Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-01-19
HER ONLY SIN
10y =
BERTHA NJ. CLAY.

SsssssSsvvssvsvSFsvSYsNf ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
inheritance, all would have been we'll;
but that was impossible. In the Bran
don family, when there was no male
heir, the eldest daughter succeeded to
the barony to the title and estates;
and there had been several harnesses.
Therefore, the Inheritance must go co
his eldest daughter. That was Yer
onica.
What would those proud Valdoraines
the proudest people in England-say
to him when they heard that Kathe-
rine was not his. heiress after all?
Katherine Brandons name was known
all over England. Sir Jasper was at
loss. His sense of justice and his
love of right, his love and his pride,
his honesty and his sensitive reserve,
were all at war. There was but one
CLEAN of comfort The marriage be-
tween Lord Wynleigh and Katherine
would not take place yet. Some I'M
foreseen combination of circumstances
might take place before then.
= =
Veronica" said Katherine, come to
my room when you go to dress for
dinner. l want to tell you some
thing"
And when Veronica went in, she
startled at the beautiful vision. Kathe-
rine stood before her in a low din
ner-dress of white silk, trimmed with
with glowing crimson hollyberries, her
white shoulders and arms cleaning
like pearl, a diamond cross on her
white breast, and diamond stars in her
golden hair. She looked like a dream
of beauty. Veronica kissed the pretty
shoulders and the white arms.
How beautiful you are, my dar-
ling!" she said. You look like a spirit
of Christmas. Now see how beauti-
full Englishwomen can be-"
Il am always beautiful in your
eyes, Veronica" she replied.
They were standing side by side,
Katherine all bright and radiant; Ver-
onica in her pale, passionate beauty
in a long trailing black dress. The
contrast between them was startling
Il have something to tell you, Ver-
onica," she said. Never mind admir-
ing my dress-never mind my dia-
monds; look at my face"
Il am looking at it, darling" re-
turned Veronica.
Does it tell you anything" asked
Katherine, with a low, sweet laughter
of perfect content.
only that it is the dearest face in
the world" replied Veronica, kissing
the laughing lips.
Veronica said Katherine, whom
at this moment should you consider
the very happiest girl in all the
world?"
"The very happiest of all? Oh! how
could tell?"
Il will tell you. 1t is myself, Kathe-
rine Brandon. And can you guess why
[ am so happy? 1t is because-O Ver-
onica! how can 1 tell you? it is be
cause some one whom l love very
much loves meme, you understand,
Veronica-not my fortune, not Queens
Chace, but me-loves me-and has
asked me to be his wife,
His wife, repeated Veronica, soft
ly. Katherine, the laughter-loving
beauty, was suddenly invested with an
Importance in her eyes which was
marvellous. "How wonderful! how
stl angel"
Nay, it is not strange, Veronica. l
love him-he loves me. Can you guess
who it is?"
Slowly me dark eyes wandered over
the bright face; and then sad Yer
onica answered:
1T must be Lord Wynleigh"
Eyes" said Katherine, simply cit
is Lord Wynleigh; and 1 am not one
of the happiest, but the happiest girl
girl in all the world. Nevertheless,
tell Hyself that such great joy as mine
cannot last; that a time will come
when suffer and weep and grieve as
other people do. Will it be SOP" She
looked wistfully at Veronica as she
spoke. Il have read" she said, "oI
ships safe enough to sail in when the
sea is calm, but sure to sink when the
storm comes on. l think l should be
like one of those ships-I should go
down in the first storm"
I'VE will hope. then, that a storm
will never come" put in Veronica IF
it depended on me, there never
should" she added. Still, there is one
thing that l can safely promise you
one thing that l will do: If ever ii
lies in my power to save you from sor-
row, will do it; if ever it lies in my
power to give you happiness, l will
give it to you"
And the time came when the mem
DRY of those words weighed down the
balance in which she held both lives.
CHAPTER V.
AS Veronica descended the broad
staircase, she looked in establishment
/ at the brilliant scene that met her