Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-02

|
sorrow, its untold story, was pale an
; worn, her eyes looked brighter an
darker. What had she not suffered sit
ting there-what emotion, what bite
pain, what untold woe?
His daughter!" She came baci
again and again to these words, hi
daughter" The proud, noble states
man whom all England revered wa!
her father. OH if she could have bu
known it before If she had but haC
time to pour out the passionate love
of her heart to him. If there had bu
been time to tell him how proud anC
happy she was, how she valued hel
birthright, how she rejoiced in the
knowledge that he was her father!
SO many things were clear to hel
She had never understood his strange
manner toward her, half love, hall
avoidance. One thing after another
unveiled itself, so that she almost
wondered at last that she had not
| guessed the secret. And she was
Veronica Brandon, heiress of Queens
Chace. She repeated the name over
again to herself-"Veronica Brandon
and each time She liked it better. She
was heiress of the grand mansion, of
the fair domain, of the broad lands, OF
all the wonders of wealth she saw
around her-she who had never known
of the luxury of having one shilling to
spend!
Henceforward she could do as she
! CHI Il
happy, she could lavish wealth on the
things she loved best, she could do I'M
| told good.
She was reused from her reverie by
the entrance of Lady Brandon. Look
ing at her, Veronica realized what she
had suffered; her face was quite white,
with dark circles round the eyes. She
had wept almost necessarily since her
husbands death, but now she seemed
calm with the calmness of despair. She
closed the door, and, coming up to
Veronica, took the girls cold hands in
her own and looked earnestly into
her face
Veronica" she asked, have. you
kept the secret?"
The young girl raised her head
proudly.
Did you think that l should be-
tray it?" she asked. Il am not
traitor, Lady Brandon"
Il know, I know; forgive me for
speaking hastily. Veronica, I am al
most mad. You cannot realize what
| have to suffer; you cannot under
stand my position. I would rather
these are not Wild words, but true ones
i would rather kill myself than
that the world should know how cruel
ly I have been deceived, that I had but
the ashes of my husbands love, that
he never cared for me, that his heart
had been given to another before me
[ could not bear it, / could not sur
vive such a downfall to my pride, my
affection, my standing and position in
the world; [ should not survive it,
Il am very sorry" said Veronica
| cannot help it, Lady Brandon it is
not my fault, you know"
Think, too, of Katherine, my
beautiful child. brought up as her
fathers heiress. All her life she has
deemed herself heiress of Queens
Chace, her future secure. O Veronica!
think what blow it will prove for
her. It will kill her!" And the poor
lady's lips quivered again Then" she
continued, you do not know my peo-
pie, the ValdOraines. They are the
prOudest people in England; they
would dare not think what they
will say or do when they hear that my
child is disinherited. 1 shall never
look them in the face again. | wish
that | had died before this day came"
Il am very grieved," ! Veronica
but | cannot help it,
Poor Katherine, so happy in her
future! They called her heiress of
Queens Chace when she lay in her
cradle. My pretty child. 1t is not
right, it is not just! | have done no
thing to deserve it. All my life | was
good and faithful to my husband. He
has left me a lagacy of sorrow and
shame Poor Katherine! how is she
| to bear it, Veronica? Will it make her
| hate him and dislike his memory"
No; she is too noble for that,
said Veronica. Have you forgotten
what he said to her on the evening be-
fore his death?"
mo. Veronica! my dear, cannot
tell her-I cannot, indee& She has
been so light-hearted, so happy, al
her life. Until now she has never
had any sorrow, any care. How can l
her own mother, go to her and tell hel
that she and | are to be driven out
away, from that which we have always
held to be our own? How can l 81
to her and say that she must lay dowr
every hope, every brightness of he
; life, and suffer-Heaven knows WHAT
'You forget that she has Lore
Wynleigh," said Veronica. gently.
Il do not. I foresee fresh troubl
there He loves her, l know, but hi
friends are proud; they would oppos
his marriage to a disinherited girl
l She would in all probability lose he
t love with her fortune. 0 Veronica!
/ cannot bear it, She drew nearer t
( her. You love her, Veronica.
} know you do. You have said so
e hundred times. You said-see, | re
r member the words-you would Civ
e your life for her if she needed it, be
: cause she was the first to love you
: You said you would stand between he
and every sorrow; that an arro'
|. meant for her heart, should first of a
= pierce yours. You said that, Vel
n onica."
IF "Yes and 7 meant it she acknoW