Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-05
CHAPTER III.

Veronica stood before her father,
tall, beautiful woman, with a noble
Venetian face. She was quite un
like anything he had pictured. He
had fancied a girl with Giulia's sweet
face, with her golden hair and sensi-
tive lips. The girl before him
looked like Roman empress, but
that she had Giulia's eyes-her dark,
tender, passionate eyes-the eyes that
had made for him the only light he
had ever known, with hair as black as
night, and worn after the old Grecian
fashion. She was more beautiful
than her young mother had ever been,
but was of a different type of lowell
ness.
AS he gazed upon her, Sir Jasper
Brandon owned to himself that it was
the most beautiful and the saddest
face that he had ever seen. The dark
eyes had a story in their depths, the
proud lips trembled even as she
smiled.
Where have I seen face some
thing like it," he asked himself. Then
he remembered that it was in one of
his favoriUe pictures hanging in the
Louvre.
He had gone to the station himself
to meet her. Lady Brandon was
very shrewd, and Katherine was
shrewder still. He felt that he might
betray himself So he decided on
meeting Veronica, that the first shock
might pass unperceived. And a
shock it was when she looked up at
him with Giulias eyes. He stood still
for a few moments, beating back the
anguish that almost mastered him;
then he held out his hands IN greet
ing to her,
Veronica" he said, gently, wei
come to England" He did not kiss the
beautiful face-he dared not trust
himself. Welcome" he repeated:
adding, do you speak English?"
To his surprise size answered him in
English; she spoke the language ex
ceedingly we'll, but with a slight
foreign accent that was very musical
and charming.
Yes, speak English; it was my
own wish. I learned by my own de-
sire; ny aunt was very unwilling"
Why did you wish to learn?' he
said 1T is harsh after your beauti-
full liquid Italian
Il cannot tell; but something seemed
always to stir in my heart at the very
mention of England. l hardly know
whether it was pain or pleasure, for
| it was unlike either Now | know
what it was!"
WHAT" he inquired, wondering if
any idea haG occurred 10 her.
1T was q foreboding," she replied;
lit was because had to come to Eng
land" Then she glanced at him
again. Are you my guardian?" she
asked, timidiy.
Yes he replied. II came to meet
you; I thought you would feel dull at
first in a strange country"
Il have been dull all my life," she
said, with q smiia-the saddest smile
he had ever seen.
We must try to make you happier,
be said.
why are you my GUARDIAN" she
asked. Il cannot understand it. My
aunt never spoke to me of you until
; she was dying, and then she told me
that far away in England there lived
a rich gentleman who would be my
guardian when she was dead; that
, was to live with him in England and
be docile to him. 1t will not be very
| difficult to be docile to you"
t 'Why?" he ased.
Because l like you,' she answered
) simply. 81 can always tell at first sigh
? whether l shall like any one or not
and l do like you,
He helped her into the carriage anc
sat down by her side; the servants
: were busy with her luggage. Mr.. Sc
4 grave drove home with Sir Jasper ant
D his ward, and all the way the barone
e was saying to himself:
Y This is Giulia's daughter; tina
$ beautiful head lay on Giulia's breast
this is Giulia's child" He longed t,
clasp her in his arms and say, "Yol
: have your mothers eyes, child; yol
: have the same sweet voice and tn
n same loving heart"
q All his fancied dislike melted as h
t gazed on her. He wondered how b