Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-03-30
CHAPTER /.

1t was a pretty and picturesque
scene upon which the June sunbeams
fell one bright summer morning some
few years ago.
Out upon the lawn of SevernoKe
Castle stood a young girl, just in the
first spring-tide of youth. There was
something in the brightness of her
face that harmonised with the beauty
of the day.
1t was picture that an artist would
have immortalised-the variety of
flowers of every color that diversified
the green grass of the lawn, and the
golden sunbeams that lit up the scene.
The center figure, which seemed to
concentrate the light and brightness,
was that of the young girl, Florence,
the only child of Lord Wyverne. A
plain morning dress of white muslin
showed to advantage the slender girl
ish figure. The ripping golden hair
was simply tied with blue ribbon:
the lovely half-childish face was a
poem complete in itself. 1t was a
face that changed with every thought
one moment gay and bright, in an
other thoughtful and sad. There was
passion and deep feeling, and withal
a quaint kind of imperious, half-wil-
full look that charmed even more than
the regular features or the violet eyes.
Lady Florence was wilful. The
friends who admired. her most and
loved her best, admitted it. She had
been spoiled all her life-had known
no law, no will, save her own. The
petted darling of the household, no
angry word, no well-merited rebuke,
no lecture, ever fell to the lot of Lord
Wyverne's daughter Her very faults
were smiled at, as being part of her
pretty, wilful, fascinating manner
that no one wished to see changed
She was a fair picture-a type of Eng
fish beauty, as she stood this summer
morning. In her dainty white hands
she held some pieces of bread with
which she was RECALLING a magnificent
peacock, that was exhibiting his airs
and gTaces in the sun.
You will spoil that bird, Lady
Florence you fiatter him too much,
said a clear voice; and the young girl
started as she heard the voice.
Good morning, Mr. Lynn" she said,
without turning round. "If my bird
is proud, you must at least own that
he has something to be proud of.
The young man sat down to watch
the process of feeding the peacock and
hn Nv 10 whit nd
it was that the picture became beauti-
full. There was the slightest and pref
test air of embarrassment in the
young girls face as his eyes followed
her every movement, although she af
fected. to be quite unaware of his close
observation. She revenged herself,
however, by making many little
speeches to the birds which were in-
tended for him.
These little symptoms were not un
noted for at the window of the break
fast-room, which opens upon the lawn
ing, with an eager and scrutinising
glance, the faces of his daughter and
his guest With one look at Lord
Wyverne's face, his history was told
Years of wild disorder, unbridled in
diligence in vice and folly, had left
unmistakable traces. The bent figure,
the dimmed eyes, the furrowed brow,
the trembling hands, told their own
tale. Lord Wyverne was not much
above fifty, yet he was an old man. He
was wont to boast that he had seen
more of life in his fifty years than
other men had in a hundred. Most
probably that was true. He had spent
a noble fortune. When it was all
gone. he married an heiress, and in the
course of few years he spent her
fortune also. Lady Wyverne died, the
doctors said, of heart disease, her
friends said of despair, leaving one
only child, Florence.
Ruined in fortune, shattered in
health, stated and wearied of the world
in which he could no longer play his
favorite part, Lord Wyverne gave up
his town house and came to live upon
the estate he had so long neglected.
1t was not pleasant picture to gaze
upOls ltlo IulHeu SptIulHTllJ, lulS
possessor of noble name, the de-
scendent of noble race, who had bar
tered honor, character. and fortune,
for mere pleasure. There were times
when he turned in disgust even from
himself; and such a moment was the
present, as he stood watching his
daughters face, and trying to under
stand its expression
1T would do. charmingly." he NUT
tered to himself. "She would be Lady
Lynne; and it would not matter so
much that have not a penny to leave
her"
There is papa at the window"
cried the young girl. He is waiting
breakfast for us, suppose. Pray
tell him. Mr.. Lynne" she said. as Lne
young man arose. that | will be there
in three minutes. Try" she added,
softly, land be more amiable to papa
than you are to my bird and to me-"
Mr.. Lynne looked ha,f-bewildered
and stood for moment as though in