His
gratitude was boundless. He spoke
French fluently, and as both ladies
habitually conversed in that language,
there was nothing to check their
friendly intercourse. All that he had
to tell was soon told. He, Stephen
Lord Lynne had succeeded to his title
two years ago, on the death of his
father His mother was still alive,
and in compliance with her wish he
was travelling for two years before
ne married and settled down.
He had fingered in Spain, for he
loved the country. While at Seville,
his valet left him and returned to
England. He was going to visit a
small town near, when he was thrown
from his horse, and left almost dead at
their castle gates. He was young.
and handsome-as were all the Lynnes
and gifted with an easy grace Of
manner that charmed and fascinated
| those proud, high-bred Spanish ladies.
(To be continued.)