Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-05-15
CHAPTER XII.
"They Will Not Forgive Me-"

''They Will Not Forgive Me-"
''Thank Heaven" said the countess,
chat the matter can be set straight.
If there had been no remedy I should
have lost my reason over it. The boy
must have been mad or blinded, or
very probably drawn into it in some
disgraceful fashion or other"
My lady was triumphant; her hand
some face lighted with satisfaction,
but the earl looked grave. The law
yer had taken his leave, and they still
remained to discuss matters. Lord
Lanswell did not seem so we'll pleased.
He went up to my lady.
Lucia" he began, edo you think if
we succeed in parting these two we
shall do quite right?"
"Right!". cried my lady. ST shall
think it one of the most virtuous acts
of my life
"Well," said the earl, 81 am sorry
that I cannot quite agree with you.
No doubt this marriage is vexatious
enough, but whether it is we'll to OBJ
literate all traces Of it, or rather to
do away with it altogether, is quite
another thing"
IT am the best judge of what is right
in this case" said my lady, haughtily;
II will have no interference. The
business part of it must be attended to
at once"
CAT least you will write to Lance and
foil him what Won iptoYid 6OinU0D
eyes, I have no objection to that"
she replied. "It can make no possible
difference to him
''He may try to make some compro-
MISE" said Lord Lanswell, whose
heart smote him as he thought Of the
passionate, beautiful face
''There can be no compromise; he
must give her up at once, and marry
some one in his own rank" said the
countess. 81 will write the letter at
once, and I must ask you, Ross, not
to be weak. A weak man is the most
contemplate object in creation"
II will try not to be weak, my dear"
said the earl, submissively; "but I am
concerned for Lance
Lance must take his Chance" said
my lady, too angry to be conscious of
the rhyme; she has done wrong, and
he must suffer for it. He will thank
Heaven in years time from now that
have saved him"
Still Lord Lanswell looked at his
wife with a grave expression of doubt
"YOu think, then, Lucia, that in a
years time he will have forgotten that
poor young Wife?"
81 am quite sure of it. Long before
I heard of this foolish affair I had
decided in my own mind whom ne
should marry, and [ see no reason for
changing my mind"
Lord Lanswel thought with regret
and sympathy of the young wife.
Could it be possible, he thought, that
his son would be so disloyal, so I'M
faithful as to forget in twelve short
months the wife he had risked so much
to win? He looked at the countess.
"The matter lies in a nutshell and
depends entirely upon whether Lance
COuCluu0S u uS W Alo 1ONO VI AOLs IL
he remains true, your scheme for part
ing them will have but little effect; if
he prove false, why then all will be
we'll, according to your way of think
ing"
eve will finish with thesubject, she
said. 'You may make your mind
quite easy about it. guarantee by all
my knowledge of the world that he
will be ashamed of having ever fan
cied himself in love with her."
Lord Lanswell went, in obedience to
his wife's command, to assist in the
commencement of the proceedings, and
as soon as my lady was left alone, she
sat down to write to her son. She
told him, in the plainest possible
words, that his marriage was not only