Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-17

the whole situation; she saw the pure,
proud face of Lady Erskine, saw that
she was seated in the very place where
her beauty was seen to the best ad-
vantage, then she took her seat, never
looking in that direction, and saying
nothing to her son.
1t was just like laying a trap for
bird-he fell into it with the same
helplessness.
Lady Lanswell neither looked at
Lady Erskine nor her son, yet she
knew exactly the moment when mis-
ewes first fell on her. She saw him
start; then she sat quite still, waiting
for the question she knew must follow.
It came at last.
Mother" he said, "who is that beau
tiful girl?"
NV lady looked at him with languid
eyes.
s'What beautiful girl, Lance? There
are so many"
can English girl, am sure. She
has a string of pearls in her hair.
Who can she be?''
Still Lady Lanswel1 feigned igno-
rance. She looked on the wrong side
of the room, and she affected not to
understand where he meant, and when
she could affect no longer, she said:
do you mean Lady Marion Erskine,
/ the young lady near Princess Golza"'
eyes, it must be Lady Erskine," ne
replied. GLOW beautiful she is, moth
er. She shines like fair pearl with
that background of dark tapestry. |
heard someone say yesterday that she
was in Rome. What perfect face. y
My lady looked at it coldly
"Do you think so, Lancer" she said.
81 thought that you gave the prefer
ence to dark beauties. .
His heart went back for one mo-
ment to the beautiful, passionate face
he had seen by the mill stream. The
gorgeous salon, the beautiful women,
the peerless face of Lady Marion, the
exquisite music, all foated away from
him, and he was once more by the mill
stream, with Leone's face before him.
So strong, so vivid was the memory,
that it was with difficulty he refrained
from calling the name aloud.
MY lady guessed from the sudden ex-
preston of pain on his face where MS
thoughts had gone. She recalled
them.
TASTES differ so greatly she said.
"Do you really consider Lady Marion
beautiful, Lancer"
eyes, I have seen no one more love
ly,' he answered.
Then the countess dismissed the sub
iect-too much must not be said al
once. She did not mention Lady Ma
rion's name again that evening, bu1
she saw that her son looked often al
her, and she smiled to think the bali
had been taken.
Again they we're walking through
the vast gardens of one of the Roman
palaces, when the whole party met.
Lady Cambrey was with her niece;
Lord Chandos was near the countess
but not close by her side. The ladies
met, exchanged a few words, then
parted, the countess not having made
the least effort to introduce her son;
he spoke of it afterward.
Mother" he said, "you did not in
troduce me to Lady Erskine.
Lady Lanswell smiled calmly.
''It was out of pure consideration fo1
her: they tell me she has so many
admirers in Rome. From what
know of her, you would not be quite
in her style"
The words piQued him.
''Why not?" he asked.
His mother laughed again.
"she is very proud, Lance, and very
exclusive. I need say no more"
Ny lady always knew exactly when
to leave off. She turned away now
leaving her son with the impression
that Lady Erskine would not care tc
know him, on account Of his unfortu-
nate love affair.
They were destined to meet again
that evening. A ball was given by
an English lady, Mrs. Chester, who
had one Of the best houses in Rome
Lady Erskine looked very beautiful
her dress was of pale blue velvet, SUI
perbly trimmed with white lace; shf
wore diamonds in her hair, and car
ried a bouquet of white lilies in he
hand. She was the belle of the ball
and it was Mrs. Chester who intro
duced Lord Chandos to her. She wa
quite innocent of any intrigue, but naC
/ she been the chosen conf1dante of Lad.
l Lanswell, she could not have don'
l more to further her views. She hat
: been dancing with Lord Chandos her
} self, and began to speak to him of tn
] beautiful blonde.
t Lady Marion Erskine realizes IN.
l idea Of a fair woman" said Mrs
: Chester. ''I have read the words il
prose and poetry, now I understand
= them. ~
S ''I do not know Lady Erskine," sal
t the young earl.
''Not know her? Why, I shoul
n havo thoroht that all the Fin gliShmn1