Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-01-05

ne had ever seen.
I'VE must try to make you happier
be said
Why are you my GUARDIAN" she
asked. Il cannot understand 1t. My
aunt never spoke to me Of you until
she was dying, and then she told me
that far away in England there lived
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 docle to you."
Why" he ased.
Because | like you" she answered
simply. Il can always tell at first sight
whether ! shall like any one or not,
and do like you"
he helped her into the carriage and
sat down by her side; the servants
were busy with her luggage Mr.. Sc
grave drove home with Sir Jasper and
his ward, and all the way the baronet
was saying to himself:
This is Giulia's daughter that
beautiful head lay ON Giulia's breast I;
this is Giulias child" He longed to
clasp her in his arms and say, you
have your mothers eyes, child; you
have the same sweet voice and the
same loving heart
All his fancied dislike melted as he
gazed on her He wondered how he
could have hated her. how he could
have forgotten her. He reproached
himself for it with bitter reproaches.
How could he have been unkind to
Giuias child? II have been dull all
my life" she had said, and the words
smote him with pain. He longed to
say to her, Il am your father, Yer
onica, but my love for your mother is
shut up in my heart. 1t Is my most
cherished secret; 1t is SO sacred to me
that / cannot talk of it; | cannot tell
others of it., it is the very core of my
heart" He was so:ely tempted; but
Not yet, he said to himself not
yet" He turned to her suddenly.
Tell me about your life, Veronica, y
he said. What made it so dull? How
have you spent it,"
Il have lived always with my aunt
Assunta" she replied, land my aunt
was a woman whose heart must have
been broken when she was very young,
think. She never laughed, she never
even smiled, but she hated the Eng
fish They are as perfidlous,' she said,
as Judas. The sun never shines on
England; it is always dark with
Heavens frown She would not let
sit for days and months and years
in that dark old palace, watching the
water, watching the sky, seldom speak
ing word. She gave me histories to
read, and after many prayers she al
lowed me to have masters for painting
nothing else; and for many years
have passed my life in reading dull
histories and painting.
Poor child" he said; at was not \
very bright life, wac it?"
mo / have often asked her to tell
me where my mother and father lie
buried; but my aunt would never in
form me. | have never seen my
mothers grave,
Sir Jasper's face grew white with
emotion. He said to himself 1T is
Giula's child who has led this sad
life-who has never known one bright
hour" He dared not look at her lest
she should wonder at the pain on his
face
How old are you. Veronica" he
asked
Il am twenty, as men count years,
she said. 1T seems to me that | have
lived a century in that dark old palace
IT was full of spirits who walled al
night through the long passages, Wher
my aunt was angry with me, she sale
that | was child, an ignorant child
| think myself l am very old more
like a woman whose years were run
than a child"
You viii not feel SO when You have
| lived a little longer" he said, gently
Veronica, look around you. This is az
English winter. DO you see how white
the ground is how great icicles hans
like huge diamonds from the trees anC
hedges? When the sun shines on tht
snow and sparkles on the ice, | dc
think there is not a grauder sight il
tho world
Il wonder" said Veronica musing
/ Is. why my aunt disliked England 81
much do you know"
He tried TO answer her indifferently
1T would require a very learned
/ philosopher TO understand a LADY,
I likes and dislikes,' he said yer
onica, YOU say that you have had I
very sad life: let me advise you to tr!
/ 10 forget itforget the gloomy aun
who seems to have been SO mistaken
Just as a flower opens its heart to thu
sun open yours to the sunshine o
| happiness. VIII you try9'
Il will try" she answered. Il will dt
anything you tell me.
Then he pointed out to her tn,
| beauties of the park through which
they were driving and then, in tn,
distance. the towers of Queens Chace