Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-06-05

his own master and can do as he likes.
In all probability" he continued, the
girl will please herself with fanciful
ideas about his being true to her; do
not contradict her if she believes it
she will part from him more easily;
but, believe me, my son will never re-
turn to her-neveri'
Mr.. SeWell had tried in vain to es-
cape the interview; he was neither
particularly tender of heart nor given
to sentiment, but he shrank from see
ing the young girl who called herself
Lady Chandos; he shrank from telling
her the truth; but my lady was mex
orable; he must do it, and no one else
He did it, but until the day of his
death he never forgot it; he could not
bear to think of it, and he never men
toned it. Until the day of his death
he was haunted by a beautiful, pas
sionate face, white with terrible des~
pair.
He was compelled to speak in what
my lady called plain English, or she
would never have understood him
She could not understand in the least
why the fact of Lord Chan1os being
under tWenty-one should make her
marriage null and void; illegal, be-
cause so contracted without his par
ents' consent. She had turned to him
with flashing eyes.
Are the laws of England all framed
for the convenience of the rich?' she
asked.
And, proud as he was of his legal
knowledge, the lawyer had hesitated
before the fire of her question.
She understood at last-she saw
what Mr.. Sewell called the justice
of the case-the reasons why such
law was needfuI, and she knew that
she was not the lawful wife of Lance
lot, Lord Chandos. She looked into
the stern face Of her companion with
eyes filed with awful despair.
'He did not know it" she said; "on-
ly tell me that, and I shall be hap
pier. He did not know it?"
mo" said Mr.. Sewell; Il am quite
sure that Lord Chandos was ignorant
Of the fact-it never occurred to him;
if he had done so, he would have de-
ferred his marriage until he came of
age"
II shall take some comfort in that"
she said, slowly. eff he has erred, it
has been done in ignorance and limo
cence. You say that the wrong can
be righted next June; that he can mar
mn hoy h.
ther of his parents?"
Certainly he cam replied the law
yer.
Something of the shock of despair
passed from her face as he uttered
these words. She folded her arms over
her breast with the depressed passion
of tragedy queen.
Then [ have no fear" she said:
Were the time twice as long, the cru
city twice as great, the law twice as
strong, he would return to me faithful,
as he loves me. You can tell his moth
er that"
"'I WILL" said Mr. Sewell, relieved
to see some of the horror fall from her
face.
She would not discuss her future
arrangements with him. Lady Lans-
we'll was anxious that she should take
large sum of money and ret1 IN
home. She looked at him with the
dignity Of an outraged queen.
Before Heaven, and in my own
eyes, Lord Chandos is my husband, >"
she said, with calm dignity ''and with
him only will [ discuss my future
You can tell his mother that also.
No other creature living shall inter
fere with my fate or destiny"
She tried hard-and she was a wom-
an Of wonderful resource-she tried
hard to keep her dignity, not to fail
or falter before him, the cool emissary
of that cruel mother; but unutterable
woe looked out of her eyes at him, cer
white face had on it the passion of
despair, her voice the ring of anguish,
the small white hands on which the
wedding ring shone trembled like
leaves stirred in the summer wind;
the very repression of her passionate
despair made it seem more terrible.
at last; she must consent to an imme-
date separation from Lord Chandos:
she must give up his name, leave the
shelter Of his roof, or men and wom-
en-, too, would brand her with the scar
let letter-would look on her as one
lost and dead to all sense of honor
'You will see for yourself" added
the lawyer, that the wisest and best
plan is for you to go away at once
this very Gay even-then you will
stand a better chance when next June
comes. Even one more day spent I'M
der this roof would be fatal to your
character and reputation. You must
go at once"
Once more she raised her despair
ing eyes to him. Her voice tremble1
as though it were all tears.
Tell me-" she said, gently, mas
this been done by Lady Lanswell's de-
sire more than by the erals?"