Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-02-16
CHAPTER TX.


reapers. Sir Marc had come down
again to the Chace.
Those who had seen Veronica when
she first reached England would hardly
have recognized her had they seen
her now. The beautiful face had
Changed so completely; the pale,
passionate lovelienss had deepened
into something more lovely still;
there was more color, more bright
ness; the dark, love-lit eyes had in
them the radiance of full and perfect
content Love had beautified her,
even as 1t had beautified her life.
On this August morning she was in
Z her pretty boudoir alone-alone, for
SisTiarc had gone in search of some
thing to please her. He lived only to
make her happy. She stood in the
midst of hundred beautiful things.
Lady Brandon had determined to pre-
sent her with her trousseau, and
large chest had arrived that morning
from Paris. Veronica had looked at
hen magnificent gift. 1t did not strike
her\as 1t would have done at another
tim1 She could think only of her
haIfpness and her love. She was
smiling to herself, wondering whether
a girl was ever so blessed, SO happy,
which some one raped gently at her
-dpef She looked up in surprise when
her maid, Clara Morton. entered the
room.
81 want to speak to you, Miss Di
Cynthia, if you can spare the time, .
she said.
Veronica made some courteous an
swer, and felt even more surprised
when the girl closed the door and
fastened the lock. The large, long
window that led to the terrace was
open; neither of them thought of 1t.
"Why do you do that, Norton
asked Veronica.
Because / have that to say to you
which must be said without Interrupt
ii0R."
|eropica looked up with naughty
pleasure
You behave very strangely" she
II do not like it," She looked
Ny at the girl whose face was not
Heasant to see; there was a vivid
A light in her eyes, an air of cringing,
yet of defiance, in her manner.
''You must listen to me, Miss Di
Z Cynthia" she said. 81 hold a secret of
yours, and | must be paid for it."
.l.seYou have no secret of mine," re-
H6urned Veronica.
"But / have" said the girl Listen
Nme. am engaged to marry Jonn
Padding, who once lived here as head
groom. We have been engaged to be
married for eight years. and fortune
has never smiled on us. He saved
three hundred pounds and put 1t into
a bank. The bank broke, and he was
left penniless. | saved sixty pounds,
and invested 1t in a building society
which became bankrupt. Fortune has
never once smiled on us until now
Now John Padding has an offer from a
farmer in Australia. If he can go
out there. and take five hundred
pounds with him, we shall make our
fortupe
81 do not see what this has to do
With me-" interposed Veronica.
IT do, Miss Di Cynthia. l hold Sc
cret of yours, and want five hundred
pounds as tn. price of my silence"
: You are talking nonsense, Morton.
Eour senses"
HYou will find, on the contrary, Miss
Cynthia, that was never more
bible in my life. Let me tell you
Eat have to- say"
Veronica looked at her In the eX-
ktement of the interview she had risen
yand confronted her.
"Come to the point at once, pleace,"
said Veronica. what have you to
eay?"
B The girl looked uneasily at her mis-
tcess: the color came and went in her
face her eyes dropped. Raising her
head. she said suddenly:
~i6Jt is for Johns sake. would do
thing for John" Veronica gave a
of rcsignation. What this strange
e meant she could not tell, but it
did end at some time. no doubt.
ton heard the sigh.
will you be kind enough to come to
point?" said Veronica.
Il WILL" answered Clara Morton.
Yet Veronica saw that she had to
mmon all her courage. to make a
bst desperate effort. She looked up
her.
lyon remember Sir Jasper's death,
Hiss hi Cynthia? You remember the
Ihy after It? Though it was warm
kne day. you would have a fire In
pr room"
eronica started: her face grew
tie, low cry came from her lips.
10 on" she said to the girl. who
paused abruptly when she saw
change in her mistress's face.
hat very day, miss, I thought
re was something wrong" she said.
why should you want fire when the
be sun was shining so warmly? l
to myself that you had something
rn."
bier low cry came from Yer-
Morton continued:
you will be very angry with me.
Nj CYNTHIA watched you;
down and looked through the |